Red Planet issue

[vetteguy53081]

Never heard of them. The video’s I linked show they fairly well with movement of their legs.

Have a hard time seeing it clearly on my phone but ostracods will look like a flea

 

[Syntax1235]

AEFW too????

Aefw worms

 

[LOVEROCK]

are these like yours ? At 30 sec

 

[sculpin01]

Unfortunately not quite enough resolution. You really need to look with a regular compound microscope (on a slide) instead of a digital dissecting scope. However, it almost looks like you have a mite rather than a copepod. Intriguing, because I couldn't find anything about corallivorous mites.

The flatworm doesn't look like the typical AEFW. It appears to have a forked tail and is moving quite quickly, so I would suggest a predatory acoel flatworm. Typical AEFW look like this and tend to sit still on the coral:

(From: https://reefs.com/magazine/on-the-mucous-trail-of-coral-killers-acropora-eating-flatworms/ )

 

[Syntax1235]

@sculpin01

Acoel flatworm? Are they considered aero pests?

 

[vetteguy53081]

@sculpin01

Acoel flatworm? Are they considered aero pests?

In numbers they can smother a coral and block the light corals need for zooxanthellae which is their energy and building blocks
Simple removal if few is siphoning with a 3/8" tubing into a net or nylon stocking and discard
If many, wrasses such as yellow coris, lunare. 6 line and melanurus will eat them
Also a springieri damsel will eat them.
Make chemical the last option unless huge infestation as if used, you will need to siphon the tank daily to remove dead ones which can release toxins.
Lastly- Check tank daily for next 2 weeks for signs of any eggs which are really tiny. Generally eggs are laid underneath coral

 

[Syntax1235]

are these like yours ? At 30 sec

Looks like it.... I dipped mine in Bayer for 45 minutes in a milky white solution, most died but there were a few still moving.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

You can definitely zoom in enough to see all pest with the scope. I can't imagine needing to get any closer than what you already can.

 

[Syntax1235]

You can definitely zoom in enough to see all pest with the scope. I can't imagine needing to get any closer than what you already can.

I was using my iPhone to get those videos and pictures. I'm going to get this scope:

https://amscope.com/collections/monocular-compound-microscope/products/m620c-sp14-cls-50p100s-e5
It should do the trick. Probably a little overkill, but I've been looking for a reason to get one for a while.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

I was using my iPhone to get those videos and pictures. I'm going to get this scope:

https://amscope.com/collections/monocular-compound-microscope/products/m620c-sp14-cls-50p100s-e5
It should do the trick. Probably a little overkill, but I've been looking for a reason to get one for a while.

Yep, sure it will be great. The difference in the one I posted is that it has a 10 inch screen so no looking through the eye piece. However, that's a nice one you're getting. Look forward to seeing what you find with it.

 

[OrionN]

You really got good video of the flat worms and the black bugs. I am sorry that you got them in your tank. That is why I always QT my SPS and Clams. I don't keep much soft corals and LPS.

 

[sculpin01]

@sculpin01

Acoel flatworm? Are they considered aero pests?

If it is a predatory acoel or other flatworm, it is not going to eat your corals. But it’s probably eating something else.

 

[sculpin01]

The reason for the high res pics is to figure out a treatment. If you know exactly what type of organism you have, you can figure out how to kill it. Otherwise, it’s just a guessing game which doesn’t seem to work well with some of the “black bugs”.

 

[Syntax1235]

 

[Syntax1235]

I found the culprit…. This one is black..

here’s a video: Black bug

This bug has been in a beaker for 24 hours with tank water and Bayer, and it is still alive!

 

[sculpin01]

Four pairs of legs. You have a corallivorous marine mite. That might actually be a publishable discovery.

 

[Syntax1235]

 

[sculpin01]

In further review, you have a marine halacarid mite.

https://www.marinebio.org/creatures/marine-mites-halacarid-and-pontarachnid-mites/

 

[Syntax1235]

Four pairs of legs. You have a corallivorous marine mite. That might actually be a publishable discovery.

The black one? What does that mean for my acros?

I purchased some tbsw live rock a couple of months ago.

 

[sculpin01]

It means you need something that kills mites, not copepods. Did you try the potassium chloride dip?