Acros turning white from base up

[Poppy828]

This is my fisrt issue with my SPS so I am not sure what it is. Everything was great shortly after the upgraqde. However, some of my really nice pieces of Pink Mille and green slimer are turning white form the base up. I did take the mille out the other day and did not see any flatworms or eggs. I cut out the bad parts and put the coral back in the tank. All seemed well for a day or so and then I see the white starting again. I have other sps in the tank and they are fine. It is only 3 pieces that are doing this.

I did take in some corals that came from a tank that was not cared for. My Dad bouth the setup and I housed the SPS until we got him setup. Well those corals are still in my tank and one of them is also turning white from the base up. Hopefully I did not infect my tank with some nasty crap from that tank. I did not fresh dip the corals or anything as I did not think of it. Would a fresh water dip at this point be beneficial or not?

Any help is appreciated,

Thanks,

Todd

 

[ostrow]

Todd:

I'm sure you have done this, but what are your Ca, Alk and Mg readings? Have you abruptly changed any of them? This is what happened to me twice on alk problems.

Doesn't sound at all like a bug problem. How fast is the progression of the deterioration?

Hope it isn't STN.

 

[Poppy828]

The onset was a couple weeks ago if that tells you anything. Not something that is happening fast at all. very slowly. reason I thought it might be flat worms or some type of bug. As far as levels, they are right on. Cal 430, alk 3meg/L, mag 1300, ph 8.1,salinity 35ppt, and temp is constant between 81-81.5. Always has been right there. 0 Nitrates & phosphates

 

[ykh]

I have the same exact prob on one of my sps frags. I don't know if it's due to the moving shock or what. It only happens on one side, the other side looks fine but the white does progress slowly.

I've just been so busy with the house that I don't have time to mess with it.

 

[ostrow]

Todd, I forget what you moved from-to, and when. But IIRC the move was in the last month or two, right? Could be stress due to changed lighting on the coral (different position, intensity, didn't you also change your lighting?)

Could be in for a little settling in period, which unfortunately might not be the best for some of the corals. Other than keeping the levels stable, there isn't a lot you can do.

 

[dbrown]

I had the same problem with one of my acros. While researching I found it this could also be caused by lack of nutrients in the tank or lack of light at the base. Are you running BB and if so do you feed the tank at all?

 

[Doubledown]

I have heard that deterioration from base up is often attributed to phosphates. Not necessarily free floating phosphates, but more probable is a leaching from the rock the coral is attached to.

Does the very bottom of the skeleton closest to the rock appear to have a greenish tint, if so it's phosphate

 

[Poppy828]

I did the move within the last 2 months yes Joel. From a 75 to the 120. Same rock and same sand. The 120 was run for a week with new water, tested water parameters and then did a another water change of 75% and ran it for another day or so and re-tested. Nothing bad in the tests showed so I placed the livestock in the 120. Maybe it is stress. All other SPS seem to be fine though. I changed the lighting on 1 side of the tank not the side that is having the problem. Same salt is used all the time for water changes. The water is circulated at least 24 hours and brought to temp before doing the change. Do not think that is the cause. As for the base being green....no it is completely white. No hint of green anywhere. I run a deep sand bed and feed the tank once a week with DT'S and feed my fish daily. I have tested phosphates 3 times the last 2 days just to see and each time it is a clear zero with salifert. All my test kits are salifert for that matter. I don't think it is a lack of nutrients either as I said, I do feed the tank once a week with DT'S and use rod's food for the fish. Within Rod's food there are items that the corals can eat as well so I believe they are getting plenty of nutrients.

Looks like I will have to take the corals out and re-inspect them to make sure I did not miss something. Maybe setup a quarantine tank for awhile and see if that shows me anything.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. It is appreciated.

Todd

No the bottom

 

[ostrow]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7183100#post7183100 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Poppy828
Looks like I will have to take the corals out and re-inspect them to make sure I did not miss something. Maybe setup a quarantine tank for awhile and see if that shows me anything.
[/QUOTE

Now, that's the last thing I'd do were these mine.

That said, I am sure many, including myself, will be extremely interested in what you do and how it works out. If you have the inclination to do regular updates if you decide to remove the corals that would be great.

But, again, I would not do that. Whatever is happening is happening slowly, and may well stop when things settle if you just leave it. Then again, it may not stop and the corals could die. I just think moving them will accelerate whatever bad is happening.

 

[Poppy828]

Point well taken Joel. My main concern is if it is flatworms or bugs of some sort; leaving the affected corals in the tank and the possibley bugs/worms affecting the rest of the acros. I have some nice pieces that have grown from nothing and are finally starting to look really nice. All of the corals in my tank have started from frags the size of a pinky finger. I would ahte to lose all of them becuase I did not take the appropriate steps to eliminate the problem when I saw it starting. That is my concern.

