Montipora Self Destructed!

[canadawest]

Well I truly appreciate all of the great replies.

I am tending to lean towards another coral attacking the Montipora, but also stress relating from the recent skimmer change could be related too?

Here are some details. Yes, the three frags I had were all located opposite each other. The two larger ones were at opposite ends of the tank, and the tiny branch is in the center. It was the frag on the right side of the tank that destructed, and it completely bright white now. The other two frags still look fine.

There are several LPS neighbours within 6-8" of the deceased Montipora. A Hammer, Green Open Brain and a frogspawn. There are also several small Xenia colonies that are next to it, even touching it, but that is common to the other large frag on the left side of the tank. The one on the left even has my BTA right next to it, occasionally a tentacle will brush against it in the current, but has never bothered that Montipora.

Now the new skimmer is mounted on the right side of the tank, nearest the dead Montipora so perhaps it is skimmer related? Also I changed the location of a powerhead in that area to accomodate the new location of the skimmer, so perhaps the change in currents in that area was also a contibutor? In any event, whatever the cause it was fast and fatal. As of today the skeleton has no slime or polyps visible on it, it's just a bright sterile white color. I'm going to leave it for another couple days to see if anything happens.

Well I guess the bright side is I still have another healthy sized frag, so hopefully I can raise that one into many others.

[ 24 February 2002: Message edited by: canadawest ]</p>