Blue Tuxedo Urchin Turned Black

BlueCursor · Feb 12, 2017

The blue on my blue tuxedo has turned black and it only took a few days. I suspect it is because my caulerpa taxifolia turned all white and died. Other issues that happened at the same time as the caulerpa incident include my acans not coming out, my folded brain shriveled up, and my favia brain looks like it is bleaching, but no light changes.

I have added carbon and did a partial water change. Needless to say I have removed all caulerpa from refuge, permanently.

Any ideas? Anyone seen a blue tuxedo turn black?

Alfrareef · Feb 12, 2017

BlueCursor said:
The blue on my blue tuxedo has turned black and it only took a few days. I suspect it is because my caulerpa taxifolia turned all white and died. Other issues that happened at the same time as the caulerpa incident include my acans not coming out, my folded brain shriveled up, and my favia brain looks like it is bleaching, but no light changes.

I have added carbon and did a partial water change. Needless to say I have removed all caulerpa from refuge, permanently.

Any ideas? Anyone seen a blue tuxedo turn black?

Black it's a fashion trend for this year... perhaps he is just getting more stylish!

CoralNerd · Feb 12, 2017

Hopefully a wedding to attend not a funeral.

Rick.45cal · Feb 12, 2017

What are your tank parameters? Sounds like you are having a tank crash

BlueCursor · Feb 26, 2017

Sorry on the slow response. Yes, it was a tank crash started by my caulerpa taxifolia. First it turned all white and died. This drove my LPS corals to near death. Still dealing with this 6 weeks later. My blue tuxedo urchin first turned black. Now he cannot climb on anything. He just moves around the bottom of the tank. I have tried to feed him but he is slowly deteriorating.

My acans haven't extended in over 4 weeks. At night their feeder tentacles come out, but nothing is extended during the day. My wellso brain has shriveled up and not plumped back up in over 4 weeks. My other LPS corals are not extending like they used to, but doing better than the acans and wellso.

I did 3 25% water changes, and started running GAC. Problem is it was a week before I put 2 and 2 together. I never knew of the toxic problem with caulerpa taxifolia. The water changes and GAC didn't take place for a week after the caulerpa melt down.

Fortunately, my SPS corals don't seem to be affected. My brittle star is affected. I have only seen him once in the past 6 weeks. I saw him a week ago. Before that I thought he was dead. Usually he waves his arms every time I feed the tank.