Torch Help

[dbaulch83]

Hiya, hoping you can help. Has this torch for 6-7 months and the pictures are in date order (from when it was new to today at the bottom).
Was doing so well, polyp extension was unreal a few weeks ago but now it’s starting to go downhill.
Params:
SG 1.024-1.025
pH 8.2
Alk 8.9
Cá 480
Mg 1380
Nit 5-10
PO4 0.05
Flow is enough to gently move polyps, no direct current and no recent changes. I don’t have a PAR meter but lights not changed much.
At night they fully retract inside the skeleton, it’s never done this before.
Recently reduced nitrates from around 30 over 2 weeks.
What are the white things on the skeleton? Flesh is like 1-2cm from base of polyps.
Not looking happy.
Any help appreciated

 

[Matt Bravo]

I’d start off with the easy stuff, calibrate refractometer and test salinity again. Just to get that out of the way and ensure sg is notmal

Any new livestock? Something like hermit crabs or emerald crabs?

This sometimes happens to me too, some nights skeleton is visible while other nights it’s not. Can’t say if it’s normal or not though

I would say that your torch might have acclimated to a higher nutrient environment, I’ve seen some reefs with nitrates sitting at like 70 and acros have crazy color. Just saying it might be a possibility

 

[dbaulch83]

I’d start off with the easy stuff, calibrate refractometer and test salinity again. Just to get that out of the way and ensure sg is notmal

Any new livestock? Something like hermit crabs or emerald crabs?

This sometimes happens to me too, some nights skeleton is visible while other nights it’s not. Can’t say if it’s normal or not though

I would say that your torch might have acclimated to a higher nutrient environment, I’ve seen some reefs with nitrates sitting at like 70 and acros have crazy color. Just saying it might be a possibility

Cheers, did verify readings at LFS so I’m fairly happy no surprises. No new stock (other than a lobos and acan but not placed close). I do have some sexy shrimps that do pester it (you can see in the photo) but this has always been the case, even when it was doing well. It kinda points towards the nitrates eh? Will it acclimatise again? Or should I raise them slightly?

 

[Matt Bravo]

Cheers, did verify readings at LFS so I’m fairly happy no surprises. No new stock (other than a lobos and acan but not placed close). I do have some sexy shrimps that do pester it (you can see in the photo) but this has always been the case, even when it was doing well. It kinda points towards the nitrates eh? Will it acclimatise again? Or should I raise them slightly?

I forgot to ask, have you added any coral without dipping them? Have you ever added coral without dipping by chance?

 

[dbaulch83]

Yes…. Bracing myself

 

[zoomonster]

Looks like growth band grew down to bottom and then algae started growing on it which in of itself is enough to make it unhappy. White dots not sure of from pics. If it were me, I would pop it out and treat with peroxide to get the algae and then dip. Do yourself a favor and invest in some CoralRx, Reef Primer etc. and dip everything when you get it. I almost lost a whole multiheaded hellfire torch because a couple Euphyllia eating flatworms made it through.

 

[dbaulch83]

Looks like growth band grew down to bottom and then algae started growing on it which in of itself is enough to make it unhappy. White dots not sure of from pics. If it were me, I would pop it out and treat with peroxide to get the algae and then dip. Do yourself a favor and invest in some CoralRx, Reef Primer etc. and dip everything when you get it. I almost lost a whole multiheaded hellfire torch because a couple Euphyllia eating flatworms made it through.

Odd you said this. I literally just now saw a white flatworm in my sump. The size of small brine shrimp. The torch is well and truly stuck on with epoxy. How would I even get it out?

 

[zoomonster]

Odd you said this. I literally just now saw a white flatworm in my sump. The size of small brine shrimp. The torch is well and truly stuck on with epoxy. How would I even get it out?

Just saw torch was having issues and dipped it in CoralRx. Regardless that you have it glued in there just use a little screwdriver and pop it off under the plug/glue. It will pop right off. I ended up snagging two of these

 

[dbaulch83]

Just saw torch was having issues and dipped it in CoralRx. Regardless that you have it glued in there just use a little screwdriver and pop it off under the plug/glue. It will pop right off. I ended up snagging two of these

K. Convinced. Coming tomorrow! Hope I don’t do damage with the screwdriver. Appreciate the help

 

[Matt Bravo]

Yep definitely agree with dipping it to maybe get some pests off it

 

[dbaulch83]

So…. I dipped it. Got of lot of what looks like naughty things off but unsure if flatworms. They appear to have tentacles… what do you think?

 

[dbaulch83]

I also think those white things are eggs. Didn’t scrape them off but should have. How long should I wait before round 2 dipping?

 

[Matt Bravo]

I don’t know how to identify pests but I’m pretty sure you would have to dip them weekly for 7 weeks. Hopefully someone with not knowledge can chime in though

 

[zoomonster]

I mostly see copepods (the bugs with tentacles) which are ok and fish food. Kinda hard to tell from the pics but maybe some flatworms of some sort in there. Personally, I would scrape off the white things and dip again.

 

[dbaulch83]

I mostly see copepods (the bugs with tentacles) which are ok and fish food. Kinda hard to tell from the pics but maybe some flatworms of some sort in there. Personally, I would scrape off the white things and dip again.

Think this is the way I’m heading. I assume I should wait until I get decent polyp extension before I dip (and scrape) again?

 

[dbaulch83]

It’s been a week since dipping and this is the best it’s extended. Is that normal? Flesh getting too close to the polyps for my comfort

 

[Seansea]

Those things on base are just spionid worms. No harm. Sometimes when euphelia are having a tough split they retract. My hammer did that for a week then popped out split.

 

[dbaulch83]

Thank you. One head is deffo splitting but it has been retracted for some weeks now. Plus the flesh getting pretty close to the head. Oddly the head not splitting is also not happy, assuming it’s more of a systematic thing…no evidence of other issues in the set up tho

 

[Seansea]

One other thing to check is vermitid snails. Mine were retracted like 3 months ago and had some vermitid snails on their base. They seem to really get irritated by their webs