toadstool

[jake65]

Well, unfourntunatly my toadstool coral died off. I cut it off the rock and was wondering if what was left will harm anything in the tank. It was secreeting a bit of a milky substance when first cut.

 

[dpaynter]

If it was a healthy toadstool, a new one would grow back from the stump. What happened to the coral? Is there any possibility the the tissue left is still alive?

 

[jake65]

It just retracted turned brown and wilted completly over and started to decay a bit i think

 

[dpaynter]

That doesn't sound too promising, but I wouldn't worry about a few small pieces left on the rock if you have just softies. (I see from another post that you said you don't do SPS). I have a mixed tank and haven't had problems when I disturbed soft corals, but others have reported problems with toxins from softies effecting hard corals. I assume these toxins could be released when he softies deteriorate.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

how long did you have this coral and had it been moved recently?

 

[jake65]

Hi Anthony, I've had it for 11mo. It was well established in its spot and doing very good, it just seemed to die off in a matter of a few days. Here is a pic, its on the right side of the tank. All water params were fine and all other corals are fine as well.

 

[Anthony Calfo]

ah... the pic helps alot. While the tank is not overstocked (assuming monthyl partial water changes keep the water quality in reasonably good condition), the extremely close location of that large corallimorph colony is a giveaway - brutally noxious (they are top ten most chemically aggressive cnidarians for reef aquaria).Yur leather may well have given up the ghost from the extended long silent battle and/or sustained an wound that led to infection, etc.

The old rule of thumb for 6-10" minimum between corals actually is not even enough for very aggressive/noxious species like Galaxy coral or... corallimorphs

 

[jake65]

Actually the toadstool is behind of those mushrooms (about 8") the pic is alittle misleading I guess (sorry) But there was a xenia below the toadstool if that matters. But I do understand what you are saying, thank you for the quick reply and guidance (guess I should have asked this a few days ago when I first noticed the problem, but I had thought he was just molting at first ) Thanx again Anthony

 

[Anthony Calfo]

ah... fair enough. And have the Xenia struggled too by chance? If not, then perhaps allelopathy is not a principal influence here as the Xeniids are typically weaker than the Alcyoniids in this case.

 

[jake65]

Come to think of it the xenia isn't as big as it should be, but I thought that might have been do to the water flow it was recieving.

 

[jake65]

update: Looks to be my Toadstool might be making a comeback, I've noticed a little growth on the stump that was left behind