ID cause of death please!

[Reefn'_Dude]

Hello,


I have had my reef tank up and operating for about 6 mos now. All creatures, fish, corals and else all seem to be doing well and standard (salinity, temperature, Am, PH, Nitrate, nitrite, calcium, Mg and others) are all on par.

I have lost very few creatures, but I seem to keep loosing anemones, and now I've lost an anemone looking plate coral.


I ran a 90 gallon reef setup previously to this and had many anemones that grew and multiplied.


here is a picture of the plate coral now:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/7518945@N06/3338954501/" title="IMG_0728 by eewk, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3338954501_d5ffc7a114.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0728" /></a>




There appear to be white curly strands all over. they are white and seem to be eating the plate coral. the same white strands appear on the anemone before it died as well.


What is going on? anyone know?

 

[greenbean36191]

The white curly strands are the animal's guts. Other than indicating that it's quite ticked off, they don't tell us much of anything.

We need actual numbers for your parameters and specs about your system, including any recent changes to offer any help.

 

[Reefn'_Dude]

Params:

Salinity 1.0205
Temp 79.1-81.2 daily
Alk 8 Dkh
Ph 8 to 8.3
Am 0
Nitrates 0
nitrites 0
Calcium 430ppm


Supplies are Red Sea, Tetra and Sera

I use RO/DI for water change and top off. Salt mix is Reef Crystals.
I have a healthy and teeming Refugium, I protien skim and water goes through a MarineLand 360 4 stage canister with purigen, Chemi-pure, ceramics and bioballs.

The dying things (plate coral, anemones) all look great for some time with long broad extension and good feeding and threat response time.

I have been buying the stuff from the LFS and they quarentine for a minimum of 1 week before the animals go into the sale displays. these particular animals were 2-3 weeks before i purchased.

 

[Reefn'_Dude]

Lighting is 175w MH in 10,000K
and 140w Fluros.

 

[black_majik]

Your salinity seems to be off, did you mean 1.025?

Or is it really 1.0205? If so that can certainly be a factor.

 

[Reefn'_Dude]

I meant 1.025. sorry.

 

[ginger7286]

Are you having problems with any other animal in your tank? I have had 2 beautiful plate corals and within weeks of their acclimation they died in a period of 2 days. They were eating and looked great then they started to bleach out and poof dead. I decided as well as everything else in my tank does this is just not an animal for my tank.

 

[Los]

Have you double checked your salinity? It is quite common for salinity to get out of what based on a poorly calibrated measurement device. Good luck and I hope you solve your problem.

 

[El Diablo]

There is something in your tank that is making your corals upset so keep checking and double checking params. Good luck