What are these black spots?

[reefteaser]

I bought this pink beauty for $10 at a frag swap, and it's been very well for about 6 months. I loved to pass by when I'm up very early (or late) and watch the polyps extend, and I'd sometimes feed it ("no honey, in not up watching porn!").
Anyway, lately no polyps out at night and these black spots have appeared. Anybody know what's going on?

[reefteaser]

Anyone? I moved the Grape coral in the foreground thinking it might be stinging it as it's grown quite a bit.

[mark54321]

Looks like tissue recession, you said you sometimes feed it, how often? Looks served, no polyp coming out, it might not have the energy to extend anymore.

[mark54321]

Sting marks possible too

[reefteaser]

Reef Roids and LPS max, but not on a regular schedule. I was told it didn't need it, that it would pick enough food in the water. Bad advice?

[mark54321]

Bad advice, you need to feed it at least couple of times a week with meaty foods like mysis shrimp, etc. Right now you're fighting uphill battle, your biggest obstacle will be to get polyp out to feed. Google how to feed dendro or sun corals in container, good luck.

[Hermannsae]

If you can, direct a small (!!) powerhead in the direction of the polyp. Sometimes it helps and they open up more easily. If the polyp is coming out feed it at least every second day until it looks healthy again. After that 2 or 3 times per week should work. If you do it always at the same time, the polyp is waiting for you already. But be patient it is a long journey.
I was kind of successful with a mix of Reef Chilly (Bulck Reef Supply) and mysis shrimp.
Good luck!

[reefteaser]

Thanks guys, I did a little research. I really didn't know much about this coral (Banophyllia? and forgive my spelling), but I'm learning. I don't think the person that sold it knew about it either. I fell like a got a good deal, but I wished I'd been more attentive.
Anyway, I used the top of a plastic milk quart to protect and started feeding mysis this evening. I did get some polyps to finally come out a little bit, but I can't be sure any of the mysis actually was injested. I'll keep trying every day for a week and see what happens.

[mark54321]

That's great that polyp come out, make sure it grabs some food, use turkey baster or small syringe to direct food where needs to go, just go slowly, otherwise polyp will retract.
And spelling is Balanophyllia , :)

[reefteaser]

3 in morning, some more polyp extension. I rested a gob of mysis on them and put the milk bottle back on. I'm going back to bed.

[reefteaser]

2 weeks later, after some intensive TLC, things have improved. Thanks all for pointing me in the right direction.
I was away for a week, so my wife continued the feeding and did a great job. I married well (for lots of reasons, but this included).
The black spot on the side has disappeared, and the one on top is smaller. Got home late last night and when I looked this thing was fully extended and beautiful! Tried to get a pic, but couldn't get a good one, and the flash made it shrink. Came out later though, and I'm hoping all the daytime feeding we did will keep it more open in the light like now. It used to never extend during the day, but laying mysis right on top with the bottle protector coaxed it out.
I WAS protecting it from my cleaner shrimp with a milk bottle, but I just fed it and it are everything before he got there! Just ambient room light in the pic.

[mark54321]

Great to hear it is improving, keep feeding it well and it might sprout some new heads one day. :)

[Washaufizzi]

3 in morning, some more polyp extension. I rested a gob of mysis on them and put the milk bottle back on. I'm going back to bed.

That's great that polyp come out, make sure it grabs some food, use turkey baster or small syringe to direct food where needs to go, just go slowly, otherwise polyp will retract.
And spelling is Balanophyllia , :)

Thanks guys, I did a little research. I really didn't know much about this coral (Banophyllia? and forgive my spelling), but I'm learning. I don't think the person that sold it knew about it either. I fell like a got a good deal, but I wished I'd been more attentive.
Anyway, I used the top of a plastic milk quart to protect and started feeding mysis this evening. I did get some polyps to finally come out a little bit, but I can't be sure any of the mysis actually was injested. I'll keep trying every day for a week and see what happens.


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[reefteaser]

Managed to get a better (not great) pic last night. Except for a very small black spot I think it has recovered. I feel so good about reviving it, but very guilty I didn't know more about it when I put it in the tank.
I can get it to feed during the day, but will it ever fully extend? That would look like a showpiece.

[ClownNut]

Reef Roids and LPS max, but not on a regular schedule. I was told it didn't need it, that it would pick enough food in the water. Bad advice?

if you have enough food in the water column sure. but most of us dont. target feed it

[GoingPostal]

Balanos are pretty sensitive to light, mine do open during the day but they are very well fed. They will reproduce fast when you feed them regularly too. It looked like some algae maybe growing on it before, I've seen that happen with those that are doing poorly, glad you got saved it in time.