New Pavona, worth saving?

[Ptyochromis]

So I got a pavona today at a very high discount.

It is receding quite badly and has a coraline-like growth on it. I know they had it under 200w MH at the LFS, I'm not sure if it is light stress/bleach or disease.

I was considering removing the good bit from the dead part. Good idea or too much stress?

I have it acclimating at the moment.

http://i.imgur.com/Cbvw8.jpg

[Nano sapiens]

Absolutely. They have a strong capacity to rebound from abuse.

Looks like you have 'Encrusting Pavona' (Pavona varians), which I also have. This species is one of the most widely ranging corals (Ecuador to the Red Sea).

It is not a very high light coral (photosaturates at about 220 PAR). It is often found in crevices in shallow water or more out in the open in deeper water. It does, however, depend heavily on its Zoanthellae for sustenance.

Keep it towards the bottom (if you have intense lighting) in medium flow. Keep it away from other corals as it has potent sweeper tentacles (I've seen mine produce multitudes of sweepers up to nearly 2" long).

[Ptyochromis]

I'm more worried about the dead spots. Is that coraline algae? or spreading necrosis? And would fraging the good bits off help it recover or doom it?

[Nano sapiens]

From your phote, I just see purple coraline algae that has covered some of the Pavona skeleton. Nothing to worry about since coralline will not kill live tissue, only the dead skeleton.

[tmz]

I'd put it in indirect light with moderate flow and let it heal. It might take a month or so,ime.

[Ptyochromis]

I have it in the highest flow area in my tank. Although it's laminar flow, but I hear that these deep water corals like it. Idk how to calculate the flow other than to say it takes a piece of debris a 1 Mississippi count to go 12 inches. The only light it's getting is from 2xt5s (10k+440nm) 20" above it and just outside the beam from my 12w par 38.

[Steve175]

I also would not frag it. Move it down in your tank, away from direct flow, and let it settle out.

[Ptyochromis]

It is starting to get what looks like white tissue stuff coming out from one of the receding edges. Never seen anything like it before. And what I can only describe as busing is spreading up the skeleton.



There is also a crab living in it.

Here are the pics:
http://imgur.com/a/XiCcn

[Steve175]

The pavona itself appears fine: I would not frag it and would just let it settle out as above. Keep us posted

[Ptyochromis]

I moved it to the bottom of the tank and under a rock so it gets shade. From one extreme to the next. I won't be attempting to move it again for some time.

I also have no idea if the polyps are extending or not. I ordered some nannochloropsis and I. galbana for my clams, maybe the pavona will feed on it.

[Acronic]

I would remove the crab

[Ptyochromis]

How would you go about removing the crab? It has a nice deep cave.

[Ptyochromis]

Well, here it is as of 5min ago.

http://i.imgur.com/YbmD8.jpg

I am somewhat ambiguous about its progress. The left bit and top areas appear to be recovering but the right edge along the coralline shows little to no progress.

Nitrate= 10ppm
Ca = 440ppm
KH = 10 dKh
Mg = 2050ppm (dosing Tech M for bryopsis)

[franklypre]

It definately looks better to me, give it some time and keep us updated.

[xcorallusx]

sps?

[Ptyochromis]

It definately looks better to me, give it some time and keep us updated.

Thx, I guess its because I see it every day lol.

[Ptyochromis]

sps?

They look quite small to me

[Reef264]

Mine was in bad shape when I got mine, I just put it in 1 spot up high under the center brace, which would be equal to lower direct light, It's got high flow on it now.Thriving and growing at a good pace.

-Ray