Tinny Brown Critters on Jawbreaker mushroom?

Nano sapiens

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Reef aquaria often develop a number of these tiny 'bugs' that can cover any object including coral. The ones I have are barely visible half black/half white and all over the tank. The populations tend to peak when the system is young and fed well, but their numbers tend to fall back to more modest levels as the tank matures. Now if the bugs are predominantly on the corals with very few (or none) on the rocks, that's a different story...

As you guessed, it appears that you have a partially bleached 'shroom. There are a number of bleaching causes, but over lighting is perhaps the most common. If you know it's over lit, a reduction should help it recover.
 

sculpin01

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These are most likely parasitic copepods. I would consider a KCl dip (10 g/L tank water) and then do a microscopic eval of what falls off.

 

Freshwater filter only or is it? Have you ever used an HOB filter on a saltwater tank?

  • I currently use a HOB filter on my reef tank.

    Votes: 50 25.1%
  • I don’t currently use a HOB filter on my reef tank, but I have in the past.

    Votes: 50 25.1%
  • I have used a HOB on fish only or quarantine tanks, but not on the display tank.

    Votes: 47 23.6%
  • I have never used a HOB on a saltwater tank.

    Votes: 48 24.1%
  • Other.

    Votes: 4 2.0%
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