Bite marks? AEFW?!?

[Tongyin]

Hi guys,
I noticed some lighter-colored areas on one of my Acropora colonies. This colony has been like this for a couple of months. It's growing normally with great PE and all. So I always thought this is due to new tissue growth or the areas are just lack of light. As I read more and more horror stories about these Acropora eaing flatworms, I began to worry about it.
Now I really need someone to tell me if this is AEFW! And if there is any way to counter that without removing the coral from my tank. The coral has encrusted and become one with the rock.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Hi guys,
I noticed some lighter-colored areas on one of my Acropora colonies. This colony has been like this for a couple of months. It's growing normally with great PE and all. So I always thought this is due to new tissue growth or the areas are just lack of light. As I read more and more horror stories about these Acropora eaing flatworms, I began to worry about it.
Now I really need someone to tell me if this is AEFW! And if there is any way to counter that without removing the coral from my tank. The coral has encrusted and become one with the rock.

It's possible, but hard to tell without a micro shot of the colony.

Do this, take a turkey baster and blast them and see if something comes off.

If so, only way to deal with it would be wrasses that eat them. Blasting them off and let them have a meal.

All the Masters of the hobby that have full colonies manage them this way.

 

[Tongyin]

It's possible, but hard to tell without a micro shot of the colony.

Do this, take a turkey baster and blast them and see if something comes off.

If so, only way to deal with it would be wrasses that eat them. Blasting them off and let them have a meal.

All the Masters of the hobby that have full colonies manage them this way.

Thanks for the advice! I tried blasting it with my turkey baster, even tried blasting with fresh water. Did not notice any flat-worm-like stuff fell off. don't know if that's a good sign or not.
I have a leopard wrasse that always wonders around looking for food, do you think he is being helpful?

 

[mcarroll]

Assuming for the sake of discussion that it's something other than AEFW....and keying on this...

So I always thought this is due to new tissue growth or the areas are just lack of light.

With corals that are obviously grown out, overall flow in the tank will have suffered as a result.

If that has not been checked AND you happen to be running "low-nutrients" it could be just those two things adding up.

So have you upgraded your flow since the tank has grown in?

And how do you handle nutrients in the tank? (Current N and P test numbers?)

 

[Tongyin]

Assuming for the sake of discussion that it's something other than AEFW....and keying on this...



With corals that are obviously grown out, overall flow in the tank will have suffered as a result.

If that has not been checked AND you happen to be running "low-nutrients" it could be just those two things adding up.

So have you upgraded your flow since the tank has grown in?

And how do you handle nutrients in the tank? (Current N and P test numbers?)

I have not upgraded the flow, but this colony is sitting in a spot that experiences probably the strongest flow in the tank, even to this day.
I am running what people would consider to be a "ultra-low nutrient system" with the Zeovit. But I feed a lot and I dose Acropower amino acid solution on a doser. P is always 0ppm and Nitrate around 5ppm.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Thanks for the advice! I tried blasting it with my turkey baster, even tried blasting with fresh water. Did not notice any flat-worm-like stuff fell off. don't know if that's a good sign or not.
I have a leopard wrasse that always wonders around looking for food, do you think he is being helpful?

That's a good sign, but not ruling out red bugs. Hard to see without a macro pitcure, but would most likely be everywhere on the coral. Could also be light shadowing. Underside not getting enough light for the zooxanthellae to color up. This is very common with large colonies.

 

[Tongyin]

That's a good sign, but not ruling out red bugs. Hard to see without a macro pitcure, but would most likely be everywhere on the coral. Could also be light shadowing. Underside not getting enough light for the zooxanthellae to color up. This is very common with large colonies.

Sounds good, that makes sense. I will keep an eye on it. But I'm feeling better about it now, thanks!

 

[mcarroll]

P is always 0ppm and Nitrate around 5ppm.

This is a dangerous combo for coral metabolism as they do appear to have a need for dissolved PO4....so the increasing demand from ever-larger corals on a supply that's kept in limitation.....sooner or later there needs to be some give, just like with the flow.

Whatever anti-phosphate tools you're using, I'd back off on them incrementally to see if it helps.

Or maybe see what the folks at Zeovit say.....have you sent them an email or called?