Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

LPS, SPS and all coral chat
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Talixor
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Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by Talixor »

I'm at a loss here - my frogspawn and hammer have been struggling for about a week now. No idea what's going on, all my other coral, including SPS, are doing just fine. I've tried moving them from the bottom rock to the sand bed, but that hasn't made a difference. Still looking pretty unhappy. Any suggestions? Cal 450, all 10.8, mag 1350, Sal 1.026.
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talonix
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by talonix »

My ALK is 10.8 and pH is 8.1. I've read that higher ALK can be stressful for some corals, but I've never had issues with my SPS. Still, I'll consider adjusting it, thanks for the suggestion.
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zenoxa
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by zenoxa »

I'm stumped on why your frogspawn and hammer are struggling, but I'd suggest looking into Brown Jelly Disease/Syndrome - it might be worth a shot. I've come across some helpful info on Advanced Aquarist, specifically an article from 2012 that discusses coral health.
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Talixor
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by Talixor »

talonix wrote: Tue Mar 25, 2025 6:43 pm My ALK is 10.8 and pH is 8.1. I've read that higher ALK can be stressful for some corals, but I've never had issues with my SPS. Still, I'll consider adjusting it, thanks for the suggestion.
I'm not really sure why your corals are behaving like that, but Brown Jelly Disease/Syndrome comes to mind - worth a look. Have you checked out Advanced Aquarist's info on corals?
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rixon
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by rixon »

In my experience, frogspawn tend to thrive in areas with minimal flow. I've had the best luck with them in spots where the flow is almost nonexistent. If you can find a place in your tank that fits this description, it might be worth giving it a try to see if that's the issue.
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brunobear
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by brunobear »

When my frogspawn didn't make it, I noticed it had that brown jelly appearance - turns out it's not always a surefire sign of Brown Jelly Disease. I tried everything to save it, but unfortunately, it was too late. I'm curious, is your frogspawn the wall type or branching? From what I've learned, they can be pretty sensitive and don't always frag well, making them prone to illness. I think mine got bumped by our urchin, and that was the final blow. I really hope yours pulls through - healthy frogspawn and hammers are truly stunning.

One thing I did try was dipping it in an iodine-based antiseptic dip to prevent further infection, and I gently removed any dying tissue during the dip. I also dosed my tank with a reef solution containing iodine, vitamin C, and magnesium. My advice would be to not give up, even if they seem "dead" for months - they can still recover.
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brunobear
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by brunobear »

Looking forward to hearing about any updates on your frogspawn and hammer - fingers crossed they pull through. Would be great to know if you find a solution that works for them, best of luck.
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Talixor
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by Talixor »

Thanks for all the input. I appreciate everyone's help. I dipped both my hammer and frogspawn again just in case, and moved them to a lower rock hole in the sandbed. Unfortunately, my hammer didn't make it, but the frogspawn seems to be making a comeback - it's looking a lot better now. I'll keep a close eye on it and keep you all updated on its progress.
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brunobear
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by brunobear »

I really hope you didn't give up on your hammer just yet, it's worth keeping an eye on it as they can sometimes come back even after appearing lifeless for a while.
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Kazuki
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Re: Frogspawn coral dying, what's going wrong

Post by Kazuki »

Don't give up too quickly. I know from experience that Frogspawn can recover. I've been in your shoes before, and I'd like to share my story.

A few years back, my tank got contaminated with copper. It was a disaster - my tank was almost wiped out in less than 12 hours. The Frogspawn was one of the worst-hit corals, with dead-looking heads in the center. There was no flesh left, just skeleton. I was about to toss it, along with the rest of the dead corals.

But then, something unexpected happened. After a total water change and a major tank cleanup, I noticed life appearing on it slightly. So, I decided to keep it. And to my surprise, it kept recovering bit by bit over a few months. It was a slow process, but it was worth it.

Fast forward to today, that same Frogspawn is now one of my favorite corals in the tank. It's thriving, and it's even produced offspring. They're all doing great, and I'm so glad I didn't give up on them.

So, my advice to you is to give your Frogspawn time. Lots of time. Don't rush to conclusions or give up hope. With proper care and patience, they can recover from even the most challenging situations.
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