r/ReefTank • u/Flyfishskier • 5h ago

Damaged torch coral help

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Title says it. One of my snails pushed my torch frag off my small island and it seems the skeleton is broken where it was hit. What should I do?

Alk is at 8.1 and calcium is good. Switching over to coral pro salt. Flow is somewhat strong and I am thinking of moving it to a lower flow area in the tank to hopefully heal. The flesh around the top looks healthy other than the damaged area.

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2

u/ElephantEarwax 5h ago

It's dead skeleton, I think if you're worried super glue it, maybe a dip in something?

1

u/Flyfishskier 5h ago

So is it all going to eventually die if it’s dead skeleton already? Planning to add some coral foods to hopefully boost healing

3

u/ZoaddictCorals 4h ago

“Dead” skeleton is a misnomer, the skeleton was never alive to begin with. Coral skeletons aren’t “bones” with marrow like mammals have. You could snap the head off the stalk and as long as the tissue is intact, the coral itself is fine.

2

u/ElephantEarwax 5h ago

No, the bones of it are always dead, the only living part is the head and the flesh band. It won't heal

1

u/Flyfishskier 5h ago

This is also what it looked like 2 days ago

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u/peakhunter 5h ago

if the skeleton cracked through the flesh band, unfortunately, that type of damage can kill the torch. bacteria gets in the broken skeleton and can cause a bacterial infection which torch corals can be extremely susceptible to. it will look fine for months and then all the sudden begin to decline quickly and die within a few days. iodine and other anti-bacterial dips may help avoid a bacterial infection while it heals. definitely lower flow while it heals and a more secure location where it cant fall again. maybe some brightwell restor treatment.

1

u/ConclusionUnlucky466 1m ago

Did it throw it across the tank to crack the skeleton as they quite strong would take more than a snail knocking it over 🤷🏻‍♂️😂