Acro Polyps Retracted and Dying - Please Help

[DominantWhiteShark]

Hey Everyone - hope this finds you with happy reefs and sunny skies. Im having some serious all of a sudden acropora issues and at a stand still about how to attempt to save them/reverse the issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Disclaimer - Ive got 5 different tanks all different sizes and styles (Reef, FOWLR, Predator, Fresh etc) and had saltwater tanks for about 20 years. Also a professional in the medical field so I am adept at labs, measurements, precision when it comes to levels and numbers etc. (if user error or technique comes into question.)

Ive had this 20gal Waterbox that has been running for about a year. Everything has been stable for the past few months with no additions to the tank or changes in lighting schedule, foods, salt mix, and have had decent growth (some species better than others) without any deaths or disastrous events

THEN... all of a sudden this past Tuesday my Acros (Pink lemonade, Strawberry Shortcake, Grizzy Adams, Red Baron, and a couple more unknown named ones all purchased from WWC) started retracting their polyps. No decay or tissue necrosis until this morning one was halfway through a necrotic decay moving from the bottom up. Removed him and could smell the death on him big time. As for the rest of them, the skin looks intact, colorful, and for the most part ok...for now... but polyps are basically non existent. Everything else in the tank has remain unchanged and is growing at its usual rate

Tanks Details/Equipment:
20 Gal with 5gal water change of NeoMarine every Saturday (1.025)
-Tunzee DC Skimmer; AI Prime HD; Icecap ATO; IceCap Gyre
-Digital Aquatics Controller for temp 78F
-Dosing System Adding Brightwell Aquatics Reef Code A (1ml per day); Reef Code B (1ml per day); Magnesion (1ml per day); and Biofuel (2ml per day)
-RowaPhos and Brightwell Xport Blocks and Xport NO3x Cubes for Bio Surface Area and Chemical Filtration
-Seperate AquaFx RODI and and closed loop system mixing station for WC

Tank Parameters (Checked Weekly until loss of polyp extension and now has been checked daily):
Salinity - 1.025 (IceCap Gravimeter)
Alk - 9.2 (Hanna)
Calcium 438 (Hanna)
Magnesium 1470 (Salifert)
Phosphate - 0.03 (Salifert)
Nitrate 5 (Salifert)
Nitrite 0.0 (Salifert)
Ammonia 0.0 (Salifert)

Tank Inhabitants:
2 Ocillaris Clowns
1 Maroon Clown
1 Hippo Tang
1 Melanarus Wrasse
1 Yellow Coris Wrasse
2 Yellow Clown Goby's
1 Aptasia Eating Peppermint Shrimp
1 Fire Shrimp
1 Tiny Blue Spiny Lobster
2 Emerald Crabs
10-15 Assorted Hermits and Turbos for CUC
Other corals include Hammers, Frogspawns, Torch, BTA, Elegance, Zoas, Mushrooms, Acans, Birdsnest, Cyphastreas, Lythophillias and a few others. Corals from WWC and TSA exclusively.

Pictures Attached of the Tank in Question (Pic was yesterday before the middle acro was removed this morning) and the Prime Schedule.

Not sure what to do for the Acros as they are 100% ticked off about something. Worried the rest will begin to actually die off soon unless the problem is found. Everything else seems to be as happy as per usual so a real Catch 22 for what to change or not change....

Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thank you for your time and happy reefing!

 

[declanisadog]

Pests? How long have all the acros been in your tank?

 

[madweazl]

The elegance and euphyllia can reach all of the corals in that tank, is it possible they're stinging the acros? Have you checked everything that has a magnet (e.g. pumps, probe holders, etc.) inside the tank? I had a probe holder corroding in the tank a couple of months ago and couldnt figure out why things were going downhill.

 

[DominantWhiteShark]

Pests? How long have all the acros been in your tank?

No Pests, that I've been able to see, during day or night. Corals all purchased and originally dipped. First of them added in May (about 7 Months into establishment). Most Recent one added Mid/End of July.

