When to remove dying coral?

F355GTB · 12-18-2003, 12:23 PM

Hello everyone,
Yesterday morning, a 3/4" hermit crab fell on my Long Tentacal Plate Coral. I didn't see it until the crab was almost all the way off of it, but the damage was done. One quarter of it couldn't hold water and has since deteriorated to almost nothing. When should I romove it & what should I do with it?
I want to keep the skeletal structure because maybe I can get som zoo's to grow on it. Should I put it in my FOWLR & let my angel pick at it? Thanks for any help!

John

SaltyQueen · 12-18-2003, 01:26 PM

are there any pieces you could possibly frag off & save?

F355GTB · 12-18-2003, 01:31 PM

About a third of it can still hold water... and it's only about 3" in diameter... Would I be able to frag it? And how would I frag it? Thanks for all of your help!

John

Pro_builder · 12-18-2003, 01:31 PM

I would try to frag it and save what you can.

SaltyQueen · 12-18-2003, 02:10 PM

hmmm... never actually fragged a plate coral before- I know it can be done, but I'll let someone else share their particular methods with you...

ReefLady · 12-18-2003, 02:34 PM

I'm not sure I'd do anything at this point if there is still a considerable amount of healthy tissue showing. I (personally) think that attempting to frag it would cause it more stress than simply leaving it be to heal.

If it is a Heliofungia sp., they are damaged very easy, and have a pretty dismal recovery rate, unfortunately. Actually, their survival rate in general (in captivity) is pretty poor.

Eric Borneman considers them in the same "class" as Goniopora, as far as failure to thrive and sensitivity is concerned.
Unfortunately, they are very prone to injury, and usually die quickly thereafter.

I wish you the best of luck with it, but IMO, I would not attempt fragging.

F355GTB · 12-18-2003, 02:39 PM

Thank you everyone. I appreciate your help. It is a Heliofungia. I didn't expect it to be as fragile as it is. I will let it go & see if by some stroke of luck it will recover.

John

mwrager · 12-18-2003, 03:26 PM

I have some question?

Is the whole plate deteriorating or just the area the crab was on? If the plate is almost completely deteriorated I would remove it, clean it up, if you want to let some zoo’s grow on the skeleton, that might look good. If only the area that the crab was on is deteriorating, I would leave it in the tank and keep an eye on it.

F355GTB · 12-18-2003, 03:32 PM

Yesterday only the part that the crab was on was affected... today almost 80% of the plate has deteriorated...

mwrager · 12-18-2003, 03:45 PM

If you think its going to die, I would remove it, clean it up and then put it back into your tank to let the zoo's grow on it.

Gina · 12-18-2003, 04:56 PM

I have a question that did not get answered. Would you remove it though? Are there any toxins that can released from it that would harm the tank?

Like if a BTA dies, it will polute (sp)? the tank if not taken out and could be a real disaster. But, what about these hard plate corals?

Just curious..

ReefLady · 12-18-2003, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Would you remove it though? Are there any toxins that can released from it that would harm the tank?

In general, if you know an organism to be dead, or dying with no chance of recovery, I would remove it. Some creatures will release toxins (sponges, for instance), but outside of the *toxicity* issue, any decaying matter should be removed.

A lot depends on the size of the system (volume of water vs. size of deceased creature). Obviously, a small dead coral in a large, established tank might not be an issue, whereas the same piece dying in a 10g tank could cause considerable *polution*.

HTH,

Gina · 12-18-2003, 07:14 PM

Thanks Reeflady!

Gina

mwrager · 12-18-2003, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefLady
In general, if you know an organism to be dead, or dying with no chance of recovery, I would remove it. Some creatures will release toxins (sponges, for instance), but outside of the *toxicity* issue, any decaying matter should be removed.

A lot depends on the size of the system (volume of water vs. size of deceased creature). Obviously, a small dead coral in a large, established tank might not be an issue, whereas the same piece dying in a 10g tank could cause considerable *polution*.

HTH,

Thank you RL, I was on my way home and then I was going to past a reply.

wooddood · 12-18-2003, 08:10 PM

i have never had any luck with plate corals.i agree with the above suggestions take it out clean it up and then put it back in for your zoo's.i will personally never buy another plate coral.how long have you had it?

12-18-2003, 12:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	When to remove dying coral? Hello everyone, Yesterday morning, a 3/4" hermit crab fell on my Long Tentacal Plate Coral. I didn't see it until the crab was almost all the way off of it, but the damage was done. One quarter of it couldn't hold water and has since deteriorated to almost nothing. When should I romove it & what should I do with it? I want to keep the skeletal structure because maybe I can get som zoo's to grow on it. Should I put it in my FOWLR & let my angel pick at it? Thanks for any help! John

12-18-2003, 01:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	I would try to frag it and save what you can. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-18-2003, 02:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
ReefLady Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 2,029 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'm not sure I'd do anything at this point if there is still a considerable amount of healthy tissue showing. I (personally) think that attempting to frag it would cause it more stress than simply leaving it be to heal. If it is a Heliofungia sp., they are damaged very easy, and have a pretty dismal recovery rate, unfortunately. Actually, their survival rate in general (in captivity) is pretty poor. Eric Borneman considers them in the same "class" as Goniopora, as far as failure to thrive and sensitivity is concerned. Unfortunately, they are very prone to injury, and usually die quickly thereafter. I wish you the best of luck with it, but IMO, I would not attempt fragging. __________________ ~ Teri -------- "You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice."

12-18-2003, 03:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have some question? Is the whole plate deteriorating or just the area the crab was on? If the plate is almost completely deteriorated I would remove it, clean it up, if you want to let some zoo’s grow on the skeleton, that might look good. If only the area that the crab was on is deteriorating, I would leave it in the tank and keep an eye on it. __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

12-18-2003, 03:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you think its going to die, I would remove it, clean it up and then put it back into your tank to let the zoo's grow on it. __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

12-18-2003, 01:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
SaltyQueen Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 400 View Gallery Karma Komment	are there any pieces you could possibly frag off & save?

12-18-2003, 01:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	About a third of it can still hold water... and it's only about 3" in diameter... Would I be able to frag it? And how would I frag it? Thanks for all of your help! John

12-18-2003, 02:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
SaltyQueen Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 400 View Gallery Karma Komment	hmmm... never actually fragged a plate coral before- I know it can be done, but I'll let someone else share their particular methods with you...

12-18-2003, 02:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thank you everyone. I appreciate your help. It is a Heliofungia. I didn't expect it to be as fragile as it is. I will let it go & see if by some stroke of luck it will recover. John

12-18-2003, 03:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Yesterday only the part that the crab was on was affected... today almost 80% of the plate has deteriorated...

12-18-2003, 04:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,823 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have a question that did not get answered. Would you remove it though? Are there any toxins that can released from it that would harm the tank? Like if a BTA dies, it will polute (sp)? the tank if not taken out and could be a real disaster. But, what about these hard plate corals? Just curious.. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

12-18-2003, 07:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,823 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks Reeflady! Gina __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

12-18-2003, 08:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	i have never had any luck with plate corals.i agree with the above suggestions take it out clean it up and then put it back in for your zoo's.i will personally never buy another plate coral.how long have you had it? __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

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