Frogspawn problem, please help!!

[ophiura]

Originally posted by FishPhreak
I just did a 50% water change on Friday and intend to do another water change tomorrow.
Thanks,
Jessica
Huge water changes, IMO, are more likely to cause more damage than smaller one's. I don't think there is a toxin issue, which, IMO, would lead one to do large water changes.
IMO, the frogspawn polyp retracted from the skeleton some time ago (there is coralline growing where the coral should be - it is not a recent retraction). I would really avoid major water changes like this. I don't think there is something "suddenly" wrong to warrant that. But JMO.

 

[slowest is fastest]

I agree a 50 % water change in your situation is to large. 10-30% is all I ever do.
While there is clear evidence of old tissue recession from the first pic, has the frogspawn receeded any further?
The first pic also clearly shows the early stages of rot. While not thick and more transparent(like brown jelly), without intervention (ie removal of the slime) the piece will continue to rot.
SiF

 

[fishphreak]

Thank you all for the advice.
The reason I was doing the 50% water change was to lower my nitrates. I know that seems a little excessive and I hope I don't have to do that again. But when I started my nitrates were so high that I thought the water change was less risky than my nitrates being that high.
The frogspawn looks a little better today (to me anyway).
I moved it to a lower flow area higher in the tank closer to the light. It seems a little more expanded that it looked yesterday and that one really dark spot is gone (I think). I haven't been able to find the dark spot again.
I still don't think that it is anywhere near healthy but to me it looks a little better today. I can't get a pic right now because it is closer up because the lights are out. But I will see if I can get a pic of it tomorrow. Maybe someone can tell me if it looks better to them as well. You all know what to look for a whole lot better than I do.
Thank you again for the help, I am greatful,
Jessica

 

[fishphreak]

If you are talking about the dark spot in first picture, I don't think it was slime on the outside. When I was looking it I thought it looked like it was on the inside of the polyp. I am probably wrong but I thought it looked like it was getting darker from the inside out.
Thanks again,
Jessica

 

[007]

Originally posted by FishPhreak
If you are talking about the dark spot in first picture, I don't think it was slime on the outside. When I was looking it I thought it looked like it was on the inside of the polyp. I am probably wrong but I thought it looked like it was getting darker from the inside out.
Thanks again,
Jessica
The darker appearance is due to the retraction of that polyp and a concentration of zooanthellae (or however you spell it).

 

[fishphreak]

This is what it looks like this morning. Is it just me or does it look a little better?
If it looks better could that mean that it is actually getting better or is it just a fluke or something?
I can't thank you enough for all help,
Jessica

 

[smarls]

it is looking a lot better IMO. I think that a combination of dropping it (ripping the tissue from the base) and then a higher flow area (not allowing the tissue to properly heal and reattach) were probably your reasons.
I think the move to the lower flow area probnaly helped a lot.
Stewart

 

[fishphreak]

That is what I was hoping to hear.
I also got all the stuff for the MH light. I could go ahead and get a bulb and set it all up if need be. But I need really want to do that unless there would be a lot of benefit because when the 75 is ready I will just have to tear it all down to put it over the 75.
Also, I didn't do the water change. I agree that 50% water change was a little excessive so I was planning on waiting until this weekend and doing a 25% water change and then doing another 25% water change next week. Right now my nitrates are still 20ppm. So if I do a 25 this weekend and 25% next week do you think that would be sufficient to lower my nitrates?
I was also thinking about doing weekly 15% water changes. Do you think that would be enough to keep my nitrates down with out putting my tank at risk?
Thanks again for all the advice,
Jessica

 

[007]

Lookin' good! Definite improvement.

 

[ophiura]

Originally posted by FishPhreak
Also, I didn't do the water change. I agree that 50% water change was a little excessive so I was planning on waiting until this weekend and doing a 25% water change and then doing another 25% water change next week. Right now my nitrates are still 20ppm. So if I do a 25 this weekend and 25% next week do you think that would be sufficient to lower my nitrates?

I don't think that nitrates at 20 are cause for drastic water changes...more a case of getting on a fixed schedule and sticking to it. IMO, 20 is not particularly bad.

 

[fishphreak]

The reason I did the 50% to begin with is because the nitrates were at 160ppm. So now that they are down to 20ppm I will just do several smaller water changes and make sure I keep up with them weekly.
007,
I apoligize again if I irritated you earlier in my post.
I know everything you all said was for my benefit and believe me I am listening.
Thanks again for all the input,
Jessica

 

[fishphreak]

Just thought I would post an update in case anyone was interested.
The frogspawn is still looking better.
Also, to get the cyano under control I am replacing the cc in the front 3rd of the tank (the only place I have cyano) with LS. I know it isn't a good idea to mix cc and ls but I am not putting ls on top of the cc. I am removing the cc in the front 1/3 of the tank and replacing it with ls to help get the cyano under control until the 75 is ready (approx. 2 months). So hopefully with will help until then.
I can't thank you all enough for all your help,
Jessica

 

[007]

Glad its improving
good idea on the LS