Dreaded black bugs

sevitz5 · Dec 12, 2019

If you watch in the video, you will see the black specs move. I’m assuming it’s black bugs since all my acros are suffering. I have removed all my acros and have started a QT tank. I have a few questions:

1. Are they only on the coral, or do they also inhabit my rock work?

2. if they are on the rock work, will they die off without acros to feed on? Or do they also goafter LPS? (LPS are still in display)

3. What treatment has worked best?

4. What is the treatment dosage?

5. Should I just tear my tank down and quit? (Super frustrated)

thanks

ScottB · Dec 12, 2019

Sorry you have some trouble there. Not faced that particular battle yet but others have. That is quite the community of critters you filmed there. Good news is it is a GREAT video image and #reefsquad has likely attended this rodeo before.

I will watch and learn. Like most days.

Fudsey · Dec 12, 2019

@bubbaque @FarmerTy any advice for these?

bubbaque · Dec 12, 2019

Fudsey said:
@bubbaque @FarmerTy any advice for these?

luckily I’ve never dealt with anything like this so I can’t be much help.

sfin52 · Dec 12, 2019

sevitz5 said:
If you watch in the video, you will see the black specs move. I’m assuming it’s black bugs since all my acros are suffering. I have removed all my acros and have started a QT tank. I have a few questions:

1. Are they only on the coral, or do they also inhabit my rock work?

2. if they are on the rock work, will they die off without acros to feed on? Or do they also goafter LPS? (LPS are still in display)

3. What treatment has worked best?

4. What is the treatment dosage?

5. Should I just tear my tank down and quit? (Super frustrated)

thanks

They look like a type of flat worm

sfin52 · Dec 12, 2019

Aefw acro eating flat worm. That's what I believe it is.

sfin52 · Dec 12, 2019

Acropora Eating Flat Worms (AEFW) | Melev's Reef

www.melevsreef.com

Blknovass · Dec 12, 2019

I know some wrasses eat pests. That might be able to assist you or at least keep them at bay.

sevitz5 · Dec 12, 2019

I’ve pulled them all out, dipped and put into a QT tank

FarmerTy · Dec 12, 2019

They just look like garden variety planaria to me. They don’t harm anything... just a visual nuisance if they population booms.

Can you get a close-up of the flatworms? Hopefully it’s not AEFW but they usually stick to the acro flesh and don’t often roam the tiles/rocks as much.

sevitz5 · Dec 13, 2019

FarmerTy said:
They just look like garden variety planaria to me. They don’t harm anything... just a visual nuisance if they population booms.

Can you get a close-up of the flatworms? Hopefully it’s not AEFW but they usually stick to the acro flesh and don’t often roam the tiles/rocks as much.

What about the black specs that appear to move as well?

FarmerTy · Dec 13, 2019

sevitz5 said:
What about the black specs that appear to move as well?

That I’m more unfamiliar with. Never seen those in person so couldn’t say.

ScottB · Dec 13, 2019

sevitz5 said:
What about the black specs that appear to move as well?

This is a favorite (bookmarked) link that I often go to. Get those critters under some lighted magnification and take a look:

Account Suspended

zromano · Dec 13, 2019

Here’s a great thread on black bugs:

Black Bugs - An Acro keepers worst nightmare?

This is going to be a difficult post for me to write, bear with me. Last night after 3 days of research, discussion with other reefers, testing treatments under a microscope, and bringing myself to actually do it; I tore down my Acro tank. Not a hurt acro tank, but a beautiful growing acro tank...

www.reef2reef.com