Something eating sps?

R

roilciuc

Member
I have batches disappearing on my sps corals. They turn white as if being bleached but only in a small spot and it doesn't spread. Can my 2 long spine urchins be eating my sps corals? Ill put pics when I get home.
 
Without pics it's hard to say for certain but it sounds like AEFW. (Acropora eating flatworms) You might want to dip in Coral RX ASAP and keep a very close eye out for other corals showing the same signs.
 
Also a great idea to dip all your new corals before putting them in your DT. Helps keep the nasties out.
 
Lil BamBam said:
It seems everybody is getting red bugs.. This is a nightmare for SPS lovers : )
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This is the 2nd time it has come up, and neither time has been confirmed to be red bugs. There is no reason to cause any panic. We still haven't even heard back from the last guy if it even was red bugs, or seen a list of people/places he had bought corals from to narrow down the problem.
 
Signs of red bugs, before bleaching or coral death, would be: browning corals, stunted growth, and tissue rescission. If it is red bugs the treatment is very easy and benign to the rest of the tank (less anything with an exoskeleton)
 
FishBeard said:
This is the 2nd time it has come up, and neither time has been confirmed to be red bugs. There is no reason to cause any panic. We still haven't even heard back from the last guy if it even was red bugs, or seen a list of people/places he had bought corals from to narrow down the problem.
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You could be right! No need to panic : ) It could be to much light or a big alk swing. He might have to pull the frag and check with a strong magnifying glass to confirm.
 
Yes, all DIP! but diipping will not kill red bugs unless you give them an inteceptor bath or a the new methosde of a bayer incecticide bath.

That's why they are so common and persistant little buggers. All that are heavliy into SPS will encounter red bugs eventually.
 
ok guys its definitely not flatworms because there are no bite marks. What are these red bugs you guys are talking about? are they like little red/orange flat worms?? i had some on a frag i got but my wrasse ate them all within a few days. here are the pics of what happened. the white spot has spread more now on the green slimer, which is brown now cuz my lights are terrible (t5s came in yesterday :))
 
Looks like its STN'ing. Red bugs don't do that, but they old stress the coral enough to STN. Red bugs are tan/orange little tiny "flea" like crustations that live on the flesh of SPS. You'll have to look very close and use a flashlight and magnifying glass to see them easier.
 
they have been under pcs. 4 65W bulbs. now i bought a 8 lamp t5 unit. I hope to put it up tonight. there are no red bugs
 
roilciuc said:
they have been under pcs. 4 65W bulbs. now i bought a 8 lamp t5 unit. I hope to put it up tonight. there are no red bugs
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There is your problem. PC lighting is not enough to keep SPS alive. Get those t5s up quick, and remember to light acclimate so you don't shock the corals.
 
roilciuc said:
they have been under pcs. 4 65W bulbs. now i bought a 8 lamp t5 unit. I hope to put it up tonight. there are no red bugs
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Oh My! That certainly is the problem. I'd put all of your coral on your sb and reduce your light cycle by several hours during the acclimation.
 
no need to remove them and move, just shorten light cycle and build up to a full photo period or use screens to block the light intensity removing a screen every few days.
 
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