Random, Large-scale Zoa Polyp Death

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

Dip complete. I see a few things that look suspicious, but I suspect them not to be any of the pests we've discussed....

Thought it was a spider, but I think it is just some bubble algae.

Same as above, different angle.

A lot of little specs here. Most look to just be sand if you zoom in. Another brown blob like above.

There are some strange things in this pic. What's that in the top left? I don't know. What are the two things on the bottom right? See next images for closer shots.

Looks like a flatworm?

I don't know what this one is. Maybe a dead aiptasia?

Close up from two angles of the frag after dipping.

Aiden Parker · Dec 14, 2016

scoopsthedog said:
Would you dip in Coral RX or Iodine to get rid of Nudis - Pests?

The iodine dip is more for preventing/treating bacterial infections on the coral. Coral RX would be the one to get rid of the pests.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

TheEngineer said:
Evvvvvvvvverywhere in my tank looks like that.

Oh that is a problem. I have one solution to them that is 100% but up to the owner

ahiggins · Dec 14, 2016

Ive always wondered what makes their "mats" shrivel and thin out like your last pic? I have some kraks that do this. So instead of an actual mat, theres a small string of mat from one polyp to the other.

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
Oh that is a problem. I have one solution to them that is 100% but up to the owner

ahiggins said:
Ive always wondered what makes their "mats" shrivel and thin out like your last pic? I have some kraks that do this. So instead of an actual mat, theres a small string of mat from one polyp to the other.

I've always just chalked it up to the type of polyp. Some grow a thick mat, others seem to have just loose connections to each other.

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

We are getting a little off topic on the aiptasia, but here's a few videos we've talked about in the past...

This last one shows Berghias ignoring them. Hence my thought they are not aiptasia. They grapple a bit, but it ignores it.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

Ok hold on and think hard about this.
I know this may sound crazy but I have found during multiple tests by slowly raising the water temperature to 96 degrees will make these guys release into the water column allowing them to be caught easily. They look like little blobs floating around. They just don't like anything above 95 degrees.
I bet your thinking.. what?? but yes and tank survival is higher than you think.

Aiden Parker · Dec 14, 2016

Also this is an effective solution: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-aiptasia-x.html?sku=205235&gclid=CObs_9-W9NACFQoxaQodNvUHhw

I have used it in the past with great results.

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
Ok hold on and think hard about this.
I know this may sound crazy but I have found during multiple tests by slowly raising the water temperature to 96 degrees will make these guys release into the water column allowing them to be caught easily. They look like little blobs floating around. They just don't like anything above 95 degrees.
I bet your thinking.. what?? but yes and tank survival is higher than you think.

Todd.... you are a crazy man. lol! I just have one fish in there so removing her wouldn't be tooooo hard. I'm not committing to anything yet, but then what? They collect in my filter sock? How many corals am I going to lose? Will my clam tolerate it? What about the berghias?

Aiden Parker said:
Also this is an effective solution: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/red-sea-aiptasia-x.html?sku=205235&gclid=CObs_9-W9NACFQoxaQodNvUHhw

I have used it in the past with great results.

I think I am well beyond saving with Aiptasia-X.

I have an old bottle of Joe's Juice I bust out every now and then, but I need something systemic or predatory to even make a dent.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

Ya I know it's my crazy mind always at work hence my most favorite all time people.. einstein
(wait.. I also use bleach, dang it I am odd)
Let put it this way.. ALL my zoanthids didn't care (slow is key)
Not sure about clams as I have never had one.
The nudies, not sure how susceptible they are to temp.

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

HA!

How slow? How long does it need to stay there? I could take the clam and clown both out for it, depending on how long we are talking I can setup a tank for them.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

I was raising the temp over 7 days. It took just a day or 2 for them all to release. Perfect for a sock to catch. I didn't have many in the tanks I tested with so I just used a net.
If you have any 500ml beakers and a hot plate you can test these guys out with a small rock piece

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
I was raising the temp over 7 days. It took just a day or 2 for them all to release. Perfect for a sock to catch. I didn't have many in the tanks I tested with so I just used a net.
If you have any 500ml beakers and a hot plate you can test these guys out with a small rock piece

Oh yeah. My hot plate and beaker set. I knew I kept those for a reason. Ha!

I would want to test this theory before committing to it. Let's see what Amazon has to say about this...

TheEngineer · Dec 14, 2016

Light bulb! Baby bottle warmer. My wife would kill me if I touched my daughter's but I could get one.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

I would test this as I am not 100% sure of the genus of aiptasia you have.

ahiggins · Dec 14, 2016

TheEngineer said:
Todd.... you are a crazy man. lol! I just have one fish in there so removing her wouldn't be tooooo hard. I'm not committing to anything yet, but then what? They collect in my filter sock? How many corals am I going to lose? Will my clam tolerate it? What about the berghias?

I think I am well beyond saving with Aiptasia-X. I have an old bottle of Joe's Juice I bust out every now and then, but I need something systemic or predatory to even make a dent.

the problem with aiptasia x is that you need a relatively large one to be able to inject it into. Thats why I dont like it.
Pep shrimp took care of all of mine in DT and sump. I havent seen one for months.

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2016

holy smokes dude!

TheEngineer said:
Seriously! Most are happy as can be. They tend to come back after losing a bunch of polyps it eventually just stops. Does that seem like an animals behavior? Wouldn't a nudi just mow down the whole colony before moving on?

No, there sap suckers and let many live. with that sweet new lens you'd see babies surrounding the stalk and sucking sap. they ignored 6 kinds of zoas in my tank and ate 6 others.
mine was a fairly low level infestation.
but yea it seems a chemical or predation event.