 

[DominantWhiteShark]

The elegance and euphyllia can reach all of the corals in that tank, is it possible they're stinging the acros? Have you checked everything that has a magnet (e.g. pumps, probe holders, etc.) inside the tank? I had a probe holder corroding in the tank a couple of months ago and couldnt figure out why things were going downhill.

Elegance is in the way back corner (unpictured) and havent seen the euphilia or torches be able to reach them with the current flow pattern. (No changes in flow or visual extension). I had that in mind but the polyp retraction happened so broadly across the acros only I didn't think it was an isolated sting incident. A few could be a little close but some are 100% out of reach Im sure of it.

There are a couple magnets for the skimmer and the gyre pump. Ill def give it a look to see if anything looks weird. I'm guessing there is no real way to tell if they are leaking anything toxic without testing the water through ICP or something??


Thank you for your time and the responses! Ill make sure nothing looks suspicious in the back chambers.

 

[speedstar]

I don't mean this to not be helpful, but I have learned it is the world of growing arco's unfortunately sometimes you just can't figure it out. I had a SPS tank for 10 years and mysteriously it would go throught small death phases. when everything seemed normal.

In this case possible bacteria infection, perhaps redip if not to stressed?

Add a small UV?

just some thoughts

 

[DominantWhiteShark]

I don't mean this to not be helpful, but I have learned it is the world of growing arco's unfortunately sometimes you just can't figure it out. I had a SPS tank for 10 years and mysteriously it would go throught small death phases. when everything seemed normal.

In this case possible bacteria infection, perhaps redip if not to stressed?

Add a small UV?

just some thoughts

Ive got some UV running through the Prime but only 20%. I was hesitant id torch something with the UV so its been a 'start low go slow' kinda deal. Didnt know what the efficacy was of UV Sterilization per % vs tissue damage etc etc so I didnt wanna push it either.

I totally hear ya - sometimes that's just the way it goes on the reef. I don't have too much experience with Acro's due to their tendency to do just that. These few were a new addition cuz i just couldnt help my self - too beautiful in those WWC tanks. Hearing your agreement with the unknowns makes me feel like at least its not my direct fault. Hate seeing these awesome animals suffer due to something that's reversible... but sometimes, like medicine, there is nothing that really can be done . If nothing, Im hoping i can just ride it out and whatever caused the problem will either disappear or come off with the weekly WC's.

 

[DominantWhiteShark]

Anyone had any positive results from using a broad spectrum antibiotic or similar for prophylaxis if it was a bacterial issue? Only worry would be a Hydra-esk situation... dosing something to fix one problem and causing two more.

Again, very appreciative of everyone's time and ideas for this conundrum.

 

[pharazon]

Anyone had any positive results from using a broad spectrum antibiotic or similar for prophylaxis if it was a bacterial issue? Only worry would be a Hydra-esk situation... dosing something to fix one problem and causing two more.

Again, very appreciative of everyone's time and ideas for this conundrum.

I was actually reading a little bit about that today. May not be a direct answer to your question, but interesting and relevant nonetheless:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/antibiotics-to-stop-rtn-stn.275272/

Sorry to hear you’re having troubles. I’ve suddenly had RTN in three monti caps, so I’ve been on the research trail as well. Hope it turns around for you.

 

[DominantWhiteShark]

So after a couple days of deliberation, some species research, and spending a little more time personally staking out the tank I believe i have diagnosed my issue!!

DO NOT EVER GET A YELLOW CLOWN GOBY lolol. After several months no issues... these 2 little guys turned into hellions.

I had no idea they were notorious SPS polyp lovers and I was able to witness them picking at the Acropora's. After some patience and determination i was able to grab them (literally with a pair of tongs while flashlight freezing them) and they have been moved to a 150g FOWLR tank for the rest of their little lives...wrassholes.

I will repost if the Acro's decide to make a turn for the better now that their oppressors have been removed. Thanks everyone for the comments. Goes to show you size def doesn't determine destruction lol.