Panic Time! Need Some help! Acropora Spreading Death.

[felda001]

Appreciate all the help and thoughts from everyone. I got back in the hobby three years ago because I love the challenge and love to see things grow. You know the challenges and accept the risk that goes with it. Even if you take every precaution you can, at some point, something is going to sneak in. It’s just part of the challenge. I told myself back then that I wouldn’t worry about the cost. I would just do the best I could knowing the idea of perfection is unobtainable. The first coral I got was a cute little no name hammer coral. Really happy with it. Three weeks after I got it, I found an Aiptasia growing on it. lol! Been fighting that ever since.

The only thing that really upsets me is what to do now. I knew this was only going to be a 4-5 year hobby endeavor. Once my new granddaughter was born I was going to start giving all my livestock away and break down the tank so I could spend more time traveling. Selling stuff was never in the mix for me. I was already collecting names of r2r people in my area that could come and get whatever they wanted. Now, I’m afraid to even give stuff away because I don’t want to trash someone else’s tank. But, this sort of accelerates my thoughts of taking the tank down and moving on to other things on my bucket list.

I’ll let everyone know when I come to my final decision, but I’m pretty much leaning toward getting out of the hobby and moving on to other things.

Breaking down the tank doesn't have to be permanent. I recently came back after having to break down everything for a cross country move. If you give stuff away just let the new owner know what's going on. We're in an ongoing arms race with pests. We win for a bit then new ones come in. At least we have some good tools these days even if they are hard to get sometimes. Only shut the tank down if that's what you want.

 

[AKL1950]

Whatever you decide to do, good luck.
I like how you think, it's a hobby, easy come, easy go. Not in it for the money, just for the fun of it.

But, having said that, if you break down, I wouldn't destroy the animals. I would sell them.
I would be totally honest with the potential buyers and let them decide to buy or not.
You have beautiful colonies and someone will buy them and rehabilitate them.

Thanks. Time will tell whether I break it down now or later, but when I do, everything in the tank will be up for finding a new home. I feel guilty selling stuff. lol! I love giving stuff away.

Alan, From someone who has seen this tank in person, I am shocked to hear this. It's a beautiful tank/ set up. While I encourage you to keep at it, many come back from this point, I also agree that it shouldn't get in the way of enjoying life. Would be a sad day if that decision is made. -David

Thanks David. Hope those frags I gave you are doing okay. Didn’t know at that time I had bugs.

Breaking down the tank doesn't have to be permanent. I recently came back after having to break down everything for a cross country move. If you give stuff away just let the new owner know what's going on. We're in an ongoing arms race with pests. We win for a bit then new ones come in. At least we have some good tools these days even if they are hard to get sometimes. Only shut the tank down if that's what you want.

Even if I break down the tank, I’ll probably keep most of the equipment. Never say never about doing it again. I’m talking to some good friends and gurus at WWC. They are all over helping me fix this. We’ll see what happens.

 

[carmodpg]

I do not think that you have AEFW. Trust me, I had a battle years back. While most people may shun me, I did have very good success with AEFW-X. We had a thread about it and others did see positive results as well. Considering it is not harmful, even if you do not have AEFW, it may be worth a shot to pick some up and use it just in case. Again, I really did not see any AEFW in the pictures though.

And I wouldn't break down such a nice tank; I just had coral warfare (I think) knock out one of my oldest tabling acro colonies, sometimes nature runs its course, and there is nothing we can do.

 

[robanister]

I do not think that you have AEFW. Trust me, I had a battle years back. While most people may shun me, I did have very good success with AEFW-X. We had a thread about it and others did see positive results as well. Considering it is not harmful, even if you do not have AEFW, it may be worth a shot to pick some up and use it just in case. Again, I really did not see any AEFW in the pictures though.

And I wouldn't break down such a nice tank; I just had coral warfare (I think) knock out one of my oldest tabling acro colonies, sometimes nature runs its course, and there is nothing we can do.

