Duncan issue

mpderksen · 02/11/2016, 10:01 AM

While every other coral in the tank is fully extended, growing, and has great color, my Duncan hasn't been fully opening for a few months. This morning it is peeking out just a little, but it used to be a big, fluffy softball-sized and happy coral. I haven't changed lighting or placement in about a year.
I think it started to suffer when I had an AWC issue. My SG had creeped up to 1.028, so I had adjusted the DOS to add 2L/day of new, and remove 4L/day. I used the ATO to add the difference. Then, I FORGOT! I didn't test for a while, noticed things were "off", tested and found it had dropped to 1.018! So, I used NSW in my ATO, set the DOS back to 4L/day, tested daily and had it back in line over the next 2 weeks. It's been stable again for a few months, and everything is extended and looks fantastic, except the Duncan. It doesn't look to be dying though.
In the pictures below you can see the difference between it and the Torch that sits above it (yes, there is a DMZ space between them). It gets low flow, since the Torch blocks the MP10 for the most part. It sits a bit lower, and lower than the Hammer on the other side, which also is fully "fluffy" every day.
Thoughts?

The Duncan
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455206467.775587.jpg

Torch (you can just see the Duncan on the lower right corner)
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455206496.247864.jpg

Hammer
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455206513.890682.jpg

rffanat1c · 02/11/2016, 11:17 AM

Mine has done the same thing for reasons I cannot figure out totally. I suspect my coral beauty or emerald crab are picking at it. Do you have any LPS nippers in your tank?

mpderksen · 02/11/2016, 11:37 AM

Dwarf Flame comes to mind. But he's been in the tank for several years. No inverts other than a few peppermint shrimp I never see.

A1t2o · 02/11/2016, 11:56 AM

Duncans seem to be pretty sensitive to flow. Try getting it into a lower flow area and see if that helps. Otherwise you may want to dip it incase there are pests that are bothering it without causing damage. You could also target feed it and see if it responds well to that.

scooter31707 · 02/11/2016, 12:06 PM

I agree ^^.

02/11/2016, 10:01 AM	#1
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	Duncan issue While every other coral in the tank is fully extended, growing, and has great color, my Duncan hasn't been fully opening for a few months. This morning it is peeking out just a little, but it used to be a big, fluffy softball-sized and happy coral. I haven't changed lighting or placement in about a year. I think it started to suffer when I had an AWC issue. My SG had creeped up to 1.028, so I had adjusted the DOS to add 2L/day of new, and remove 4L/day. I used the ATO to add the difference. Then, I FORGOT! I didn't test for a while, noticed things were "off", tested and found it had dropped to 1.018! So, I used NSW in my ATO, set the DOS back to 4L/day, tested daily and had it back in line over the next 2 weeks. It's been stable again for a few months, and everything is extended and looks fantastic, except the Duncan. It doesn't look to be dying though. In the pictures below you can see the difference between it and the Torch that sits above it (yes, there is a DMZ space between them). It gets low flow, since the Torch blocks the MP10 for the most part. It sits a bit lower, and lower than the Hammer on the other side, which also is fully "fluffy" every day. Thoughts? The Duncan ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455206467.775587.jpg Torch (you can just see the Duncan on the lower right corner) ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455206496.247864.jpg Hammer ImageUploadedByTapatalk1455206513.890682.jpg

02/11/2016, 11:17 AM	#2
rffanat1c Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Kenosha, WI Posts: 693	Mine has done the same thing for reasons I cannot figure out totally. I suspect my coral beauty or emerald crab are picking at it. Do you have any LPS nippers in your tank?

02/11/2016, 11:37 AM	#3
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	Dwarf Flame comes to mind. But he's been in the tank for several years. No inverts other than a few peppermint shrimp I never see.

02/11/2016, 11:56 AM	#4
A1t2o Moved On Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 382	Duncans seem to be pretty sensitive to flow. Try getting it into a lower flow area and see if that helps. Otherwise you may want to dip it incase there are pests that are bothering it without causing damage. You could also target feed it and see if it responds well to that.

02/11/2016, 12:06 PM	#5
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I agree ^^.