Help. 2 of my acro are having tissue issues.

[Aktric1]

This has been going on for 2.5 weeks, I’ve looked at a verity of causes but no one has been able to pin point it. It starts around the base and travels up it doesn’t wrap around the coral just on one side. It slightly looks like little paths, and there are some areas within those paths that are unaffected.

Numbers are extremely steady for months Kh 8.6
Ca460
Mg1380
No3 25

Thanks for the support in advance.

 

[C. Eymann]

I'd do a dip on them and see what falls off, I already think I see one suspect possibly?

 

[rkpetersen]

Agree, could certainly be flatworms and/or bugs.

 

[Aktric1]

I'd do a dip on them and see what falls off, I already think I see one suspect possibly?

What type of dip and how long ?

 

[C. Eymann]

What type of dip and how long ?

Coral RX or Revive will at least knock them off so we can ID if it is indeed AEFW, which I'm guessing it is, pretty sure that's one I circled there, and the tissue damage looks on par with something munching on it.


edit : Follow instructions on said dip, use a Turkey baster to gently "blast off" the frags while in the dipping container and see what comes off.

 

[C. Eymann]

How many Acropora specifically do you have in your tank?

 

[Aktric1]

How many Acropora specifically do you have in your tank?

Around
11 on rock work
20 on frag rack

 

[C. Eymann]

Around
11 on rock work
20 on frag rack

Have you dipped the two visibly affected corals yet to see what comes off?

Do you dip all your new corals/remove them from original plugs ?

I dont want to alarm you, but if you have 31 Acros in your tank, and you don't start taking action on this ASAP you could have a frustrating road ahead of you.

 

[C. Eymann]

since you asked me for instructions on how to dip, I assume you dont practice dipping protocols for new additions?

If you dont have any dip product, you are hopefully stopping by your LFS to get some today? if so in addition to the dip, I'd be scooping up 30+ fresh new frag plugs/disks too, they usually lay eggs on/under frag plugs and if there is a void between the plug and the coral, they will lay them up under there too.
And the eggs are resistant to dips! much better/easier to put them on fresh frag plugs after the dips.

 

[LOVEROCK]

I'd do a dip on them and see what falls off, I already think I see one suspect possibly?

What are you seeing ? I’m trying to learn how to identify pest

 

[C. Eymann]

What are you seeing ? I’m trying to learn how to identify pest

This looks to be a flatworm, They can be really hard to see depending on the lighting and color of the acro tissue they are on, which is why OP should dip/Turkey baste to see more come off, Also the tissue loss patterns are not consistent with STN or alk burn, they look like something is munching on them to my eyes.

 

[C. Eymann]

Any updates OP? how are they doing ? have you inspected the other acros? done any dips?

 

[Aktric1]

Any updates OP? how are they doing ? have you inspected the other acros? done any dips?

Since last we talked I’ve purchased some magnifying glasses to get a better look at the coral( helped out a ton). I dipped with Revive and really found nothing but pods and other beneficial sea life. After dip I cut off effected area and plug and dipped the coral again and glued to a new plug. So far I haven’t had anything else with problems and I could have possible caught whatever it was before a major problem but I am keeping a very close eye on things(literally). I’ve also reached out to a few long-time hobbyists and it’s been a very big mix of opinions from protozoa to flow to AEFW nothing yet substantial to tell exactly what it was but hopefully its over.

 

[Aktric1]

Still so confused. After cutting the affected area off and dipping with revive I placed it back into my tank and a week later it’s back, only to the area facing the inside of the tank. The first time I found it on the back of the coral as well. (It’s like it knows what side i can see) lol