Any ideas ?

I bought this small colony about two weeks ago and it was fine for a week but the last week it has looked like this. SG is 1.025. Cal is 420. Alk is 9. Mag is high. At least over 1500 on my Red Sea kit. Temp is around 78.5. Any ideas ? Thanks.

 

Have you ruled out

Nudibranchs
Sundial snail
Sea spiders
Pox
Zoanthid eating Asterina

I would dip the piece and see what shakes off. Look for Aiptasia, Vermetid and Sponge between the polyps. Also take a look at night with a flash light after the lights have been out for a couple hours.

 

inspect for any pests if possible but some zoas will do that and not sure why. My blue hornets did the same thing and were basically closed for 2 weeks then opened up. Occasionally they still close for a couple days. From the pic the colony looks pretty healthy so would not be to concerned.

 

I'll wait and look when the lights go out and see if anything is there. It's always the same spot.

 

What would I dip the rock in ?

 

I use Coral Rx. Others swear by Bayer Advanced Pesticide. You should be dipping every new coral before it enters your DT either way

 

Crap. I don't have anything to dip it with. Closet LFS is an hour away.

 

You can the Bayer product at any home store like lowels and you can get some regular iodine at any pharmacy like Walgreens. Forty drops per gallon of water if I remember correctly.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/coral-health/all-about-iodine-iodide-dips-corals-56128.html#.UxEq7IUcHIU