Something wrong with my LT plate coral

[1QuickSubaru]

I bought a Long Tenticle Plate coral on Sunday. The first few days it was awesome with no problems and yesterday I noticed that some of the tenticles were shriveling up. I thought I would feed him and hope it will get better. This morning I took another look and not I noticed a few spots on the bottom of it close to the sand it is now bare skeleton. Is my plate coral dying? My water tested perfect. I have a 29 biocube with stock lighting and the coral is on the sand. I also have a sand sifting star fish a few fish that are reef safe. All other corals are far away from it. How can I save it before it dies completely?

 

[Deanos]

If I remember correctly, your tank is about 2 months old. You sure your water tested perfect?! What specifically...is perfect anyway? Please list the parameters and tests used to determine the parameters.

Bare skeleton is a very bad sign. Once you determine and correct whatever is wrong, the coral will regrow tissue over the skeleton.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I agree bad sign seeing bare skeleton. Improper handling of the LTP coral is a common occurrence of tissue recession as well. I remember reading in one book that hermit crabs walking across it can damage the tissue and cause tissue recession. Oh and yes what are your water parameters?

 

[lfsmarineguy]

in my experience LT plates tend to be very touchy and usually end up dieing over seemingly nothing when everything else is doing fine. But like everyone has already stated, your tank is still only 2 months old so it's probably too soon. There's more to a brand new tank than just your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in SW especially a reef tank. The break in period isn't just for the parameters to level off it's so the tank has time to create populations of microfauna and flora that will help keep the system stable in the long term and create a food source. Also, as I recall the LT plates require much brighter light than the short tentacled ones.

 

[1QuickSubaru]

but will it regenerate?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Probably not

 

[1QuickSubaru]

so its pretty much done i guess?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

You can try but I had one as well and one day I noticed the skeleton showing then 2 days later it was only a skeleton. Picked clean by hermits.

 

[1QuickSubaru]

that sucks..... what a waste of money......

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I had it for about 3 months and something was knocked onto it causing the damage. About 4 months later I joined MR.

 

[JasonE]

LT plates are insanely frustrating. they come in awsome, but any damage to the tissue pretty much means it's over.
definitely a coral that should be left to the experts,IMO. Certainly not in the same ease of keeping category as regular fungia/cycloseris plates.