Acan coral gone overnight

[Amy Dawson]

Hi everyone. I've had an ongoing problem with acans. Every time I buy one it lasts maybe a week and it's gone. Everything else in my tank is growing well.

Yellow tang
Two tiny hermit crabs (which are new)
Tiny snails
Two clown fish
Cardinal fish

Last night the acan was perfectly healthy. This morning just a skeleton. I had some Zoas on a plug beside they and they were on their side like something large plowed through the sand. Any ideas?

 

[MaiReef]

Water parameters will help eliminate some items. I have seen that before with torch heads when I had a phosphate and nitrate bloom because of skimmer problems. Also, rapid salinity pH or salinity changes can do that. None of those mentioned did it.

 

[Amy Dawson]

My skimmer hasn't been working the last few days. It's just been totally overflowing with bubbles. I'll get that now

 

[Amy Dawson]

I think that's exactly what it is. I must have way over fed last night. Should I take water out and put fresh in?

 

[Amy Dawson]

I have the skimmer back on but it just seems to be over flowing again.

 

[MaiReef]

A water change should help. Dial in that skimmer.

 

[MaiReef]

Change the air to water ratio and should stop overflowing. Cleaning the pump helps as well.

 

[Amy Dawson]

Ok I'll try thank you so much for your help

 

[jvb89]

I've seen some rogue crabs destroy some acans. Especially if there was zero coral flesh left, LPS doesn't usually go straight skeleton overnight

 

[Tahoe61]

I've seen some rogue crabs destroy some acans. Especially if there was zero coral flesh left, LPS doesn't usually go straight skeleton overnight

Agreed.

Trouble shoot your water chemistry. If you over feed to he degree that the water fouled than you should see some detectable ammonia or nitrites.

Having or not having a skimmer should make no significant difference.

If there was a healthy acan before you went to sleep than the likely culprit if not water chemistry is an invert ate the coral.

Turn down the air intake on the skimmer.

 

[alyee5]

I don't have much experience with acan's...as I am QT'ing my first frags now...but based on the abuse I've subjected them to wrt water parameter swings and manual handling...I would be surprised that they would literally die overnite...(the acro frags I have on the otherhand....)

 

[Amy Dawson]

I was just watching with the lights off and a flashlight and I have like five worms that look like centipedes. Like a yellowish orange color. Would those do the damage?