Jim, for a "beginner coral" they can be really fussy (PITA, IMO).
My advice is to get through the "softies stage" and move on to more interesting and rewarding corals.
(seriously...) although there are a few giant finger corals and such around, they seem to be in the hands of advanced keepers anyways...
Azilla - these will do this without warning for days or a week, even when established. Give it a steady placement - good flow and in decent light, and it should pull itself together.