Help!! Brain coral damage

[RockyRoadReef]

Hi, I have this awesome piece if brain coral that I love, but noticed today that there is thus section of exposed skeleton on it. Does anyone know what could be the cause? It looks pretty healthy besides that.
Thank you!
P.S. enjoy the clownfish photo bomb

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[Letsgotothezoo]

I had a piece similar to that in the past. It ended up dying. The skeleton part will grow more & more & finally killed it.

 

[RockyRoadReef]

Anything you think might have stopped it?

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[BgFish]

What are your nitrates? I’m curious if high nitrates cause these to recede.

 

[Tangwich]

Any angels in the tank?

 

[RockyRoadReef]

My nitrates are at MAYBE 20 ppm. I just have the test strip so I can't be too specific, but it isn't very high and has been very stable for a while now.

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[RockyRoadReef]

I do have a coral beauty.

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[Tangwich]

Keep an eye on the coral beauty. Sometimes they, as all angels, have the potential to go rogue.

 

[RockyRoadReef]

If it is a fish munching on it, do you think it could still be saved as long as I separate the fish?

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[Tangwich]

Yes. Either separate the fish or separate the coral. Any friend with a stable tank can save that coral.

 

[RockyRoadReef]

So as far as livestock that I have in the tank, I have:
- yellow tang
- tomini tang
- fairy wrasse
- 6 lined wrasse
- coral beauty
- 2 clowns
- Mandarin goby
- cleaner shrimp
- nassarius snails
- turbo snails
- fighting conch

I haven't seen any of these pick specifically at the coral, but my tangs do like to "kiss" the rocks and coral to clean for algae. Could they be a culprit or is it likely the coral beauty?

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[Tangwich]

None of the fish above except the coral beauty or the clowns (if they are pestering the coral) could be culprits. Before its too late, have someone with an established and stable tank keep it and nurse it back to health.

 

[RockyRoadReef]

Thank you for your advice! I'll see if someone can. I was looking online, do you think an isolation chamber would help or ultimately do more harm than good? Also I have photo evidence that the coral was just fine less than one week ago! And we have not changed any of the tank parameters since then. (Other photo taken August 1st)

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[Tangwich]

I saw your tank thread and it appears you have lots of healthy thriving corals but no other meaty/fleshy/spongy lps so my money is definitely on the angel. You can get an isolation station but that might just be a band aid to the problem.

 

[five.five-six]

I saw your tank thread and it appears you have lots of healthy thriving corals but no other meaty/fleshy/spongy lps so my money is definitely on the angel. You can get an isolation station but that might just be a band aid to the problem.

Investigative, I like it!

 

[joseserrano]

invest in better test kits, shouldn't be "guessing", when you have so much money in a tank. You can dip it to try to stop the recession, but these guys are a challenge to get healthy once skeleton starts showing.

 

[dontavo27]

I saved one like this that I found at an aquarium shop with the tissue receding. Dipped it in a gallon of saltwater mixed with a drop of peroxide.
But Tangwich is probably right, keep a close eye on that Angel.

 

[RockyRoadReef]

So we are pretty sure it was the coral beauty. We got rid of him and fingers crossed we can bring it back! Thank you all for your help.

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