Microscope id please? - acro dieing, dipped.

[Reefer Dan]

I’ve been loosing a lot of acroporas lately and I’m going through all the rule outs. Icp was normal, par is good, etc. Another acro took a turn for the worse yesterday, so I dipped it today. Do any of these things look problematic? I am thinking it may be black bugs? I haven’t seen any signs of AEFWs or red bugs. I haven’t seen any black moving bugs on my corals either, but this had a lot of “black pepper” sized things in the dip.

 

[Idoc]

Those microscope pics seem like pretty typical "stuff" that lives in the tanks. I doubt those are the cause of your issues.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Those microscope pics seem like pretty typical "stuff" that lives in the tanks. I doubt those are the cause of your issues.

Thank you for the response! I did a big dip on my acros and I noticed a lot of flatworms and some tiny bugs. The flatworms didn’t look like AEFW pics I’ve seen, but thought maybe..? The white spots on the mite looking creature are LEDs from the microscope.

I’m not sure what my next step is.. icp was okay, par was fine, flow should be good, pests was my next rule out….?

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Those last pics look like acro bugs.

 

[Idoc]

Thank you for the response! I did a big dip on my acros and I noticed a lot of flatworms and some tiny bugs. The flatworms didn’t look like AEFW pics I’ve seen, but thought maybe..? The white spots on the mite looking creature are LEDs from the microscope.

I’m not sure what my next step is.. icp was okay, par was fine, flow should be good, pests was my next rule out….?

These two bug pics look more questionable...obviously much bigger than anything seen under a microscope!

Hopefully someone with a lot of acro-type experience will chime in, though.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Those last pics look like acro bugs.

These two bug pics look more questionable...obviously much bigger than anything seen under a microscope!

Hopefully someone with a lot of acro-type experience will chime in, though.

Bump. My current running theory is that these are acro bugs and they are eating the flesh, this is causing the flatworms (I don’t think they are AEFW) and isopods to go in and clean up the coral tissue. Hoping someone can confirm these critters. Seems like bad news regardless, there doesn’t seem to be a sure fire way to eradicate them.

possibly interceptor but I’m not sure how to get that without a vet prescription…

 

[WheatToast]

I am no expert on corals/coral pests, but the creatures photographed above appear to be marine Ostracods (Seed shrimp). These rare "pods" are beneficial detritivores and grazers.

 

[WheatToast]

@vetteguy53081
@blaxsun

 

[blaxsun]

I am no expert on corals/coral pests, but the creatures photographed above appear to be marine Ostracods (Seed shrimp). These rare "pods" are beneficial detritivores and grazers.

I believe your assessment is correct. I'm not sure if the worm is beneficial or not, but I don't recognize it.

 

[Reefer Dan]

I am no expert on corals/coral pests, but the creatures photographed above appear to be marine Ostracods (Seed shrimp). These rare "pods" are beneficial detritivores and grazers.

I believe your assessment is correct. I'm not sure if the worm is beneficial or not, but I don't recognize it.

Thank you! These look very similar, I think you may be right.
Well crap…back to the drawing board. Not sure what to look into next— icp came back fine, par is fine, flow is fine, and haven’t found any pests. It’s strange because 3/8 acros in my tank don’t seem affected.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thank you for the response! I did a big dip on my acros and I noticed a lot of flatworms and some tiny bugs. The flatworms didn’t look like AEFW pics I’ve seen, but thought maybe..? The white spots on the mite looking creature are LEDs from the microscope.

I’m not sure what my next step is.. icp was okay, par was fine, flow should be good, pests was my next rule out….?

Too nudibranch and bottom may be peanut worm which would be safe
Get rid of nudibranch
For flatworm, add a wrasse which will eat them such as:
Yellow coris
Lunare
6 line

springieri damsel will eat them also

 

[X-37B]

Any coral pics?. My best response would be bacterial. I have seen many tanks that are thriving and then one acro goes then another and so on. Icp tests normal, parameters good but still issues.
I know of one tank where all acros died in a short period if time with no explanation from an experienced reefer. I have watched this happen at a lfs that has a 500g attatched to a total of 2000g frag system. They still have issues. Went in just the other day and saw quite a few stn coral issues. Many of the corals have been in the system for over 6 years. They have multiple people cleaning their systems daily. This seemed to start after the cleaners were employed. No issues prior from my observation. Also using the cleaning pad from one system to the other.

