Black Spots on Bleaching Montipora

[Josiah1]

Goodevening. My montipora frag has been growing very quickly until about a month ago. It has now been bleaching rapidly and then the color slowly comes back, then it bleaches again. At times there is algae growing on the bleached parts. This evening I pulled it out and dipped it in Red Sea Dip X (what I dip my corals in when I buy them) I noticed these black spots on the bleached spots. They almost look like a Tiny tadpole, with a fat head and thin tapered tail. Are they a bug of some kind?

 

[Tahoe61]

Probably black bug. I would use Interceptor if you don't have a lot of shrimp or crabs. Research it use first. Common black bugs typically don't bother Montipora but Interceptor will kill every mite and bug bothering any sps.
Prior to treatment rule out parameter issues, flow and Montipora eating Nudibrachs.

 

[Josiah1]

Thanks for your reply, I have a cleaner shrimp, crabs and snails, I would prefer not to dose anything in the tank. Could I dip it in interceptor?

 

[KrisReef]

Goodevening. My montipora frag has been growing very quickly until about a month ago. It has now been bleaching rapidly and then the color slowly comes back, then it bleaches again. At times there is algae growing on the bleached parts. This evening I pulled it out and dipped it in Red Sea Dip X (what I dip my corals in when I buy them) I noticed these black spots on the bleached spots. They almost look like a Tiny tadpole, with a fat head and thin tapered tail. Are they a bug of some kind?

Did the black critters fall off in the dip?
I use KCl (potasium chloride) available without a prescription and it knocks off a lot of critters.

I don't think KCl is useful for THE "black bugs" but I'm not sure what you have there, either. Good luck.

Oh, and whole tank treatments are often necessary to remove pests completely, while some bug infestations can be removed or controlled by frequent dipping, which gets really old after awhile.

 

[Josiah1]

Ok, it looks really bad today after the lights turned on, the color seems to be peeling off and it is looking really pale and brown. Afraid it’s done for.