Except a tiny bit of activated carbon

 

[Reefering1]

Hope those frags I gave you are doing okay. Didn’t know at that time I had bugs.

Of the 7- 4 are doing great, 1 browned out but still alive with PE, and I lost 2 down in the rocks. The green one looks really healthy, seems to be getting some yellow to it. The one with green polyps exploded with growth almost immediately... they are in a tank by themselves, have not noticed any bugs or tissue loss!! And the hippo tang is doing great, seems to love frolicking in and out the rocks in the 300g, hot her a wrasse friend

 

[robanister]

Talking about blue tangs. Anyone polyp nipping?

 

[Reefering1]

I got mine as a zoa eater, shows no interest in acros

 

[Jimbo327]

I think you should try the full tank interceptor treatment for black bugs before leaving the hobby prematurely. That is if you don't want to dip each SPS out of tank. May need to pull the shrimp and crabs/inverts before treatment.

Treat what you see. I don't see AEFW, but I do see a lot of black bugs in your photo. Do a FW dip and see what comes off. I bet it'll be a bunch of black bugs.

Fighting unwanted pests is a PITA. But you have such a beautiful tank with full colonies. You should at least try to save them.

 

[AKL1950]

I do not think that you have AEFW. Trust me, I had a battle years back. While most people may shun me, I did have very good success with AEFW-X. We had a thread about it and others did see positive results as well. Considering it is not harmful, even if you do not have AEFW, it may be worth a shot to pick some up and use it just in case. Again, I really did not see any AEFW in the pictures though.

And I wouldn't break down such a nice tank; I just had coral warfare (I think) knock out one of my oldest tabling acro colonies, sometimes nature runs its course, and there is nothing we can do.

Take a close look at the circled area and tell me what you see. Specifically, the little oval purple nodule looking things on the rock where the blackish dead coral is.

 

[robanister]

Um my new discovery eggos

 

[billyocean]

Take a close look at the circled area and tell me what you see. Specifically, the little oval purple nodule looking things on the rock where the blackish dead coral is.

If they have legs it's probably black bugs. I'd they don't and have 2 eyes...it's aefw. The new aefw looks similar to black bugs but isn't. Magnification is required to make an ID. Most people have never encountered the newer aefw

 

[robanister]

I think I possibly saw 1 flatworm tiny guess dipping starts

 

[Shooter6]

If they have legs it's probably black bugs. I'd they don't and have 2 eyes...it's aefw. The new aefw looks similar to black bugs but isn't. Magnification is required to make an ID. Most people have never encountered the newer aefw

Question does the potassium chloride dips work on the black bugs and the similar looking Flatwoods you spoke of?

 

[Reefahholic]

These were my life saver. Just removed whole thing. Now that all my acros are full I have no more bug worried. Maybe a shroom will go in but not after going to nano first.

DIY or you bought it? Fixing to DIY several shelves and all will be drilled and pegged for Acro’s.

 

[billyocean]

Question does the potassium chloride dips work on the black bugs and the similar looking Flatwoods you spoke of?

Works on the worms but I don't think it works on the bugs.

 

[Reefahholic]

Take a close look at the circled area and tell me what you see. Specifically, the little oval purple nodule looking things on the rock where the blackish dead coral is.

I’ve never seen these purple turds before. It’s tweaking my mind. Not sure what those are, but they are definitely doing damage.

 

[Dburr1014]

Works on the worms but I don't think it works on the bugs.

Probably not the eggs either.

 

[billyocean]

Probably not the eggs either.

As far as I know nothing kills eggs. Hence the long dipping protocol to break the life cycle/egg cycle

 

[billyocean]

I’ve never seen these purple turds before. It’s tweaking my mind. Not sure what those are, but they are definitely doing damage.

It looks like the newer aefw. it's a real thing...lol. they lay eggs different....they eat acros different and they are ravenous when in attack mode

 

[Shooter6]

Works on the worms but I don't think it works on the bugs.

I've been blessed so far and not delt with the bugs. Had red bugs once in my coral qt but those were easy to deal with.