coral may need last rites

[dwkoller]

Yesterday, I received my shipment of livestock from an on-line fish store. The package was sent across country and arrived before 10:00. I ordered the following;
2 bangai cardinals
3 cleaner shrimp
a few snails
and a fugi yellow leather

One of the shrimp was doa on arrival, which I called the fish store and received credit for. The remaining livestock was acclimated using a drip method for 90 minutes -- which I've done a few times before and had no ill effects.

The shrimp look a little lethargic, but I figured they were stressed. The coral had no form-- looked like a pancake attached to a rock, but color looked okay. Again, I thought it was stressed.

The fish were fine.

This morning both shrimp were dead. And the coral still looked stress. Today was a long day at work and the now the coral looks like hell. The periphery looks necrotic, is flaking/falling apart - there is still no form and the color at the edges is gone, but there is still color in the center.

I don't know if something went wrong during the shipment, acclimation or if there is something wrong with my tank.

I check my water parameters tonight;
temp 78
ph 8.4
sal 1.024
rites 0
Amn .10
rates 0
phos 0
calcium 390

I did a 25% water change on Sunday.

I only have 1 q-tank and I have a copperbanded butterfly in there because of pop-eye.

The fish are doing okay and everything else in the tank seems okay. I do have 1 xenia stalk that looks a little flat. So other than the recent additions -- everything seems okay.

Am I at risk of a major tank die off because of this coral? If so, should I just toss it. Can I debride the coral cutting of the necrotic tissue down to the viable center. If things don't look better by tomorrow morning -- it may get tossed. My q-tank is only 10 gallons and I'm worried about a ammonia spike and the ill effects on the butterfly.

Any thoughts!!!

Thanks!!!
dwk

[gman0526]

I think it might be a goner :( . Yellow Fiji's in my experience do not ship well. Leathers do "molt" from time to time, but yours looks like it was through hell and back. You might wanna try to frag as much as you can from what it's left and maybe end up with more than one coral out of the deal. As far as a major tank crash I don't think so, but definetely could cause some problems. I'm sorry about the other loses as well, I know it sucks when this happens.

[MikeS]

Yeah, he's looking rough....

Not sure on the leathers, but I believe that they realease lots of toxins and pollutants when they die, might be adviseable to move it to a QT when you frag it...

Mike

[Condiman]

I would also get the amonnia level down because that will cause alot of problems also.

[newtofish]

I agree. The little guy does not look good, but I would just watch your parameters and give it a go. I had a leather that shrunk down to nothing and took almost six weeks before it showed a recovery.
Of course it is your call but I would try and wait it out. Just remember that when you feel it is affecting the tank get it out.
Another thought would be a second $9.00 10 gallon QT. Just change the water daily with old tank water and a cheap twisty flouresent bulb, and something for water movement.

[BoldAsBrass]

Remember when ordering on line in the winter (okay so technically it's spring) you will have temperature drops during 24 hr shipping. Don't believe the hype.