What now? What IS this??

[MelodiB]

New to the hobby. Filled my 15g nana almost a year ago. Started stocking about 6 months ago. Added first corals in Jan. Love my little underwater world, knew it wouldn't be easy...
red-legged hermit
3 astrea
2 turbo
1 narsarrius
1 peppermint
1 goby and pistol pair.
1 emerald crab
2 zoa frags
1 duncan frag
1 GSP rock.
Have added slowly and patiently. Water has been pretty stable. Had a green bubble algae problem but cleared up with a few water changes and a couple of weekly doses of Pristine.

A week ago, I was blowing off coral with small baster. More debris than normal but didn't think much until debris floated up during cleaning and filled the water with small, opaque bits (think tiny pieces of floating tissue paper) but weirdest was that the bits began sticking to the legs and antenna of my shrimp, crab, on the backs of snails, etc.

By morning, everything seemed fine again. Nothing sticking to the shrimp or the crab, corals, etc. Ok. Bizarre, but this is a strange new world for me.

A few days ago, i started seeing long, greyish strands of "hair" streaming from the output nozzles. Another day and its gumming up the pump. Today I started my water change and there's this fine layer of an ash like stuff and as soon as it starts getting stirred up by the vacuum it starts sticking and I see that theres stuff all over the rock work and bases if the frags - what looks kind of like fine spider webbing and even hanging in the water.

LFS says thinks its dinos and I should do 50% change and dose with Dr. Tim's waste away and start a 72 hour black out. What do you all think? Am I doing the right thing regardless of what this is? I'd hate to lose anyone now...

 

[P-Dub]

I think we need clear photos under white lights of what you are seeing and a full rundown of all parameters.

 

[vetteguy53081]

May be mulm but agree Pictures tell a whole story

 

[MelodiB]

I think we need clear photos under white lights of what you are seeing and a full rundown of all parameters.

I've been doing a lot of research. Doing the blackout now. I'll see what is up after this. Thanks for responding. I appreciate it.

 

[MelodiB]

May be mulm but agree Pictures tell a whole story

Well thanks for the new term. Mulm. I am learning so much. I've been researching 2 days now LOL. I think i have dinos or chrystophytes. I have some purchases to make and i have a test kit but appears it isn't enough. I think my nutrients are low. Going to add some seed after the blackout and wont take my rockwork out anymore either. Still have so much knowledge to gather regarding this hobby

 

[vetteguy53081]

Pic(s) ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Well thanks for the new term. Mulm. I am learning so much. I've been researching 2 days now LOL. I think i have dinos or chrystophytes. I have some purchases to make and i have a test kit but appears it isn't enough. I think my nutrients are low. Going to add some seed after the blackout and wont take my rockwork out anymore either. Still have so much knowledge to gather regarding this hobby

chrysophytes are white and fuzzy and will not blow away as you described. Dino will but are generally golden brown and stringy almost looking like snot with bubbles

 

[MelodiB]

chrysophytes are white and fuzzy and will not blow away as you described. Dino will but are generally golden brown and stringy almost looking like snot with bubbles

Ok. I'll get a few pictures tomorrow and post. I've seen a few pic online and it seems to look more like the dinos but there's this other stuff too. Maybe not related. I'll check back tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

 

[MelodiB]

chrysophytes are white and fuzzy and will not blow away as you described. Dino will but are generally golden brown and stringy almost looking like snot with bubbles

Everything is dead except the snails. Not sure about the corals yet. Pretty upset. Here's some photos of what I've got. Any suggestions are appreciated

 

[dvgyfresh]

Everything is dead except the snails. Not sure about the corals yet. Pretty upset. Here's some photos of what I've got. Any suggestions are appreciated

Hmm hard to tell if Dino’s , what are yr phosphate / nitrate readings and other parameters? And you said that the only livestock left is snails? Sorry to hear that , we all go through losses , the white weird algae by the return pump makes me think something like air freshener / clean product made it into tank

 

[MelodiB]

Really? I keep my buckets separate from everything else. I'm so bummed today

 

[dvgyfresh]

