Serious Acro Problem

hansnfrans

hansnfrans

New member
My acros have been lookin' kinda crappy lately. Had a green tenius colony retract its polyps and then watched as the coral skeleton seemed to slowly dissolve. Now I am beginning to notice small spots of depression in the skeletons of 2 other acros and the polyp extension isn't what it used to be. Basic water parameters are fine and the others are as follows:

Ca: 330
Alk: 11 dKH
Mag: 1280

The flow in the 29gal tank is created by 2 MJ 1200's and the ORP is typically around 315-345 mV .

What do you think is the culprit here? Thanks.
 
Uh oh.....

Garen, I shudder when I say this, but that sounds like Acropora eating flatworms.

If so, not good at all.

Take your tenius out, let it dry for about 5 minutes. Look for any opaque colored spots in those dying areas. Underwater, AEFW's are virtually invisible, but when they dry out a bit, they turn a light brown.

Step two. Take come tank water in a bowl with a small powerhead. Blow the powerhead directly on the acro. If there are flatworms on it, they'll come flying off.

Lastly, look around the base of the colony for eggs. I'll link to a thread with some great pictures.

These beasts are an unholy nightmare. There is no whole tank treatment, only dip treatments. They only affect Acropora too.

I had them a year or so ago and almost lost the battle, but after throwing away a number of colonies and frags and dipping the rest in Levamisole, scraping away the eggs, I won.
 
Re: Serious Acro Problem

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7964450#post7964450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansnfrans
My acros have been lookin' kinda crappy lately. Had a green tenius colony retract its polyps and then watched as the coral skeleton seemed to slowly dissolve. Now I am beginning to notice small spots of depression in the skeletons of 2 other acros and the polyp extension isn't what it used to be. Basic water parameters are fine and the others are as follows:

Ca: 330
Alk: 11 dKH
Mag: 1280

The flow in the 29gal tank is created by 2 MJ 1200's and the ORP is typically around 315-345 mV .

What do you think is the culprit here? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Man,1st change some of the water.Then try to bump that Ca. to 430 slowly.next lower the Alk. 8 to9 Dkh. slowly. Mag is good 1250 to1350. Do this and U see they perk back up.
 
Also, what about PO4, nitrate? I reember saying you where fighting hair algae and red cyano ??
 
How big are sea spiders and what do they do. I've seen something that looks like a small thin starfish with long tentacles that moves quickly.
 
I agree with Menard, raise the calcium, lower the Alk. Any other changes in the tank? Did you put the calcium reactor you got from Highlander(you beat me to it) on line recently? How long have they been in the tank?
 
Re: Serious Acro Problem

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7964450#post7964450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansnfrans
Now I am beginning to notice small spots of depression in the skeletons of 2 other acros and the polyp extension isn't what it used to be.
Click to expand...

This is the part that lead me to flatworms. This is exaclty how they present when they get to work on acros.

I hope it's just low calcium though.
 
mhurley - Do you really think that Ca+ level of 330 could have the potential to cause this? I mean, I know 330 is low but I didn't think it was that low.

pK1- Nitrates are at zero and have been, phosphate is unknown b/c I am waiting on a test kit for 4 weeks now, but I am running Phosban. Hair algae isn't the problem, just the cyano and that is beginning to disappear.

schmoeger6 - No other changes to the tank. That Ca+ reactor is going on my 120gal and I have to try to find a CO2 tank, solenoid, and buy my AquaController 3 to control the pH. Ca/Alk/Mag is all currently provided with B-ionic 2 part. The green tenius colony has been in the tank for approx. 2-3 weeks. The two other acros (frags) that are showing similar signs have been in the tank since the last frag swap.
 
When I decide to move my corals from my 29gal to my 120gal, what reef dip should I use to eradicate all possible pests. I have Zoas, Mushrooms, Acros, Montis, couple of Acans, etc. Kinda need a dip that is safe for ALL corals. I have a bottle of SeaChem's Reef Dip, should I just use that stuff??
 
Without seeing some pics, I can't say. But like I said, your description reads like flatworms to me.
 
There is not a cure all dip. Tropic marin pro coral cure has been given that claim, but I doubt it's effectiveness on ALL predators. Nothing kills the egss, so multiple dips and quarentine is the only sure fire kill.....
 
<img src="http://www.reefcentral.com/images/arrow_up.gif" alt="To the top">

What pk1 said. :D
 
Garen
That Ca. is too low. Acros. can not calsificate if your levels aint balance. I will take weeks to a mo. they may look ok to you,but they need to expand, if they cant do that they break apart ,like U seeing now.
Try to keep this levels and U wont have a problem w/ them.
Ph 7.9 night 8.2 to 8.6 day
Ca 430
Alk. 8 to 9 Dkh
Mag. 1300
Nitrate 0
Phosphates 0 to .03
Dont starve your tank , FEED.EM

On the other hand AEFW is totaly different leage.
Pray that U dont have it.:(
 
Here is the colony about 3 weeks ago:

DSC01196.jpg


Here are 2 pics of the colony/stony mess, as it appears now:

DSC01209.jpg


DSC01212.jpg


I can't thank y'all enough for your extremely fast responses and good advice/links.
 
wow. tell ya what, I have an extra bottle of Tropic Marin pro coral cure, if you want to stop by and pick it up, and give that sucker a dip, your welcome to. That way we can at least start by confirming or eliminating the AEFW threat..
 
did u recently get the affected colonies...if your older colonies look OK you probably have a pesty bug..
 
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