Disturbed Reefers

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 02:25:25 AM Post subject:

I've had another frag do the same thing, only from the tip this time. I'm now convinced that my urchin is NOT reef safe Crying or Very sad

fucker was all over the infected frag, and when I knocked it off, the coral was sliming up. I don't know if this is what the urchin was after, but it's the only thing in my system that could be eating the coral. I haven't seen worms for months, not since the dino outbreak, and snail's wouldn't do it. 2 frags are still doing well.

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 06:36:07 AM Post subject:

Urchins provide a very valuable service within the reef. They eat coraline algae which opens up the pores of the rock so bacteria have a place to live and process nutrients. They are a pain in the fucking ass though, but rarely care about a coral as far as I have seen. They will know a frag over or outright steal it, but IMO that is just to get to the coraline under it for food.

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:57:29 PM Post subject:

Coraline algae Confused

what's that Laughing

they are great, and I'm thinking it may have been cleaning the coral. BUT something is bloody eating them alive Twisted Evil

and I only have the damsel, and it's sure as shit, not him.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 07:40:52 AM Post subject:

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 02:39:05 PM Post subject:

what kind of urchin?

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 08:22:03 PM Post subject:

I hope not Barry. I haven't added anything for years now, as I don't have a quarentine tank. It sucks that there's no info on it. The only thing I can find is that Gorgonian's don't tolerate heavy metals. I removed my GFO, as it had been in long enough to see if this would make a difference, but....

J it's a diadema setosum, long spinned black urchin. It's reef safe, well supposed to be. I don't really know if it's doing harm or not, but I've had it for years, and it's only since the dino's came on, that the gorg has been sick.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 08:41:26 PM Post subject:

I'd be getting the red torch out and seeing what I could in the dark.

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 08:58:51 PM Post subject:

Mmm, I wish the tank was still set up in my lounge room. I used to wait till the light's went out, then just watch what was going on it there. I'll have to make time and have a look.

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:53:07 AM Post subject:

I hate those long spines. Too long and sharp. I would bet it has been poking your shit. Dinos are toxic IIRC, and when they die, they can polute the water. Plus keep in mind that corals may not react until a day or three after they have been fucked with...

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 02:09:08 AM Post subject:

I do think the dino's are the big problem. There's now traces of them showing up, so I'm holding off on water changes for a while. I've set up a siphon overflow again, the one the great Dahn showed me Laughing

so my skimmer's getting a good feed of surface water. The 2 frag's I have left are doing well, polyp extension everyday. This has me stuck between a rock and a hard place, not doing water changes is the worst thing for the gorg's in my experience.

As for the urchin, it's a gamble with LPS, but it's a good cleaner. They are sharp, and the sting's potent alright Laughing

Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 08:22:10 AM Post subject:

Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:00:31 AM Post subject:

Maybe it's the dino's, but I've found good water quality a must. There's enough food in my tank, and I do add supp's occasionally, kent's zooplankton etc.

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 02:38:39 AM Post subject:

Well, I'm having problems with the last 2 frags. Time to go all out now. Tommorrow, I will do an iodine dip, and a melafix dip.

I think I could have some type of nudibranches Crying or Very sad

which explain's the tissue damage. I have no fucking idea how this could be, but it fit's the bill.

Here's a link

http://www.masna.org/portals/0/NOAACoralDisease/gorgonian.htm

Just click on the picture top right and you'll see the damage.

I don't think it's white band disease, and I don't have Hermodice carunculata, and I don't have any other Eunice worms either. I know I have 1 snail, and it's never done any damage.

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