cathy
10-31-2003, 3:20 PM
help or explanation of my observations would be appreciated.
Early last week I noticed a tiny bit of cyanobacteria at the end of one of my gordonian's branches. This has happened before, and my course of action is with a plastic medicine dropper, gently flush the area with a stream of tank water, to remove the cyanobacteria. Sometimes I use a gentle suction as well. I have done this before, with no ill effect; he temporarily closes his polyps, but reopens by the next day, if not later on the same evening.
This time however, he stayed closed for about 3 days. I noticed some strands of something, hanging from his branches. They were not the color of the cyanobacteria, they seemed to be something else. It didn't seem to be another kind of algae, but I was not sure. I considered the possiblity that he was sluffing something, and was on his way out.
I removed the stuff with the medicine dropper (by the way, it is dedicated to tank use, and was never used for anything else.) and then over the weekend did a scheduled water change and cleaned out the protein skimmer. After another day or so, polyps began to reemerge. Slowly there are more showing each nite, tho he is not back to his former glory. I am hopeful but would like feedback as to what might be going on, and any more appropriate steps to take to preserve his health. My water testing shows everything is in order, and my other corals look great.
Early last week I noticed a tiny bit of cyanobacteria at the end of one of my gordonian's branches. This has happened before, and my course of action is with a plastic medicine dropper, gently flush the area with a stream of tank water, to remove the cyanobacteria. Sometimes I use a gentle suction as well. I have done this before, with no ill effect; he temporarily closes his polyps, but reopens by the next day, if not later on the same evening.
This time however, he stayed closed for about 3 days. I noticed some strands of something, hanging from his branches. They were not the color of the cyanobacteria, they seemed to be something else. It didn't seem to be another kind of algae, but I was not sure. I considered the possiblity that he was sluffing something, and was on his way out.
I removed the stuff with the medicine dropper (by the way, it is dedicated to tank use, and was never used for anything else.) and then over the weekend did a scheduled water change and cleaned out the protein skimmer. After another day or so, polyps began to reemerge. Slowly there are more showing each nite, tho he is not back to his former glory. I am hopeful but would like feedback as to what might be going on, and any more appropriate steps to take to preserve his health. My water testing shows everything is in order, and my other corals look great.