Candycane in trouble

[jennln]

Over the course of the last few days my candycane has been declining rapidly. At first it appeared to be shriveling up...this morning I noticed it receding badly enough to expose some of the skeleton. I went to my lfs and they recommended an iodine dip. After doing so it almost looks like it's now starting to disentegrate? Is this just dead tissue removing itself or did I make the problem worse? Everything else in the tank is looking great. Parameters are 0 across the board, sg at 1.025, temp at 79, ph is 8.3. My calcium took a drastic jump up to about 520 but with water changes I've brought it back down to 460 - alk is at 10. The coral has been in the same spot in the tank that it's always been and previously thrived in. The only different thing that has happened in the tank at all was a battle with a mild case of cyano a few weeks ago (apparently one of my ph's became unplugged - I don't know when that happened but I'm guessing that no flow in that one corner caused the problem since all of my levels are fine and the problem was easily fixed with water changes and a turkey baster once the ph was back up and running lol) , but the issue has since been resolved. I did do more frequent water changes while that was going on but I didn't think that would hurt anything. Is there something I'm missing here? Is there any hope for saving this coral? Thanks!

 

[candycane]

It sounds like it may be too much light (too high up in the aquarium) or not enough flow. Either one sound familiar?

 

[jennln]

Flow is definitley adequate ~ I was actually wondering if it may possibly be a bit too much, but I was told to place in moderate to moderate-high flow, so that's where it has been. Also, it is about 3/4 up in the tank....not at the top, but just a bit higher than the middle. Is that too high? I do have a few spots in lower positions that I could try it in.
I just went over and checked on it, and the emerald crabs are going to town removing the parts that started disintegrating after the iodine dip. Does this mean the end for my poor candycane or could their removal of the dead parts be beneficial to helping it heal? On several of the heads, the skeleton is now quite visible. Is there any hope of saving this or should I consider it a loss?
I'd still really like to know what exactly caused this to happen in the first place. I'm worried that there may be something wrong in the tank that I'm overlooking and I don't want the loss of corals to start becoming a trend

 

[nycbob]

hv u tried running carbon? i do that at times when things dont look right, and its one of the easiest things to do. candycane can thrive pretty much under any acceptable condition. any corals next to it, such as leather or softies? dont add any chemical, since i feel it does more damage that good.

 

[jennln]

I run carbon all the time ... is that good or not so good? (Chemipure, purigen and filter floss are what I have in the first chamber) I moved it towards the back side of the tank for now...still same height in the tank and same lighting. I didn't want to change "too" much yet, but in this new position there isn't anything else by it. In it's original spot the closest thing to it was some xenia and a frogspawn, neither of which was close enough to touch it (several inches between each when fully extended). I do have a leather in the tank but it's on the opposite side. I'm too scared to add any chemicals to the tank because I've read too many horror stories of what *could* happen. The only things I add are calc/alk when needed and iodine. I wouldn't think that would cause a problem but then again, obviously something went wrong here.
I'm guessing the emeralds had a field day with it last night after the lights went out. The only thing left on the heads is basically a skeleton. Hardly any signs at all of it's former color. Is there anyway this can rebound/regenerate or should I toss it from the tank at this point and consider it a loss?

 

[nycbob]

frogspawn can extend itself quite a bit. if ur frogspawn is touching the candycane, the candy doesnt stand a chance. as for iodine dosing, there isnt a need at all if u do weekly water change.

 

[jennln]

Crap....now my frogspawn appears to be starting the same process....earlier today it was opened up fine....this afternoon it started closing and now it's looking really bad. What is going on with my tank and why are the corals being affected like this??

 

[nycbob]

do water change and run carbon.

 

[jennln]

Just did a water change a little over an hour ago...carbon is still in there. I run it all the time. I have three bags in my other tank...should I add an extra bag from there?
Hang on and I'll go get a picture of whats going on...

 

[jennln]

Here's what had started happening to the candycane:

Now there is absolutely nothing left of the heads besides skeleton. All of the flesh is gone and I've removed it from the tank.
Here's a picture of the frogspawn. This is actually an improvement since the waterchange was done. Before that it was looking a lot like the heads of the candycane where you could clearly see the skeleton and all of the flesh was pulled more deeply inside:

Even my xenia is starting to look a bit odd and not extended right at all:

This is a bad picture because there was a lot of glare at the time it was taken, but this is about a week ago when everything was still okay...

Now other things are also not looking quite right. My rics aren't fully opened, my red mushroom has retreated almost 3/4 of the way into the hole in the rock behind him and my leather is all scrunched down with no polyp extension.
I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what in the world could have happened here but nothing....positively nothing has changed with my tank or maintenance thereof. I do weekly water changes, although I have done a few more since the beginning of the demise of my candycane - at least 2 a day - maybe that hurt more than helped? I honestly don't know what to think.
Oh, I did find out that my lfs (where I get my salted RO from) changed a week ago from using Instant Ocean to Reef Crystals. I wouldn't think that would cause any adverse reaction though....would it?
I'm at a total loss.....

 

[jennln]

Just did another water change...polyps are back out on the leather and it's straightening up a bit again. Xenia is looking a bit better too. Mushrooms still haven't popped back out, rics are still curled up and frogspawn is looking just mildly better - not enough for me to say an improvement yet. Amazingly the hammer and zoa's haven't shown any problems at all.
Fingers are crossed.

 

[jennln]

Well all heck broke loose today. Levels off the chart....and ultimately figured out the root of the problem. (After much prodding to get the truth out from a specific family member). Just going to have to keep up with frequent water changes, keep my fingers crossed and hope this turns out okay. I'm so upset.....

 

[nycbob]

good luck! dont dose anymore iodide. it can be very toxic if overdosed. ur corals will do fine with just water change.