Need Help With My Tree Coral!!

[pogypumper]

I have had this leather tree coral in my tank for 3+ years and up until a week ago it has been very happy with good growth.

Aquarium:
Size-55 gal
Temp-76-78 F
Salinity- .0235-.024
Lighting-Coralife Compact 10,000k (New bulbs)

Here's what i've changed in the last week:
Added some inverts-scarlets, turbos, emeralds and 1 brittle starfish.
Added 1 orangespot goby.
Added 1 zenia coral.

I also covered 3/4 of the aquarium top with glass because the orange spot gobt can be a jumper. All my other corals appear to be fine.

Any ideas as to what could be wrong and is there a cure?

Thanks for any help,
Darren

[pogypumper]

I guess pics were too large.

[pogypumper]

Tree Coral

[BigPumper]

What elements are you adding to the tank? How often are water changes done? Lighting? Lighting schedule? Its winter time is the temp stable throughout the night?

[pogypumper]

Water temp is stable. Calcium buffer is added weekly.

My 4' Coralife compact 10,000k 50/50 bulbs are 4 weeks old.
I can't figure it out, he's been fine for over 3.5 years up until my additions that I listed on my first post.

I did lower one of my head jets to adjust the flow for a zenia addition. But uther than that, all is still the same.

The orange spot goby is kicking up some sand as he's sifting. Maybe this could be an irritant?

[pogypumper]

Oh, and water changes (RODI)are done every 4 weeks or so...

[BigPumper]

maybe the glass you put over the top cut down on the amount of light it gets. Try removing it and see what happens.

[pogypumper]

I think I figured it out.

I had a head jet about one inch above my sand behind my rock. The orange spot goby I recently added was causing some sand to go through the jet when he was sifting around it. I think it was irritating my tree coral. Since I raised the jet about six inches, there is far less sand floating around in the water and my coral looks a lot better.

[BigPumper]

Cool, its funny the smallest things change everything. My spagetti coral was all shrived mid tank under halides, I moved it to the bottom and its fully expanded again. I also had palays that were shrived under direct light, i moved them to a shaded area and they are doing great.

[pogypumper]

Yeah, i hear you. Thanks for the reply.

Do you have a decent LFS over in Mobile?

[BigPumper]

Yes, Progressive marine is cool. Just make sure you call before you go there because they are usually only open between 2-8pm. If you come this way, let me know I have some purple zenia I can trade or give away if you need some.