Hi all, I am new to Reef2Reef, but have been a saltwater hobbyist for about 9 years now. I took a 2 year break and just setup a new tank in Jan.
80g display and 20g sump reef tank with live rock. I have 2 Black Saddleback Clowns, a Neon Dottyback and 2 Coral Beauties (I know; I rescued one from a friend with a tank leak and am in the process of trying to net one of them to remove it).
I've always maintained a healthy tank, but this new setup is perplexing me. I'm leaning toward it being the Neon that's creating havoc, but not sure.... My cleaner shrimp went missing 2 days after adding the neon. A month later, my hammer coral went missing completely, overnight. When snails fall off the live rock, they don't bother flipping themselves over, leaving their flesh exposed (I think the Neon is nipping when they land?). I have 3 emerald crabs in there but haven't seen them in a month. An urchin had 2 spots show as if it were bitten, then eventually died about 3 days later. I've seen hermit limbs in the sand so I know so hermits have been eaten. I have a candy cane coral that's healthy and puffy, but is exposing it's skeleton at the base. A rose tip anemone is doing fantastic. Tank is fed frozen 2X daily.
NOTE: My tank is testing perfectly with PH, salinity, nitrate/nitrite, etc. and it set at 78 degrees. The only symptoms is a bit of red algae on the live rock. I haven't added any more coral or fish until I figure out what's going on. Am I right in assuming it's the Neon? Anything else that could be going on inside the tank that wouldn't show on a normal test strip? I do have a wavemaker that seems a bit strong but it's an 80g and the anemone isn't moving around to avoid it. I'm perplexed!!!
80g display and 20g sump reef tank with live rock. I have 2 Black Saddleback Clowns, a Neon Dottyback and 2 Coral Beauties (I know; I rescued one from a friend with a tank leak and am in the process of trying to net one of them to remove it).
I've always maintained a healthy tank, but this new setup is perplexing me. I'm leaning toward it being the Neon that's creating havoc, but not sure.... My cleaner shrimp went missing 2 days after adding the neon. A month later, my hammer coral went missing completely, overnight. When snails fall off the live rock, they don't bother flipping themselves over, leaving their flesh exposed (I think the Neon is nipping when they land?). I have 3 emerald crabs in there but haven't seen them in a month. An urchin had 2 spots show as if it were bitten, then eventually died about 3 days later. I've seen hermit limbs in the sand so I know so hermits have been eaten. I have a candy cane coral that's healthy and puffy, but is exposing it's skeleton at the base. A rose tip anemone is doing fantastic. Tank is fed frozen 2X daily.
NOTE: My tank is testing perfectly with PH, salinity, nitrate/nitrite, etc. and it set at 78 degrees. The only symptoms is a bit of red algae on the live rock. I haven't added any more coral or fish until I figure out what's going on. Am I right in assuming it's the Neon? Anything else that could be going on inside the tank that wouldn't show on a normal test strip? I do have a wavemaker that seems a bit strong but it's an 80g and the anemone isn't moving around to avoid it. I'm perplexed!!!
