jtroxel1
Community Member
I'm stuck and have tried several solutions to identify this nuisance 'entity'. I say entity because I'm not sure if it is an algae or an invasive species, but it presents as tiny little purple daisy-like flowers, possibly with a lighter tip trending toward white. I'll attach some pictures below for help in identifying, but it's been very frustrating trying to get a good visible picture.
Tank details: The tank is a mature 300 gallon aquarium with significant growth in LPS and softy corals. The last reading on Nitrates was 29ppm, 435 calc, 0.09 phosphates, 1350 mag, PH 8.2, Alk is 11 dKh, salinity is 1.024, temp is 77 degree Fahrenheit. I did not test for O2 or any of trace contaminates.
The first sign of this nuisance entity was on rocks around some orange zoas, but it quickly spread to the rock and then across the tank and is no longer bothering the orange zoas, though it is causing other corals including other zoas to stunt or retract.
It is not possible to 'blow off' this entity, but when brushed with a tooth brush it retreats and issues a brownish cloud (size and intensity dependent on the amount brushed away). But it comes back very quickly and within a week it looks like it was never touched.
Attempted cures:
Dino X - two week treatment cycle. Showed some signs of improvement, but came back as soon as the full treatment cycle ended.
H2O2 - dosed 30 ml of 3% H2O2 for two weeks, but saw no improvement or agitation of the entity.
Manual removal (as mentioned) - no amount of brushing will remove the pest.
Rock Flip - a large flat rock that was affected was flipped over; over time the new topside became infested again. Turning the rock over showed no signs on the bottom of the rock of this pest.
Help! Please?
Tank details: The tank is a mature 300 gallon aquarium with significant growth in LPS and softy corals. The last reading on Nitrates was 29ppm, 435 calc, 0.09 phosphates, 1350 mag, PH 8.2, Alk is 11 dKh, salinity is 1.024, temp is 77 degree Fahrenheit. I did not test for O2 or any of trace contaminates.
The first sign of this nuisance entity was on rocks around some orange zoas, but it quickly spread to the rock and then across the tank and is no longer bothering the orange zoas, though it is causing other corals including other zoas to stunt or retract.
It is not possible to 'blow off' this entity, but when brushed with a tooth brush it retreats and issues a brownish cloud (size and intensity dependent on the amount brushed away). But it comes back very quickly and within a week it looks like it was never touched.
Attempted cures:
Dino X - two week treatment cycle. Showed some signs of improvement, but came back as soon as the full treatment cycle ended.
H2O2 - dosed 30 ml of 3% H2O2 for two weeks, but saw no improvement or agitation of the entity.
Manual removal (as mentioned) - no amount of brushing will remove the pest.
Rock Flip - a large flat rock that was affected was flipped over; over time the new topside became infested again. Turning the rock over showed no signs on the bottom of the rock of this pest.
Help! Please?
