Reef Discussion

[Elias]

First serious problem with my tank is starting to rear its ugly head. I've been noticing a little retraction on a couple of my acans over the last couple of weeks but in the last few days, the problem has become more obvious. I'll post params when I finish doing them but everything seems normal so far.

The green acan looks like it has some sort of gelatenous coating around the recceding edges but its not "brown" per se.

These are the possibilities that I'm thinking atm:
1. Brown Jelly disease (although it doesn't look like it imo)
2. Pest (but I cant see any)
3. Alk fluctuations (hadn't tested for a few weeks so hard to say)
4. Too much flow has created small tears in the flesh that has opened them up to bacterial infection.

Thoughts?

And this one... has lost a polyp here on the bottom.

Yet this one is in seemingly perfect condition!!!

 

[Luke]

I cant view the pics mate :(
Do you have any peppermint shrimp ?

 

[Elias]

yeah I don't know what with that.. I uploaded them twice and it's done the same thing.

Here's a link to my TJ.... same pics for reference:
http://www.thereefuge.com.au/threads/elias-2ft-cube.5644/page-4#post-92433

I did have a peppermint shrimp. I'm not sure if it's still kicking or not. I haven't seen it in months and I have a mantis shrimp somewhere in the tank which I suspect has had an after-dinner-(pepper)mint at some stage.

I know they are prone to snacking on acans but during the time that I was sure it was alive, it never bothered them, but that's not to discount the fact that it could have just acquired a taste for them (assuming it's still alive).

 

[Dr. Schell]

peps have the potential to pick at corals/zoos if food is in short supply.

 

[MagicJ]

Are you feeding the acans?

 

[Elias]

Yep, once to twice a week. Mysis, brine, or red plankton depending on what I'm feeding out that night.

 

[Dr. Schell]

noticed cyano/diatoms on the substrate and the acan issues in proximity to this film. Perhaps it is a reaction to the cyano/diatoms! Perhaps you could raise the acans up off the substrate to see if the symptoms ease.

 

[Reef6]

I'm with Dr schell
Looks like algae..

 

[Luke]

yeah , Maybe place them on a rock away from the diatom until its finished blooming ?

 

[chimaera]

I have 11 types of acan and have had two issues recently. One deteriorated and died within a few days ... found it infested with bristle worms but I am guessing that wasn't the cause. Then another recently started to thin and lose colour ... still hanging on but not looking good. The other 9 acans are thriving.

My two hypotheses:
1) Alk - mine tends to be low and I haven't yet got my dosing pump sorted so it's likely fluctuating
2) ULNS - I'm "lucky" to have 0 phosphate, but my nitrate is not 0 and I think my 'redfield ratio' is out, and that the media I am running is stripping out more than it should.

I'm taking steps to rectify both of these issues, but could help you explain the issue. Though, mine didn't show die off likes yours with some polyps healthy, mine just retracted across the whole piece.

 

[MTG]

out of interest what lights do you have?

 

[chrispc66]

Acans need target feeding IME, do you just add to the tank or target feed?

I feed mine spectrum pellets with the pumps off, they certainly eat it and the results speak for themselves. I have two very long term colonies, great growth / colour.

I have also noted they don't enjoy substrate contact so much and do better on the rockwork.

Good luck, and you have some lovely colonies there....:)

 

[Buddy]

Which type of spectrum pellets @chrispc66 and how often?

 

[chimaera]

I feed mine whichever we got in the group buy all those months ago from NicD - the balano I got from you @Buddy likes them too, along with other LPS such as lobos, duncans ...

 

[chrispc66]

1.0mm spectrum pellets for all marine species.

Each day a few sprinkled over. If I'm away they miss out.

 

[Elias]

out of interest what lights do you have?

Illumagic M60S

 

[Elias]

Acans need target feeding IME, do you just add to the tank or target feed?

Yep, painstakingly, a couple of times a week. Turkey baster and pipette in hand, I make sure at least 3-4 polyps on each colony get a good gobfull. Mysis, brine or red plankton, depending on what I'm feeding the fish that night.

 

[Elias]

Ok... so my acans are officially in major trouble.

I've taken them out, blasted out any dead/dying flesh in a separate container of tank water, gave them a dip in Lugol's and have but them back in the tank perched up on some pvc pipe clear of the substrate.

Fingers crossed!

 

[Dr. Schell]

nice, at least now they are up of the substrate. Hope that this helps :-)

 

[chrispc66]

Well if they don't recover now, you've done all you can.

Top effort.....and best of luck.....:)