Giant bite marks under acropora?

[Miami Reef]

edit. I think I figured it out.

 

[Reefahholic]

Oh boy….had me worried.

 

[Miami Reef]

Oh boy….had me worried.

This is what it looks like.

I think I might know what’s causing this.

 

[Reefering1]

What's your theory?

 

[billyocean]

Shading?

 

[Reefahholic]

This is what it looks like.

I think I might know what’s causing this.

That thing looks really dry, but I see some Spionid worms. Hopefully they didn’t crawl up into the Skelton.

 

[Reefahholic]

Maybe not enough light on that piece.

 

[JGT]

Looks like STN due to no light under the canopy.

 

[Miami Reef]

What's your theory?

I’ll let you know in a few weeks, if I’m correct. It’s the only change I’m going to make. I have other acros and clams that’s been struggling, and I think I might know why, but I won’t say publicly because I’ll feel foolish if I’m wrong.

 

[billyocean]

I’ll let you know in a few weeks, if I’m correct. It’s the only change I’m going to make. I have other acros and clams that’s been struggling, and I think I might know why, but I won’t say publicly because I’ll feel foolish if I’m wrong.

Ehhh...we're all fools in this hobby sometimes..lol.

 

[Reefering1]

What he said^^^

 

[Reefahholic]

Usually it’s one of four….nutrients, chemistry, light, or swing. Sometimes a combination.

 

[Miami Reef]

Update!!

I made several changes, and I got the problem fixed.


Before:

After:

I took a long and hard look at any potential causes and solved them. I don’t know exactly what the cause was, but we’re good now!

 

[VintageReefer]

Changes were?

 

[Chrisv.]

Update!!

I made several changes, and I got the problem fixed.


Before:

After:

I took a long and hard look at any potential causes and solved them. I don’t know exactly what the cause was, but we’re good now!

Well, what changes did you make?

 

[SamMule]

That thing looks really dry, but I see some Spionid worms. Hopefully they didn’t crawl up into the Skelton.

You sure those are spionid worms and not vermetid snails?

 

[Miami Reef]

I tried typing it out, but it was getting really long and complicated to explain. It was a very involved process of narrowing potential issues and then adding things back.

I did an ICP test, killed potential predators, stopped potential chemical dosing culprits, and did a large water change. I then adding things back when I believed I found the culprit.

I think I might have 4-5 potential causes that I permanently ruled out. It was all about ruling things out and then adding other things back.

Here’s one example, I initially thought my elevated alkalinity was the culprit. I lowered it during the diagnostic process. Now it’s back up to where I want it and the corals are fine. Thus, the alkalinity wasn’t the issue.

Here’s another example: I thought maybe my trace elements were toxically elevated, so I stopped dosing trace elements for a week prior to sending the ICP. The result showed very low trace elements, so I ruled that out.


That’s the kind of process I do. It’s meticulous and methodical.

 

[billyocean]

....so there are 2 things it wasn't.

 

[Reefahholic]

You sure those are spionid worms and not vermetid snails?

Positive. They cluster. Super easy to ID.