Where the bad bacteria is comming from is a mystery.

I have a theory that it comes from people who work in the tank and carry it on thier hands and under their finger nails.
People who work in their garden, im one of them, can transfer bacteria into their sytems from said garden. Just a theory I have but several people are giving it some thought after we discussed it.
Thoughts?

 

[PeterErc]

Those black bugs are the culprit. Seen them before coming in on cultured colonies from Jakarta. They can kill a healthy coral in no time at all, almost looking like rtn from the base up. Under the scope they look like a flatworm of some type but heck if I know what they are. Was a few tears ago so just going on memory. A dip in revive would stop them.
I dreaded getting those bastads in the tank and felt bad for anyone that did. Good luck, hopefully they can die out before causing to much damage
Try looking at an acro under the scope, get a good look at the alien enemy

 

[Reefer Dan]

Too nudibranch and bottom may be peanut worm which would be safe
Get rid of nudibranch
For flatworm, add a wrasse which will eat them such as:
Yellow coris
Lunare
6 line

springieri damsel will eat them also

Definitely planning a yellow coris but I haven’y been able to find one. I didn’t see a nudibranch? Which pic are you referring to?

Any coral pics?. My best response would be bacterial. I have seen many tanks that are thriving and then one acro goes then another and so on. Icp tests normal, parameters good but still issues.
I know of one tank where all acros died in a short period if time with no explanation from an experienced reefer. I have watched this happen at a lfs that has a 500g attatched to a total of 2000g frag system. They still have issues. Went in just the other day and saw quite a few stn coral issues. Many of the corals have been in the system for over 6 years. They have multiple people cleaning their systems daily. This seemed to start after the cleaners were employed. No issues prior from my observation. Also using the cleaning pad from one system to the other.

Where the bad bacteria is comming from is a mystery.

I have a theory that it comes from people who work in the tank and carry it on thier hands and under their finger nails.
People who work in their garden, im one of them, can transfer bacteria into their sytems from said garden. Just a theory I have but several people are giving it some thought after we discussed it.
Thoughts?

three pics attached. One is my recently dead Cadillac, one is a dieing pearl berry, the third is a thriving Oregon tort colony in close proximity to it (taken two weeks prior).

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks stn and possibilities are:
High alk
Low ca
Too much flow
Inadequate lighting
Ph low
Salinity high
Elevated phosphate
Pests

 

[Reefer Dan]

Looks stn and possibilities are:
High alk
Low ca
Too much flow
Inadequate lighting
Ph low
Salinity high
Elevated phosphate
Pests

This is what I’ve been trying to rule out. Tank is a Red Sea reefer 350, 7 months old 50/50 dry and maricultured rock.
Alk: 7.5-8
Ca:415
Flow: 2 Nero 5s pulse at 70%
Lighting: PAR 315-350 where located
pH: 8.0-8.25
Salinity: 35 ppt (was 33.2 on icp so I increased)
Phosphate: 0.03-0.08
Pests— what I’m trying to rule out currently

 

[WheatToast]

On second thought, this one bears some resemblance to a parasitic copepod, but I could be very wrong.
https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium...measures-and-a-review-of-treatment-protocols/


Edit:
Possibly an unusually a hairy Ostracod as well:

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is what I’ve been trying to rule out. Tank is a Red Sea reefer 350, 7 months old 50/50 dry and maricultured rock.
Alk: 7.5-8
Ca:415
Flow: 2 Nero 5s pulse at 70%
Lighting: PAR 315-350 where located
pH: 8.0-8.25
Salinity: 35 ppt (was 33.2 on icp so I increased)
Phosphate: 0.03-0.08
Pests— what I’m trying to rule out currently

Alk slightly low
While range is 8-11dkh , it’s at lower end of range

 

[vetteguy53081]

On second thought, this one bears some resemblance to a parasitic copepod, but I could be very wrong.
https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium...measures-and-a-review-of-treatment-protocols/


Edit:
Possibly an unusually a hairy Ostracod as well:

Thanks for this image. I have work meetings shortly but look up Acroporid Eating Red/Black "Bugs" (Tegastes)

 

[X-37B]

Alk slightly low
While range is 8-11dkh , it’s at lower end of range

Why do you think alk 7.5-8 is considered low? Average ocean alk is 6.5-7. I have run higher but all my tanks run better at 7-7.5 alk.
Just curious as to your reasoning.