Something Happened to our Red Setosa last night...

[Salt1972]

We added a frag of red setosa to our system in October as our first SPS frag. Growth has been slow, but we've been seeing some evidence of growth and color when comparing pictures. Small celebration on Sunday...

Last night, it was great. I arrived home this evening to this...

This was Sunday.

What happened? Any action(s) I should take?

Thanks for any help.

 

[KMench]

Did you test your water parameters?

 

[Salt1972]

Did you test your water parameters?

77.8deg
1.0265 salinity
Ca 540
Alk 8.2
Mag 1420
Nitrates 5
Phos .09
Not sure on Ph

 

[Birddog]

Do you have any emerald crabs in your reef?

 

[Birddog]

oops sorry I didn't look at the photos correctly... I just saw the Sunday pic that look like it as scraped.

 

[AlexReef100]

Mine gets spots like that on occasion, but they usually heal up in a couple of days. It's either alk burn from increasing alk too quickly or something in the tank likes to nibble on it. It's also possible that a hermit climbed on top of it and scratched it up.

 

[Salt1972]

Do you have any emerald crabs in your reef?

Yes. 2, but they've been in there longer than the setosa frag. I thought Emeralds were reef safe, no?

 

[KMench]

They're relatively reef safe as long as they're fed.

 

[Salt1972]

Mine gets spots like that on occasion, but they usually heal up in a couple of days. It's either alk burn from increasing alk too quickly or something in the tank likes to nibble on it. It's also possible that a hermit climbed on top of it and scratched it up.

We've a pincushion urchin, but it, too, has been in the tank since well before the frag. I've wished it away, but my daughter loves it.

 

[Salt1972]

They're relatively reef safe as long as they're fed.

Fed? I always thought they did like most crabs and foraged for detritus and algae. I rarely see them. How & what do you feed?

 

[AlexReef100]

I've got 4 urchins in my tank, they're good cleaners. It shouldn't mess with your coral.

Also emeralds will nibble on corals if they're isn't any other food in the tank.

 

[BoomCorals]

I’d stay away from emeralds. Never had a good one personally.

 

[x2uranium]

And my lfs told me my coral beauty wouldn't nip corals...... lol!!!

 

[addo]

Do you have something like a Bi color blenny? Mine sometimes scrapes the skin of smooth skinned sps, and M. Setosa is its favorite by far.

 

[Birddog]

Yes. 2, but they've been in there longer than the setosa frag. I thought Emeralds were reef safe, no?

They are, but as many have said before me... You can never trust a crab! I've had to pull a crab or two in the last 10 years due to a rogue disposition towards corals... LPS and SPS

 

[Erick Armanii]

Looks like a little nip from a crab.. did it get any bigger or did u notice any other markings?