Euphyllia glabrescens ~Torch

[KimPossible]

I have a beautiful 14 headed Torch coral placed in the upper half of my tank under a total 260wats of 10K's and 03Actinics. I try to feed a blended mush 2x's per week. In the past week I have noticed that one of the polyps is starting to pull away from the skeleton. It appears to be healthy even though
Why is this happening? When it completely comes off, if still alive I intend to keep it in the tank in some sort of a trap, but what then? Will it produce a new skeleton? ~TIA

 

[KimPossible]

Update, the polyp is completely off. It was hanging on by a thread for most of the night and I was up paranoid that when it fell the ph would plaster it on another coral....but I couldn't find it this morning. I'll look again when I get home. I am hoping that the remaining polyp tissue will regrow and fill the existing bare head.
Any imput is greatly appreciated. ~Kim

BTW~I'm pretty sure the bail out was not caused by water conditions, I'm pretty meticulous.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

Bail out is a naturally occuring reproductive strategy, although not especially successful or prolific. Its also usualyl stress induced as you know. You would be mistaken to assume that your water conditions are not the cause my friend. If you just consider the sheer concentration of corals you have in your aquarium relative to the same (much lower) number of species that would occur in the same space on the reef and tempered (near infinitely) by the massive dilution of the ocean... your (mine and ours) toxic soup of closed aquarium systems is indeed a long term source of stress. Unless you are using ozone and doing 50%+ weekly water changes... I'm not ruling out water quality

Nonetheless... the polyp can/will survive with your special care. There will be a growing calcareous nodule inside. Keep the polyp ball sequestered in a shallow cup or tray os fine rubble or coarse sand. Superglue it when it gets larger (many months... larger coin sized growth).

best of luck!

Anth-

 

[KimPossible]

Advice/Responces from Anthony Calfo.....Too Cool ! Thanks! I've read many of your books ....ok, now that that's outta the way

Unless you are using ozone and doing 50%+ weekly water changes... I'm not ruling out water quality

Nope, only 10% weekly and 30% bi-weekly. No ozone (will google)

If you just consider the sheer concentration of corals you have in your aquarium relative to the same (much lower) number of species that would occur in the same space on the reef and tempered (near infinitely) by the massive dilution of the ocean... your (mine and ours) toxic soup of closed aquarium systems is indeed a long term source of stress.

The likely hood of survival vs. the probablility of death for the polyp that bailed out and the pollutants released if it decomposes is my next worry.
How realistic is it for me to worry about nursing my corals in my main tank and the toxins released during decomposition.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

The polyp will likely be just fine in the main tank. I'd just feel remiss not to mention such issues/dynamics on a public forum with other folks reading it as well and making perhaps erroneous assumptions about what is "safe" habits/husbandry in light of more serious realities.

Re: ozone... do search this forum of course, also consider:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=639805

and

http://www.marinedepot.com/FORUMS/Topic26819-13-1.aspx