Coral Health Crisis!!

[Sharkbait19]

Hi,
Last week I started a thread about a concerning discoloration on my leather corals. As of recently, those colorations have become more notable spots and even holes on the corals. I have concluded that this could be a possible bacterial infection, but also wasn’t sure if this is typical among stressed leather corals. I tested my parameters, and the ammonia is a bit high due to a snail that died and a large spike in black hair algae. I did a Major tank cleaning, which will hopefully help. However, the corals look like something is chewing on them. Does anyone else have/has had similar issues with bacteria? Or could it be my emerald crab, who has been getting feisty with my hermits, firefish, and corals ever since I removed the hair algae from the tank.
Also, you will notice that my devil’s hand (the first pic) has green algae stuck to it, and I can’t get it off. Anyone have a remedy for that?
I hope this isn’t too bad an issue. I know leathers and Xeniaare generally hardy, but still can die from disease. Let me know what you all think!

(Note: the one above: what is that, a toadstool?! I have no clue! It’s polyps look really strange!)

I’d love to have this sorted out soon, as before I noticed this problem I had ordered a purple torch coral which is arriving today, and I would hate to have this potential infection affect the torch as well.

 

[najer]

Hi,
Last week I started a thread about a concerning discoloration on my leather corals. As of recently, those colorations have become more notable spots and even holes on the corals. I have concluded that this could be a possible bacterial infection, but also wasn’t sure if this is typical among stressed leather corals. I tested my parameters, and the ammonia is a bit high due to a snail that died and a large spike in black hair algae. I did a Major tank cleaning, which will hopefully help. However, the corals look like something is chewing on them. Does anyone else have/has had similar issues with bacteria? Or could it be my emerald crab, who has been getting feisty with my hermits, firefish, and corals ever since I removed the hair algae from the tank.
Also, you will notice that my devil’s hand (the first pic) has green algae stuck to it, and I can’t get it off. Anyone have a remedy for that?
I hope this isn’t too bad an issue. I know leathers and Xeniaare generally hardy, but still can die from disease. Let me know what you all think!

(Note: the one above: what is that, a toadstool?! I have no clue! It’s polyps look really strange!)

I’d love to have this sorted out soon, as before I noticed this problem I had ordered a purple torch coral which is arriving today, and I would hate to have this potential infection affect the torch as well.

Firstly change your carbon to help with possible toxins from the leathers asap, before the new addition arrives.
What is your flow like, what pumps are you using?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Firstly change your carbon to help with possible toxins from the leathers asap, before the new addition arrives.
What is your flow like, what pumps are you using?

It’s the standard fluval 13.5 flow, so not perfect. I’d love to get a wavemaker and filtration upgrade, but that’s not in the budget for my tank currently. I plan to replace the carbon soon. As far as the biomax goes — the instructions say to replace it every month, but wouldn’t that get rid of a lot of nitrifying bacteria?

 

[najer]

It’s the standard fluval 13.5 flow, so not perfect. I’d love to get a wavemaker and filtration upgrade, but that’s not in the budget for my tank currently. I plan to replace the carbon soon. As far as the biomax goes — the instructions say to replace it every month, but wouldn’t that get rid of a lot of nitrifying bacteria?

I am not here to bash you, I run an Evo as well as my big tank.
The flow is rubbish and this will be upsetting your leathers.

I have an Eheim 600 return and a sicce 2000 L (L = litres), the Sicce probably cost less than your new addition, you need to adjust the tank priorities imo.
I have seen your fish issues, each time you add anything to the tank re sets your fallow period, I would love to see you succeed but you do worry me.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I am not here to bash you, I run an Evo as well as my big tank.
The flow is rubbish and this will be upsetting your leathers.

I have an Eheim 600 return and a sicce 2000 L (L = litres), the Sicce probably cost less than your new addition, you need to adjust the tank priorities imo.
I have seen your fish issues, each time you add anything to the tank re sets your fallow period, I would love to see you succeed but you do worry me.

No problem at all! I don't mean to seem like I am rushing anything and hate to be irresponsible. The only reason I have been adding corals is so that after my fallow period I don’t add something that adds a new parasite. So my plan is inverts and corals, then fallow. The torch was the last on the list for a while. I’d love to know all the mods you and others have made on your fluval evo, so I can adjust my filtration. I have become sick of the sponge and I need to replace the carbon soon. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Sharkbait19]

Voyager Nano 2000 (530 gph) - Sicce

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

Is this the pump you referred to?

 

[najer]

No problem at all! I don't mean to seem like I am rushing anything and hate to be irresponsible. The only reason I have been adding corals is so that after my fallow period I don’t add something that adds a new parasite. So my plan is inverts and corals, then fallow. The torch was the last on the list for a while. I’d love to know all the mods you and others have made on your fluval evo, so I can adjust my filtration. I have become sick of the sponge and I need to replace the carbon soon. Thanks for the tips!

You need to replace the carbon now, you have a few upset softies that are already depleting your current ability for it to work effectively, I have a heater in the back of mine and run carbon if needed, the tank is the filtration but you need flow.

 

[najer]

Voyager Nano 2000 (530 gph) - Sicce

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

Is this the pump you referred to?

That exact pump yes.

 

[MERKEY]

It’s the standard fluval 13.5 flow, so not perfect. I’d love to get a wavemaker and filtration upgrade, but that’s not in the budget for my tank currently. I plan to replace the carbon soon. As far as the biomax goes — the instructions say to replace it every month, but wouldn’t that get rid of a lot of nitrifying bacteria?

+1 @najer

Carbon is depleted in most cases within a few hours, definitely get that replaced and see how things are

 

[Sharkbait19]

You need to replace the carbon now, you have a few upset softies that are already depleting your current ability for it to work effectively, I have a heater in the back of mine and run carbon if needed, the tank is the filtration but you need flow.

Ok! Thanks for the tip. I think I was fooled into thinking that the stock filtration was enough as advertised. I’ll get a wavemaker and I will make sure to put carbon on order, which will hopefully come tomorrow.

 

[Sharkbait19]

The torch arrived and was put into the tank which I will update into the build thread. It is doing very well. Thankfully, it is far away from other corals and is in a good lighting and flow placement. This will be the end of my current coral additions.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Update: The earliest I can currently get carbon if I order it is Saturday. I’m looking into other places though.

The condition of the leathers......eh, questionable.

The original leather is getting waxy and is extending polyps, so hopefully that ends its struggle. It still has some white spots and “bite marks”

The “toadstool” leather is back and forth on how it’s doing.

I’m concerned about the devil’s hand. Like, a lot. Is it’s placement poor? Is there a parasite? I have no clue. But it looks like it’s “skin” is coming off revealing its white flesh.

The emerald crab is helping the Xenia propagate itself by ripping off it’s polyps, which is annoying me greatly.

No complaints with the zoas and the torch...