Calling All Tank Doctor's

[commodorejoel]

Copepods, Isopods, aefw, bristleworms...god only knows what is in my tank. I've spent almost two weeks trying to figure it out. The moonlights come on and the bugs just start appearing all over my live rock. I've searched for hours online and read tons of different possibilities from others tanks.

They only appear when the lights are off. Have a clear/grayish looking body, very small, walk fast, haven't seen any swim, have seen antenna things on some.

The worst part is the bottom of some acro frags are missing, as in they are eating the frag from the base up. The base has a reddish post appearance recessed from the rest of the frag which has full polyp extension.

Also saw one or two micro worm like guys that are not a solid color, but rather horizontally striped like slithering in the area of th frags.

Sorry I don't have any pics, I tried on the phone but doesn't show up well.

Any ideas SCR, appreciate any help.

Ps I dosed the tank twice with Interceptor, and saw one or two floating. Should I invest in a frag rack and put the sps up there hoping they can't get to them and they will die off?

 

[Clifford]

Joel, I think it would help us if you posted your water params and got the best pics you can. Acros can recede from the bottom up from both pests and water params.

 

[commodorejoel]

Appreciate any and all advice, I'm dying to buy some coral candy.
My Tank Parameters...
salinity-23-24
ph-8.19-8.26
temp-77-79
orp-387
nitrites/nitrates-0
alk-7.0
magnesium-1350
calcium-385 (added some liquid calcium when I saw this tonight)
phosphates-need a hanna

The little bugs (one is circled on the single frag picture) look like amphipods? But I can see them running around the base of the frags...and all the liverock in general

Also I have a Blue Xenia that hasnt opened in 3 weeks...a little worried.

It will be two weeks since the last water change on Saturday/Sunday so I will be doing my bi-monthly water change this weekend.

 

[Clifford]

Your alk and calcium are low. I would slowly raise you alk to 9 and get you calcium up to 450. Given your params and the fact that you dosed interceptor I would say your params are just out of wack. Calcium and alk levels as low as yours will cause your acros to stn and other corals to be unhappy. You are going to need a two part alk and ca supplement.

 

[turbonut]

Your alk and calcium are low. I would slowly raise you alk to 9 and get you calcium up to 450. Given your params and the fact that you dosed interceptor I would say your params are just out of wack. Calcium and alk levels as low as yours will cause your acros to stn and other corals to be unhappy. You are going to need a two part alk and ca supplement.

Why would alk at 7 cause stn when thats around what the actual ocean is at? I keep mine at 7 as well as about 90% of the guys who run ulns with no issues. Now if his alk is swinging then that be an issue or if it drop let's say from 10 to 7 in hours or overnite that be an issue but not keeping alk at 7. Now if the op is using shotty test kits and the are giving incorrect readings that might become an issue, like if he's using salifert we all know there alk test read a lil high so if it says 7 its actually like around 6 or lower.



So my question to the op is what kind of test kits are you using?

 

[5ft24]

Why would alk at 7 cause stn when thats around what the actual ocean is at? I keep mine at 7 as well as about 90% of the guys who run ulns with no issues. Now if his alk is swinging then that be an issue or if it drop let's say from 10 to 7 in hours or overnite that be an issue but not keeping alk at 7. Now if the op is using shotty test kits and the are giving incorrect readings that might become an issue, like if he's using salifert we all know there alk test read a lil high so if it says 7 its actually like around 6 or lower.



So my question to the op is what kind of test kits are you using?

My alk dropped to 7.7 and all my softies looked like crap. SPS will RTN because they need the alk to be able to utilize calcium and mag. The ocean isn't at 7 for alk, but 8 to 8.5 depending on where you are.

 

[turbonut]

My alk dropped to 7.7 and all my softies looked like crap. SPS will RTN because they need the alk to be able to utilize calcium and mag. The ocean isn't at 7 for alk, but 8 to 8.5 depending on where you are.

Not trying to get in an arguement but I beg to differ

 

[5ft24]

Not trying to get in an arguement but I beg to differ

Me either... 2 different opinions and what happened to my tank over the last 2 weeks with alk and softies.

 

[commodorejoel]

Thanks guys for the response, I took the alk/mag/ca off of salifert test kits. Based on both of your opinions, it appears my alk is low in addition to my ca, as salifert tests r lower than they actually read.

The bugs havent been mentioned...do u think that they are aiding in this problem?

Thanks

 

[commodorejoel]

The orp is based on an apex that I recently set up (so reading may be off still)

 

[turbonut]

Me either... 2 different opinions and what happened to my tank over the last 2 weeks with alk and softies.

I'm not argueing what happen with your tank but I bet u dollars to dougnuts u had an issue because ur alk dropped too fast not because it got to 7.7

 

[5ft24]

do the bugs have legs, or look like feathery? if feathery, they could be Nudis... some eat montis, some eat zoo's.

 

[commodorejoel]

Turbonut-didnt u say if it reads 7 on a salifert test, it's probably around 6? If this is so, then you agree my alk may be low?

The bugs do have legs.

 

[turbonut]

Turbonut-didnt u say if it reads 7 on a salifert test, it's probably around 6? If this is so, then you agree my alk may be low?

The bugs do have legs.

Yes I agree alk would be low, that's why I asked what test kit was beign used

 

[commodorejoel]

Thank you all for your responses, I added some alk when i got home, my corals all look bright and happy today
But...
any idea's on the bug?

 

[Skidazl]

probably pods of some sort which are a good thing. I second the low alk or too big of a swing. Bring it up as you've done and just keep monitoring it.

Stable parameters are the most important thing in keeping SPS...