Help to identify possible coral disease . Photos.

[VelocityTech]

Hello everyone I am hoping to gather some input from you guys that may have seen this before and possibly help me diagnose the issue at hand.

This all started about 3 weeks ago. I started noticing a black substance that looks kind of like a black residue or algee but I'm not sure, as I've never seen this before. It started growing slowly it started at the corner I started to worry when it reached halfway now it is about 80% covered.

You were able to clearly see the coral was still alive under the black coating, but as it's been without light. I'm not so sure it was able to survive anymore.

I'm doing a dip now. All help is much appreciated

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Looks like algae buildup/takeover. What are you water parameters like?

 

[VelocityTech]

Looks like algae buildup/takeover. What are you water parameters like?

180 Gallon
60g sump

Nitrates 2-4
Salinity 1026
Temp 79.0
Calcium 460
Magnesium 1400
Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Overall healthy.


More photos

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Nitrates are a little high and I suspect your phosphates would be too as thick as the algae is on that coral frag. Sometimes algae buildup can choke corals and cause them to recede. I'd try brushing off the algae with a soft bristle toothbrush and put it in an area with a bit more flow in plenty of light. Try to get your nitrates down as well and test for phosphates in addition to the other parameters to track how you're doing.

 

[VelocityTech]

My nitrates are very low. They are between 2 and 4.

 

[VelocityTech]

Nitrates are a little high and I suspect your phosphates would be too as thick as the algae is on that coral frag. Sometimes algae buildup can choke corals and cause them to recede. I'd try brushing off the algae with a soft bristle toothbrush and put it in an area with a bit more flow in plenty of light. Try to get your nitrates down as well and test for phosphates in addition to the other parameters to track how you're doing.

?
My nitrates are very low. between 2 and 4. I use the ultra low range red sea test kit.

Phosphates are also low. .02

Thank you

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Nitrates should be <0.2 ppm. Algae growth is also skewing these numbers since there will be some uptake by the algae that will not be accounted for in the dissolved nutrient levels being shown by the test.

If you would like, here is some more information on these water parameters and how they are affecting your tank: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[VelocityTech]

Strange. Never heard having nitrate level of 2 is high.

Well, peroxide dip did not work
Also did an iodine dip.

 

[kashman100]

It looks like cyanobacteria and some algae to me. Remove the reddish colored stuff with a turkey baster or a soft bristle toothbrush. Then you can dip with tank water and some peroxide for the other algae and scrub it off. Rinse with tank water. Then put the frag in higher flow to keep from happening again

 

[VelocityTech]

It looks like cyanobacteria and some algae to me. Remove the reddish colored stuff with a turkey baster or a soft bristle toothbrush. Then you can dip with tank water and some peroxide for the other algae and scrub it off. Rinse with tank water. Then put the frag in higher flow to keep from happening again

Thanks,

It's actually Jet black in color. Bad camera and angles make it look redish.

I actually did try the peroxide dip. And coral iodine dip (notice the water color in the first two photos. Its from the iodine soluti4òl.)

 

[kashman100]

Cyanobacteria can be many colors including black. Did you lightly scrub it off? More flow on that frag will help prevent it

 

[VelocityTech]

I will move the frag to higher flow area. And attempt another scrub. First didn't work.

Tank has 50-70x turnover.

Only severe issue is those darn vermatid snails!

Everything else is very good.


Thank you guys