HELP my coral is infested!

Moonfruit777 · Oct 22, 2017

Hello,

I bought 9 (mostly Acros) corals yesterday, dipped in coral RX and everything looked fine (ofc it did ._.)

Just a moment ago I got the brilliant idea to use my 12x magnifier lens clip on my phone and take a sweet close up shot of the rainbow funghia.
Turns out it is FULL of tiny fleas <0,1mm in size which are not visible with bare eye.

PLEASE tell me what that is.
And how screwed I am since it is already in the tank with all my other corals.

How should I proceed, another RX dip or should I try Lugols Iodine dip ?

Moonfruit777 · Oct 22, 2017

Without the random thought, to take a super macro picture of the Funghia - I would have never ever spotted these !

kyleinpdx · Oct 22, 2017

My first thought would be black bugs but they dont look exactly like I'd expect them to. Hopefully someone form #reefsquad will be by soon with more info!

Moonfruit777 · Oct 22, 2017

Exactly my initial thought. On Advanced Aquarist it says that they are 0,5+mm in size. These here are wayyy smaller.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

Well def don't flip out. IMO as they really seem to like that coral and you haven't seen the on others yet. It likely a bug that lives on that coral in the wild. But lack of high flow and predators has let them propitiate.

So, I f you can shake them off in a dipping cup, fill with a small small of water and start adding a few drops of coral rx. Do that till you seem them die. If they don't, you'll need another type of dip.

Iodine is not effective on most bugs. It would have to a huge concentration and it actually is designed to be used as an antiseptic not a bug killer.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

Moonfruit777 said:
brilliant idea to use my 12x magnifier lens clip on my phone and take a sweet close up shot of the rainbow funghia.

If you can get than in a cup, you may be able to get a super macro of the bugs.
My clip on lens does it.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

I have heard this formula is no longer available, but that may be internet rumor.
It is effective on most bugs.

Use a diluted amount.
The key with Bayer is you must must must rinse well.

Moonfruit777 · Oct 22, 2017

I tried isolating one but they are just too small for a syringe needle- best i can do is the 3rd picture : (

Sent from my SM-G935F using REEF2REEF mobile app

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

Try a container and turkey baste it or shake it.

Moonfruit777 · Oct 22, 2017

Any chance that those dots are Zooxanthellae?

The guy I got the coral from said they were Zoox...
He has a mind blowing and really healthy tank where nothing looked like its bothered by any pests.

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

Moonfruit777 said:
Any chance that those dots are Zooxanthellae?

The guy I got the coral from said they were Zoox...
He has a mind blowing and really healthy tank where nothing looked like its bothered by any pests.

I don't belive so.

And keep in mind they may not be pests.

Also when a person has a nicely balanced ecosystem in their house , they may have predators cleaning up things they are not even aware of. So like lest say common harmless flatworms, is those one or two fish were to be removed from his tank, the population would bloom.
You are likely to experiencing exactly that. Bugs were born but you don't have any thing to eat them. If it's so new and nothing has yet.

@KJ, I've not seen these. Or it's just not ringing a bell.

KJ · Oct 22, 2017

Tag on the big guns

@Tahoe61

KJ · Oct 22, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
I've not seen these.

Me either

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

KJ said:
Tag on the big guns
@Tahoe61

;Wideyed

3mm3 · Oct 22, 2017

Just going to throw this out there hope to not draw negative reactions. Possibly symbiotic thing going on? The don't appear to be damaging the coral but I do realize they are tiny....

saltyfilmfolks · Oct 22, 2017

3mm3 said:
Just going to throw this out there hope to not draw negative reactions. Possibly symbiotic thing going on? The don't appear to be damaging the coral but I do realize they are tiny....

Yes. Possible. IMO.

Tahoe61 · Oct 22, 2017

This is a link to various Anthropods that maybe parasitic to sps.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/3/corals

I am certain that LPS have similar coexistence with Anthropoids. In the home aquarium there is no natural predator to keep bugs, mites, spiders in check. Interceptor works well in eradication if used properly.

Based on the last image I am not certain there is an issue if the coral is expanding normally.

Moonfruit777 · Oct 23, 2017

So i woke up and the first thing i did was check on the Fungia.
It opened up as it should but the things are still there - still not visible without magnifying lens on the phone.

As mentioned before the person I got it from has a dream of a tank and had about 20 or so Fungias in the frag section under the tank. So no possible predator could "reduce the numbers".
So that might be a point to say that they are not harmful. And who is as "crazy" as me and checks his corals with a macro lens???

I still wish I didn't. Can't see it but now I know they are there. Don't even for sure know what they are. What a stupid situation

Moonfruit777 · Oct 29, 2017

Update: I ordered a microscope and tried to get a picture of one of the bugs...
This is the result and the best I could manage.

My best ID at the moment is some sort of "Ciliates".
Any further information is much apreciated.
I still don't know what they do on the Fungia and if they harm it.