Possible SPS pest?

Smite · Dec 1, 2016

I had bite marks on my sps' tips that I assumed was my potter angelfish. I caught him Sunday night before I left for the week. I came home today (the potters was in the trap all week) and my sps are noticeably worse. Mostly the tips are affected but two smaller frags are missing some flesh on the new encrusting area. This is only on a few pieces that are smaller colonies.

I have a midas blenny and copperband but have never witnessed any interest in coral. My alk has been at 8.9 and Cal and Mag 500/1500.

Is there a certain pest thats known to affect the tips of acros? Millepora and monti seem to be unaffected. Just some of the acros.

Marty.h · Dec 1, 2016

AEFW

Acro eating Flatworms but they normally munch in patches and quite noticeable.

Any chance the tips have got burnt have you altered lighting at all or done anything to alter clarity ect

Smite · Dec 1, 2016

I've been adding some macrobacter 7 2x a week to help water clarity. I plan to dip and see what i get. Problem is i use bayers and can never see what falls off in the white water. I raised my lights a few inches before i left because i felt i got better polyp extension before.

Example picture.

Its also affecting my AOA chemical warfare (almost dead), my growout competition piece and PC rainbow.

Smite · Dec 1, 2016

Marty.h said:

That would suck. I thought i saw a small flat like worm near them last week, but i have a bunch of baby snails....at least i hope thats what they are.

OGFrenchHorn · Dec 1, 2016

Whats your alk at? maybe it's burnt tips?

Smite · Dec 1, 2016

OGFrenchHorn said:

Hey Ev'e. It's been stable right about 9 for a good while now.

tofucube · Dec 1, 2016

Dropping your nutrients fast on top of higher alk can do that. Looks like burnt tips to me.

tofucube · Dec 1, 2016

Get the poopoo up. Next time you want clear water go with some purigen. Does a crazy good job
of polishing that water to crystal clear.

OGFrenchHorn · Dec 1, 2016

Smite said:

tofucube said:

9 is a little on the high side if your nutrients are low. Try 8 and see if the tips recover. I found that 8 is the magic number for me but I an running a ULNS.

Smite · Dec 1, 2016

I'll check my nitrates again tomorrow. It looks like 10 last time I check on salifert. Phosphates nevery register but I've got algae like mad so I think it's there.

Calreef18 · Dec 1, 2016

Added anything new lately? If it isn't a water quality issue I've had problems in the past with a rogue hairy crab that came in on a coral I added. Had what looked like chewed/broken tips until I spotted the guy at night coming out and eating chunks of sps.

Smite · Dec 1, 2016

Just a small OP frag from RAP and a maxima clam. Clam didnt get dipped but was told they raised it in house for a long period.

Six2seven · Dec 1, 2016

looks like bite marks to me but not AEFW, Pycnogonid or AE snails. it looks like chunks were taken out or something bumped into it and broke the tip. away to tell if its an alk burn is that the tip itself will be soft. squeeze the tip and if it crumbles from squeezing it the its alk burn.

P.S. omg look at that bubble algae! lol j/k

Smite · Dec 2, 2016

Six2seven said:

I'm going to do a dip tomorrow on the chemical warfare and see if i find anything. I dip in bayers so I'm going to try and strain it through a coffee filter and see what i find.

And yeah....that section is pretty average for my whole tank on the BA. Crazy how its taken off!

Possible SPS pest?

Smite

Premium Member

Marty.h

New member

Smite

Premium Member

Smite

Premium Member

OGFrenchHorn

Member

Smite

Premium Member

tofucube

Member

tofucube

Member

OGFrenchHorn

Member

Smite

Premium Member

Calreef18

New member

Smite

Premium Member

Six2seven

Premium Member

Smite

Premium Member

Latest posts