What is this microscopic thing on my SPS?

[tektite]

I got some SPS frags in, was inspecting them and saw some small brown dots on one. Kinda anxious it was red bugs, sucked one up and put it under my microscope. What is this???

Pics somewhere around 400x

Size reference, frag is 1", the pics above are one of the brown dots on the tips of the SPS:

 

[jverna1]

To me it looks like algae on a bleached frag.

 

[tektite]

Was hoping to get a (more) specific ID, I'm a bit of a reef geek

 

[XxreeffreakxX]

those are dead coral frags probably starting to grow algea

 

[chris88]

agree

 

[tektite]

I figured it was a kind of algae, just want to know what kind. And the coral isn't dead, just very bleached.

 

[xcorallusx]

check your water parameters, your frag should not look like that if your water is right, you also must have nitrates and phosphates because of the algae growth on the coral.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

Those corals are dead...

 

[tektite]

I know how to care for my corals, have been for years. This is a frag I'm helping bring back for a friend.

I know the frag is not healthy (but it is alive), I know its got algae on it, I'm just curious what algae it is specifically.

 

[chris88]

I have bio degree a degree with a speciality in botany and I could not even come close to telling you the species name of that algae. I think it's awesome that your trying to help a friend but those frags are goners. If they do somehow come back to life please post pics.

 

[mushroom head]

I think there dead,i bought totally white no light for a month colonies,but i could tell they were alive.Easy test,take one out of the water for a few minutes,no slime dead.Smell it when it's out of the water,should smell like acropora.When you place it back in the tank,it's slime will turn white,and hang off in long threads till the flow blows it away.

 

[tektite]

The blurry coral in front is dead, the coral that's the focus of the picture is alive. It had just been moved so its fully retracted, the next day it had visible polyp extension.

 

[tektite]

I have bio degree a degree with a speciality in botany and I could not even come close to telling you the species name of that algae.

Thanks, I appreciate the insight. I'll keep looking elsewhere for the answer to my question. Just been fascinated with all the little microscopic things in my tank

 

[wav0718]

yup, coral in the back is alive.. you can see the polyps on the tips

 

[tektite]

yup, coral in the back is alive.. you can see the polyps on the tips

Thank you!

 

[slapshot]

Left over pieces of it's skin, shedding its Zoox. Nice picture of Zoox though.