Fragging is always an option and I know it sounds odd but do that Christie said and blow it off with a turkey baster. It may slow the spread. I have done that in the past to my big birdsnests.
The good news is you have shared frags with so many people in the past so getting replacements should be easy. For example, you have me 2 little frags of that blue tabling Acro a year ago. One died but the other is doing fine. If you need a replacement I may be able to cut you one.
This. It wasn't meant to stop it or get rid of it but slow it enough to let the meds be able to do their job. Or long enough for you to frag. My thought is by now it's in the water column and may even spread to the entire tank. Especially if you don't do water changes to remove as much as possible. It looks like several folks have replacements for you so at least there is a silver lining.
Definitely in the water column. Blowing off the coral seems most likely to increase spread. Water changes are like treating cellulitis with a shower. It may make me feel better for performing an action but from a microbiology stand point seems very unlikely to help. I know.....human physiology in coral/animals. Doesn't always translate, but I think applies here. At this point ide say good chance I'll be doing a reboot!
I'm serious, you may be surprised. From a microbiology stand point you are correct, it is everywhere in the water. What do you have to lose though. If you leave it as is it will kill the coral. If you blow it off the coral may pull through
I haven't had time for any more water changes. I looked this am and the infection has jumped, so to speak. It's affecting my soft coral, which in turn is spreading to anything nearby. If it's a total loss, it would really suck! However the tank has to come down anyways at some point, likely within a years time.
Thanks doc! It's not a hobby-ender even if I loose the coral. I enjoy it too much. I'll tell you what hasn't been affected yet, those gosh dang brown palys!!!
All of this coral killing funk talk somehow took out one of my acans! Not really but some sort of white slime covered it last night so I removed it and today the flesh was mostly gone. I dipped it but who knows if the little piece of it that is left will be ok or not. Sorry to hear it is still spreading!
I had a little time this afternoon. Glad I did! I pretty much dismantled the right side of my tank. I pulled out my large green tabling acro which was just starting to show signs of disease. To my surprise, the coral smelled terrible, like infection, and the skeleton was infected. I think I saved a frag, but not too hopeful. I also broke and pulled out my purple monti. I'm glad I did, again. The bottom layers, hidden from sight were infected and spreading. Was able to save a large section. Good news, tyree lemonade is looking fantastic! Something different....I pulled out my large green stylo, in between soccer and softball size to rearrange things a bit. To my surprise, the whole thing was infected. It looks like something besides brown jelly. A red, blood colored disease was all across the base. I took a hammer to start fragging and this disease looked like a red ring all through the skeleton. I was only able to save 4 small 3/4in frags. The rest was infected. Side note. Now that 5 large colonies are gone my tank has tons of flow! Even one side of the Gyre working is pretty much all I need. Crazy the difference coral make!
This is like a nightmare for me! I can only imagine what you must be feeling about watching your corals be consumed. Are you moving your frags to a separate tank?
I would think getting them out would be the safest bet. Do you have a separate container you could use to QT them? Even just a rubbermade tub or something? I would want to remove, dip/treat and place in separate container. I am dealing with some pests now and not knowing what to do! I've found some in my QT as well as my DT! I'm going to set up another tank and try to dip/treat and move stuff over to see if that does the trick.
I don't have another tank. I can't justify the money for a container, filter, light, etc. They'll either live or they won't. I've been doing this a long time. Been through many many highs and lows. If my fish were diseased I would show more empathy. Coral, though I prefer over my fish, are just pretty calcium carbonate bacteria sticks. I'm trying to get into MedSchool next fall. This will likely require a move. If my tank crashes, it just crashes. I took a flashlight to the tank last night, lights out. Everything looks healthy and happy. We'll see....