Really? I keep my buckets separate from everything else. I'm so bummed today

I mean I’m just ultimately guessing , do you run any candles / air freshener near the tank? I run some near my tank because I like good smells haha but I put a pack of cuprisorb in my sump just in case and I’m also running chemi pure blue

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh no and sorry to hear. Looking at those pictures, looks like a fungal/bacterial issue
What type of water are you using?
What test kits?
Types of food being fed?
This is not Dino. One pic shows stringy hair which notates possibly high nitrates and also ammonia and may suggest low saturated oxygen
Test water and have it tested from outside source that does not use api kits for comparison
I just got done with meetings and as soon as our jet is fueled, will be heading home. Will check back in 3 hours when we’re back as I’ll have no WiFi

 

[MelodiB]

Oh no and sorry to hear. Looking at those pictures, looks like a fungal/bacterial issue
What type of water are you using?
What test kits?
Types of food being fed?
This is not Dino. One pic shows stringy hair which notates possibly high nitrates and also ammonia and may suggest low saturated oxygen
Test water and have it tested from outside source that does not use api kits for comparison
I just got done with meetings and as soon as our jet is fueled, will be heading home. Will check back in 3 hours when we’re back as I’ll have no WiF

Tropic marin water from LFS. API test kit. Food is frozen brine shrimp. On top of everything else, I'm not feeling well today.I've been trying to find a 5g qt tank to save my corals but nothing available. I don't know what to do. LFS closed today.

I'll test water and post results. Will also try to post what I have that might help combat this. I have the fluval evo 13.5 aquarium kit. Has been running since August with no issues until now. Appreciate the help. Hoping I can at least save something. Safe flight. Thank you.

 

[MelodiB]

Ph 7.4
Ammonia 0%
Nitrite 0%
Nitrate 0%

I literally just bought a skimmer, not installed yet and researching to understand it’s function. Recommend installing?

I have some aquavitro Seed. I added a teaspoon to the tank.

I have Pristine that I haven’t used in a month.

I put Dr. Tim’s Waste Away in the water Sunday night.

I have Dr. Tim’s Re-fresh never used.

I don’t have a lot of funds, but I can spend some for what I need to make this better. Im but I don't want to give up. Let me know your recommendations. I’ll take a sample to LFS tomorrow if I’m feeling better. No fever but sore throat and I’m hesitant to go out.

The corals have opened in the light, except GSP. Looks like whatever this is seems more interested in the bases of the plugs. The water is very cloudy and the snails are not looking happy. That stringy slimy stuff is everywhere.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Tropic marin water from LFS. API test kit. Food is frozen brine shrimp. On top of everything else, I'm not feeling well today.I've been trying to find a 5g qt tank to save my corals but nothing available. I don't know what to do. LFS closed today.

I'll test water and post results. Will also try to post what I have that might help combat this. I have the fluval evo 13.5 aquarium kit. Has been running since August with no issues until now. Appreciate the help. Hoping I can at least save something. Safe flight. Thank you.

Rubbermaid tub will suffice as a temporary tank
API kit may likely be giving you false readings. As suggested m a water test from a different source to see what they come up with

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ph 7.4
Ammonia 0%
Nitrite 0%
Nitrate 0%

I literally just bought a skimmer, not installed yet and researching to understand it’s function. Recommend installing?

I have some aquavitro Seed. I added a teaspoon to the tank.

I have Pristine that I haven’t used in a month.

I put Dr. Tim’s Waste Away in the water Sunday night.

I have Dr. Tim’s Re-fresh never used.

I don’t have a lot of funds, but I can spend some for what I need to make this better. Im but I don't want to give up. Let me know your recommendations. I’ll take a sample to LFS tomorrow if I’m feeling better. No fever but sore throat and I’m hesitant to go out.

The corals have opened in the light, except GSP. Looks like whatever this is seems more interested in the bases of the plugs. The water is very cloudy and the snails are not looking happy. That stringy slimy stuff is everywhere.

If you can- a good siphoning and water change will help. Blow that stuff loose with a turkey baster then do the water change.