SPS question

[JRR1285]

I came home today and most things in my tank look fine/normal. I was inspecting some of my pieces more closely than I normally do and I noticed my mini SPS colony had what looked like strands coming off of it. I continued to stare and it didn't look like mucous but actually looked like it was coming out of where the polyps would extend from.



I did some research and I found (to me anyway) that it seems to be mesenterial filaments and can come out for a variety of reason (feeding response, stress, predator harassing it) I also noticed a white/light colored portion on the end of one of the branches.



I don't think it looks like it's being consumed by AEFW ( I believe this colony is some type of acropora but I'm still a little new to SPS so maybe I'm wrong) or any other predator. I do have Bayer on hand, would it be wise to dip the piece?

I haven't even checked my parameters yet. All other corals are extended and look good.

A little over a week ago I began dosing kalk in my ATO at 1 teaspoon per gallon. Am I seeing burnt tips with this particular coral or some kind of other reaction? Last I checked ALK was holding steady around 9.

I will be checking my levels soon. I just wanted to get some thoughts on what this could be ahead of the tests.

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Sorry for the iffy pictures. I just have a kit lens on the SLR and I struggle with taking pics with it since I don't have the technique completely down.

 

[Juanrmattos]

Could these be a strand that floated into it from another coral that is propagating?

 

[JRR1285]

Interesting development.

I was staring at the piece for a while about an hour ago when I suddenly noticed something move inside the colony. I looked closer and I see claws ripping the flesh from the acropora's skeleton. Upon closer inspection it looked like a small crab just going to town.



I decide this is as good a time as any to try out the Bayer dip.







As you can see in the pic it made a very dead little crab. On another positive note I noticed no other pests in the dip water.

I don't know how it ended up in the tank but I recently received an order containing a clam, a zoa frag, and some hermits. I guess it's possible it hitchhiked in with one of them. My guess would be the frag since I don't know how I would have missed it with the other two. Serves me right for not quarantining/dipping these new arrivals.



I'm happy I decided to be on alert after seeing the mesenterial filaments this afternoon. It was really making quick work of the coral.

 

[JRR1285]

Could these be a strand that floated into it from another coral that is propagating?

Initially I thought it was something like that. When I looked really closely it seemed like it was coming out of the spots for the polyps so I settled on that it was filaments from the coral itself.

 

[Boboli]

Haha
I feel your pain i have removed 8 crabs to date mostly gorilla, two years after setup!
And yes they have been destructive.

 

[markalot]

Are you sure that was a bad crab?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+2914&pcatid=2914

Perhaps it was after something else on the coral?

 

[Juanrmattos]

Trapezoid crabs are a good thing to have on any SPS, but I'm with JRR1285, re: when in doubt is better to act right away.

Glad you solved it

 

[Boboli]

Best carb is a crab not in your tank!

 

[JRR1285]

Are you sure that was a bad crab?

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+2914&pcatid=2914

Perhaps it was after something else on the coral?

At first I was excited because I thought it was an acro crab. The excitement kept going away as I watched him tearing flesh off. His body looked too compact and "stocky" which didn't resemble any commensal crabs I looked up. He was also hairy with nasty looking claws.

Trapezoid crabs are a good thing to have on any SPS, but I'm with JRR1285, re: when in doubt is better to act right away.

Glad you solved it

I was very satisfied when I removed him. Felt bad killing him but that colony is too small to outgrow the pace he seemed to be damaging it at.

Best carb is a crab not in your tank!

I was a little upset because I really like "true" crabs and think they are cool inverts. Too bad so many are problematic.