HELLLP dieing coral

[jody]

hey i think my colt coral is dieing?
it usually is light brown/ pink, and huge " 12 inches"
now its dark dark purple all shriveled and abotu 3 inches, it keeps fallen over too??
anythign i can do to save it ???
- jody

[briansmyth]

If you touch it and take your hand out of the tank, is there a very slimy feel and/or a smell to it? If it's `melting down', it might be best to have it in a separate container - maybe float it in your sump if you have it. The idea, if it is dying quickly, is to avoid it releasing toxins in the tank that might kill other things.

I had one that started a melt down and I ended up siphoning some of it out of the tank and throwing the rest out. But if it is just shrivelling and isn't slimy etc., maybe you still have a chance.

[briansmyth]

Wet Web Media has this to say regarding someone whose colt coral wasn't opening up:

do try a change of carbon (small amounts used weekly instead of large portion monthly), a good water change of 25% or better, and be sure that your skimmer is giving you almost daily skimmate. You have listed some severely noxious corals that require these measures. If water quality hasn't been up to par, you might blame allelopathy from the chemical warfare of your corals

[briansmyth]

The other thing I would mention - if you happen to have a bottle of water conditioner around you might conisder using it- I have a half bottle of Ultimate Water Conditioner - this will detoxify some of the things in your tank in case there is an ammonia, copper, nitrate etc. problem. I don't think it will solve any chemical warfare problems, but the water change should help that.

I will check the forum until almost midnight in case you want to use my water conditioner tonight. I'm in the south end by the university.

[jody]

well i touch its very slimy , and i get brown on my fingers?
is this bad ?

[scary gary]

Its not good.

[stinga]

Unless you find out what's wrong your coral will dissolve to . . . . nothing,Have you checked your water?