Sps scrapes?

Coralmassa said:
I'd say either nipping or repeated friction with a fish. Like, if a fish was flashing on it or trying to find a new perch. It's telling that the marks are all on the high points of the corals, not the inner branches like I'd expect from a secret crab villain. I had a lawnmower who nipped the high points of some corals because they encrusted around tiny feather dusters that attracted algae growth. Also, corals can stn if they are exposed to repeated stress, so that's more a symptom of whatever the cause of friction is. Also, those blennies can get some serious leverage with those long bodies, if they brace just right and flex hard. inwouldnt be surprised if he was able to snap off a half inch long branch.
Click to expand...


If you look again at the colony side by side, 90% of the damage is on the lower side of the colony.

I watched the tank for an hour last night and didn't see any flashing.

I have more damage on two more corals now.


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I agree that it's probably physical damage from a critter. Do you know, is the damage happening at night or during the day?

When you watched the tank, were the lights out? Did you sit back far enough that you wouldn't be seen by a shy nocturnal critter? To help you see, you can use a small flashlight (not too bright), and put some red plastic paper over it so the beam looks red. Set it on top of your tank at an angle so it goes through the tank at an angle and lights up most of the tank. The red won't attract the attention of creepy crawlers as much as white light does.

Another thought is to put a glass or pop bottle in the tank leaning against the rock with the top up and the bottom down with a bit of food in there so if something crawls in it can't climb out (too slippery). Put it in there after the fish go to sleep or they will just go in and steal the food.
 
Myka said:
I agree that it's probably physical damage from a critter. Do you know, is the damage happening at night or during the day?

When you watched the tank, were the lights out? Did you sit back far enough that you wouldn't be seen by a shy nocturnal critter? To help you see, you can use a small flashlight (not too bright), and put some red plastic paper over it so the beam looks red. Set it on top of your tank at an angle so it goes through the tank at an angle and lights up most of the tank. The red won't attract the attention of creepy crawlers as much as white light does.

Another thought is to put a glass or pop bottle in the tank leaning against the rock with the top up and the bottom down with a bit of food in there so if something crawls in it can't climb out (too slippery). Put it in there after the fish go to sleep or they will just go in and steal the food.
Click to expand...


It actually happens day and night--unless I'm just more observant in the morning. The lights were on but I was there until they turned off completely. I was laying on a bed about 7feet away so I doubt I startled anyone.

The last two nights I haven't even been able to see my crab at all.

I did place a glass in the tank day and night but I was using pellets and catching every hermit in my tank. I think I either ran out of food prior to catching him or I didn't slant the glass enough to prevent him from escaping. Today, I used a piece of shrimp and stood the glass up taller. I've been baiting day and night for two days now.


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c6011aaeb1d4e427ccd47f85fa7a5214.jpg


The damage has begun again. Lights turned on at 10:30a. Wasn't like this last night.




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Get a red flashlight and start observing when the tank lights are out


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At this point if it were me I would catch the blenny and put him either in the sump or temporary qt to see whether or not his absence coincides with a stop in the scrapes. Also earlier when I said high points I was referring to raised areas in the coral, like little new growth nubs on the base, not necesarily the topmost tips.
 
d074072f8a6af389b338319c9ad046a3.jpg


So here's what we look like this morning. Now I think I may be getting some stn. Just to rule out bugs, I decided to dip in revive. Nothing. No bugs.


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itz frank said:
d074072f8a6af389b338319c9ad046a3.jpg


So here's what we look like this morning. Now I think I may be getting some stn. Just to rule out bugs, I decided to dip in revive. Nothing. No bugs.


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Click to expand...


63f586621937aed0e361d8d79533b56c.jpg


Just caught this guy this morning. Could he be to blame for the damage?


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i may have missed it but those rocks look new. everything looks new. maybe your leaching phosphates, have a bad alk test, or bad salinity reading, in combo with a pesty crab.
 
Could be a Eunice worm they eat anything they can get their mouth on and they like to drag large pieces of rock with coral on it close to their hiding place so they can graze on the corals whenever they get the munchies.
 
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