Weird change in Alvapora

V

v320

I've had this branching alvapora for almost 7-8 months now, and it has been doing great; however, a few days ago, I noticed that it was not opening up as much as usual.

Then the next day, one head did not open. I was concerned, but just thought, perhaps, it was due to a red leg hermit crab that was near by.

This weekend I noticed that the entire head that was not opening, was dead, and the next one over is not opening now.

Has anyone experienced this before? Any help would be appreciated!

I will be doing an early water change this evening. I checked the stats, and all params seem to be right on.
The sal was a tiny bit high - 1.027

These pics were taken right before the lights came on this morning.
 
Here are pics taken after lights on...

As you can see all the heads are not open all the way, and the head to the right of the dead head, is now not opening much at all...
 
I usually do water changes every other week. The tank is not due another one until next week, but I thought I should do one this evening to see if it would help. Everything else in the tank is doing fine.

I usually do not dose anything except for purple up 1-2x a month and phyto. I did dose some purple up last Monday, but I don't think that would cause this problem?!

I first noticed this problem on Friday.
I also noticed that some of my red leg crabs have been hanging out near this coral, but I haven't caught them on any of the branches.

I found this post on a sight while doing a search earlier...
http://www.tropicalfish.site5.com/tfc/archive/index.php/t-73034.html

How would one check for a bacterial infection?
Thanks.
 
I'd try to move the healthy looking colonies somewhere else and have them separated from each other in the mean time. Have you added anything recently?
 
@kaledrina wrote:
I'd try to move the healthy looking colonies somewhere else and have them separated from each other in the mean time. Have you added anything recently? said:
Its a branching alvapora, so all of them are atached.
The only way to separate it would be to break off the dead branch and the other branch that is not doing well...
Click to expand...
 
I hope I am not being negative. These corals normally do not survive more that 7-8 months in tanks. This goes for the goniaporas as well. I am always frustrated seeing these in pet stores. The hobby has been advancing in food technology but, to the best of my knowledge they haven't figured these out. the last I heard was oyster eggs helped.

yuki
 
Are you target feeding that coral with anything? Alveopora is a better choice over a Gonipora. I wouldn't classify them both as difficult to keep, as the goni is much tougher. Still, some people have found ways to not only feed them, but to help them recover from starvation and even to the point of seeing them drop babies.

That's the direction this hobby needs to move toward.
 
@Marc wrote:
Are you target feeding that coral with anything? Alveopora is a better choice over a Gonipora. I wouldn't classify them both as difficult to keep said:
Yuki: That thought did cross my mind, but as Marc mentioned, I've heard that about gonipora before. I did do a bit of research before the purchase, and thought I had a good chance of keeping it. I had spoken to a few people that had kept this coral for years (I am trying to get in contact with them now to see if they can help).

I do usually dose phyto, but have recently cut back to help with a cyano outbreak I had, perhaps this could have been the trigger.

So do you think I should try oyster eggs?
Do you just blend them and dose?
Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
 
Most sites I have checked still stay the same. This article is interesting for me because I actually met the guy that takes care of the goniapora in the wakiki aquarium and asked him about it specicifacally. He couldn't expain it but we seemed to conclude that a major difference is that they water change from the well.

http://www.tidalgardens.com/pages/coral/alveopora.html

http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/alveopora.htm

I hope it works out for you. I hope we can figure this out I want one too.

On the osyter eggs, I just remember talking to webster about a year ago that he had heard that the goniopora and alveopora were benefitting from them. It might have been marketting rumors.


Yuki
 
Thanks for the info.

Today, it seems to be doing ok. The sick head is still not open all the way, but much better than this weekend.
I did dose some phyto on sun, but I can't imagine that, that is what helped it ( :?: ). I will continue to keep an eye on it.

I did notice another red leg sitting on one of the branches yesterday, but it was one of the dead branches.
 
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