 

[Poppy828]

Another thought......let's say I leave these guys in to not disturb them anymore than I have too.....will a type of fish eat flatworms/bugs if present? Wife and I have been looking for a final fish. Maybe this is the answer??? Just throwing that out there.

 

[ostrow]

Acro crabs are what you need on the acro flatworms IIRC. That's why I'm so hot after getting a few.

I think you'd know if you had red bugs (People would start calling you mhurley, for one thing! Sorry Mike, couldn't help myself!). I believe there are some wrasses that eat the flatworms too though... try a search. Melanarus maybe? If it is PA just got a few in that are supposed to be sweet.

 

[Poppy828]

That's the thing, only 1 other coral has an acro crab (2 acro crabs for that matter)...well the huge nice one that I still do not have an ID on does. The other corals remain unprotected. I did think of that, but can not find a supplier online to get them and I am not sure if just any acro crab will take to any type of coral. I had 2 on my pocilopora (pink ones of course) and tried to get one of them to go to the pink Mille way before the swap and he always ended up back on the poci. He didn't like the Mille for whatever reason.

My wife and I are converting are spare bedroom into a supply/storage room so if making the quarantine tank will help with some answers then I should do it now. I have never used quarantine before as I was not sure it was needed. maybe I am overlooking something that is beneficial!???!

Thanks for the help and suggestions Joel. I will do a google search on flatworm eating fish.

 

[ostrow]

That's interesting on the crab. I figured they'd move from coral to coral. Guess not. Hmmm.

I'm now in the QT all new fish clan. Never was. But what the heck I figure, have the space. But if I ever get to wanting a frag tank again, then I'm gonna have a decision to make.....

But I never QT corals. Dip, clean, etc, but no QT.

 

[Poppy828]

Do you freshwater dip your corals prior to putting them in your display tank? I of course never have. Every coral in the tank with the exception of the 2 from the nasty tank and some softies have come from Rod so I was never worried about it as his corals are always healthy. There are a few sofites that I have had since 04' that aren't from Rod, but all SPS are from him. I guess having a frag tank would not be a bad thing. We are pretty set on fish, do want 1 more, so quarantine if you will is not really necessary for us. I just figured setting up a seperate tank would ehlp if there are any problems down the road. And I guess if a fish gets sick, I could throw him in the second tank to treat him if needed. That is if you can catch the little sucker.

Really open to trying anything that may work. I am not a big chemical person, so would prefer to do it naturally if possible.

 

[ostrow]

Only once did a fw dip. I do the Reef Dip thing, basically iodine I think. Snag a bottle at IMAC -- they always give the stuff away (fragexchange booth). And, yes, I dip Rod's stuff too. Shoulda cooked the rock I got from him.... aiptasia..... grrrr..... but I think I had one already before his came in anyway.

Point is, Rod always gets new stuff in from various suppliers, and you never know what may hitchhike in there. He's pretty dang good about cleaning stuff up, ditching bad stuff, etc. But still stuff can sneak by and then pow. Better safe than sorry.

A QT for corals would be teriffic if you can do it. But again prob only for new additions. Moving the affected ones now seems risky unless you actually see bugs. And then, not sure what removal will do as the critters are in the display anyway...

 

[Poppy828]

True. I do have some iodine dip I bought awhile back, just before Rod came into the picture to treat a sick coral. used it once and it brought the guy back and I still have him. Not sure if that helped or what, but it seemed to tunr around within a day or so of the dip. I think setting up a second tank to have frags new ones and ones broken off form the display is something worth while. I will now have the room so why not do it and have it handy just in case. Maybe an Iodine dip now would help? Forgot all about that until you mentioned it. Not sure I will be able to make it to IMAC as planned unfortunately. My brother is getting married the 29th and I am the best man. Maybe Sunday I can swing out if Saturday night is not an all nighter.

If you find some acro crabs, please let me know. I would not mind trying that again. They are bound to find one they like I would think.

Thanks again Joel.

 

[ostrow]

I got peeps bringing me acros w/crabs already. Hope they remember!

 

[Poppy828]

Good luck with that.

Well if anyone knows a way to aquire acro crabs by themselves, please let me know. It would be worth the effort to see if they take to some or all of my SPS.

 

[Poppy828]

Well after some carfule looking as the fish were eating I noticed something on the sps from the nasty tank. Could not really see what it was, so I took it out and inspected it.....sure enough it was a feakin flatworm. What the heck. Guess that is what I get for not being careful. That would explain why the corals are doing what they are doung now. Stupid flatworms. Stupid Todd for not planning better and seeing them sooner. I looked these over closely the other day and did not see them. I used a flas light this time and BAM...there he was.

What is the best way to treat the tank as I am sure the entire tank is infected now. Maybe not since the other corals are fine.

Love the hobby.