Madracis decactis care

[quibrzif]

Can you tell, how different should be care for Madracis decactis (looks like elongated green porites), comparing to porites, motipora, pocillopora, birdsnest?

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
Your species is a photosynthetic (containing zooxanthellae) and found in shallow water. Care is the same as the corals you listed. Provide plenty of alternating water flow.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[quibrzif]

It is side by side with pocillopora (both belong to Pocillopridae), but is doing worse:

some bulbous growth, reddish in color:

This continues for more than year, so this is not an emergency case.

Pocilloporas are perfectly well.

I'm asking just in case if you kept this coral and noticed its intolerances and preferences.
Thank you.

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
It's difficult to tell from the picture but it may be a sponge encroaching on the coral.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[tat2z_21]

So here is a newbie question how would you stop this encroaching sponge

 

[quibrzif]

Sorry for quality, but this is all I could make:

Not a sponge, abnormal growth (or inflation) of the soft tissue, looks like neoplasia to me, but it is not permanent, sometimes restores, then again inflates. Dead portions of skeleton were always present.

Pocillopora, belonging to the same family, next to it:

This tank is fed several times a day, some diatoms and green microalgae are always present, but nitrates and phosphates are zero.

The sponges I know can be removed by tweezers, by careful peeling off.

 

[kevinpo]

Certainly not a sponge. Several species of LPS/SPS corals exhibit this type of abnormal polyp swelling without harm. Was this what you are referring to as "doing worse"?.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[kevinpo]

So here is a newbie question how would you stop this encroaching sponge

If possible remove the coral from the tank and use tweezers to carefully remove the sponge. Rinse the coral in saltwater outside the tank before returning to the tank. Note: Any piece of sponge allowed to float free in the tank can reproduce.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[quibrzif]

Worse: worse, than pocillopora, that hasn't such growth, while it belongs to the same family, is in the same tank, next to Madrasis.

 

[kevinpo]

Unless the coral is losing tissue and the skeleton is showing I would assume it is fine. You could cut a couple of frags and place them in different locations/conditions (light intensity and/or flow) in the same tank to see if they respond favorably.

Note: Pocillopora is one of the beginner SPS corals and as such is not really a good comparison. Seriatopora and Stylophora are also members of the Family Pocilloporidae but can be more difficult.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[quibrzif]

Thanks!
Can you give advice on fragging the boulder-shaped coral without electrical tile saw?
Using the sharp blow by hammer on chisel, from top to bottom, could kill worms if line of separation comes through them. I'm thinking rather about very small frags, 1" or so.
Dremel with diamond saw blade allows 1/2" cut depth only.

 

[kevinpo]

Can you give advice on fragging the boulder-shaped coral without electrical tile saw?

I use a bone saw or a hack saw. They can cut a very precise line.

Cheers,
Kevin

 

[quibrzif]

Thanks again, appreciate this!
Last question: this will require strong holding by other hand during sawing. I would expert, that there will be die-off at the point of applied pressure (I had this after pressing sun coral during gluing it to the vertical surface).

What can be done to reduce this effect?

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
There will be very little damage as this will be better supported because of the stony skeleton.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[quibrzif]

I meant: left hand will hold coral to assure that it will not be dragged by hacksaw back and forward. Quite a pressure on soft tissue.

 

[kevinpo]

You will end up with a couple of finger prints but in a couple of months they will heal over. It doesn't take much pressure if you use a fine blade in the saw. When cutting up living corals some damage is unavoidable.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[quibrzif]

Thank you very much! Now I'm ready