Random, Large-scale Zoa Polyp Death

[Madelion33]

I should also add, most of my Darth Maul colony is dead in the latest episode of this. And a colony in the back corner of the tank, nowhere near this one, is also doing the same thing....

[emoji22] No bueno, sorry to hear it but hopefully we're on the right track!

 

[TheEngineer]

First some pictures...

Here they are two days ago... Starting to die back pretty severely. I noticed a pink thing on the stalk of this polyp. I took it out and it looked like it was just a piece of coraline algae. I've seen the same thing before.

Just snapped this picture moments ago. You can see it is spreading back into the whole colony.

On an unrelated note... I fragged some tubbs blue polyps yesterday and pulled this off one. I thought it looked like a zoa nudi at first, but I think it is just an aiptasia now.

 

[TheEngineer]

Fingers crossed! Pretty exciting stuff, there isn't much written on either species. Good call on emailing the author!

He responded back very quickly. It isn't either of those two. He said it lacks a few key features. He thinks it is related to Aiptasia, but really can't say for certain without having the actual specimen. I'm going to email him back and offer to send one to him

 

[Madelion33]

He responded back very quickly. It isn't either of those two. He said it lacks a few key features. He thinks it is related to Aiptasia, but really can't say for certain without having the actual specimen. I'm going to email him back and offer to send one to him

it's great to hear how quick the author was to respond. The receptivity of the marine world is awesome. H H

He responded back very quickly. It isn't either of those two. He said it lacks a few key features. He thinks it is related to Aiptasia, but really can't say for certain without having the actual specimen. I'm going to email him back and offer to send one to him

it's great to hear how quick the author was to respond. The receptivity of the marine world is awesome. Let's hope this guy can get you on the right track!

 

[Tahoe61]

A couple years back I had a random die off of my zoanthids, it was slow and painful to watch.

Granted I did not read each page of this thread (got 3 pages in).

Have you considered running a UV if you do not already, just in case this mystery is viral vs bacterial. My zoanthid die off was either bacterial or viral, a disease process.

 

[TheEngineer]

A couple years back I had a random die off of my zoanthids, it was slow and painful to watch.

Granted I did not read each page of this thread (got 3 pages in).

Have you considered running a UV if you do not already, just in case this mystery is viral vs bacterial. My zoanthid die off was either bacterial or viral, a disease process.

I haven't tried UV. I have an old one in the basement that needs a sleeve but otherwise works. Worth a shot at this point. The carbon reactor doesn't seem to be helping.

 

[Tori]

Any leathers in the tank? Just thinking about how changing the carbon seemed to help last time.

 

[fishkeeper2]

This is aiptasia with the striped tentacles. It is very likely your cause as I see it all over the dying polyps. Here is a link to some information on aiptasia.

http://saltyunderground.com/category/aiptasia-anemone-photo-identification-page

Yes, it is aiptasia. Removing them with tweezers just causes them to break off and for new ones to spawn from every remaining piece. A nuisance pest.

The solution is: but some lemon juice from Costco and a syringe from an over the counter medication at your local pharmacy. Directly apply the lemon juice to the aiptasia and watch it melt. No respawning.

 

[TheEngineer]

Any leathers in the tank? Just thinking about how changing the carbon seemed to help last time.

Nope. Just zoas, one acan colony and one hammer coral.

Yes, it is aiptasia. Removing them with tweezers just causes them to break off and for new ones to spawn from every remaining piece. A nuisance pest.

The solution is: but some lemon juice from Costco and a syringe from an over the counter medication at your local pharmacy. Directly apply the lemon juice to the aiptasia and watch it melt. No respawning.

That's not a pic from my tank

 

[TheEngineer]

Two updates to provide on this...

1. I'm still seeing this happen and I don't know why.
2. It is NOT a result of the aiptasia-like creatures. I introduced two peppermint shrimp to the tank and they annihilated them in 5 days. I can't spot a single one now.

 

[Madelion33]

Two updates to provide on this...

1. I'm still seeing this happen and I don't know why.
2. It is NOT a result of the aiptasia-like creatures. I introduced two peppermint shrimp to the tank and they annihilated them in 5 days. I can't spot a single one now.

I can't remember if anyone has brought up a small electric current running through your water?

 

[TheEngineer]

I can't remember if anyone has brought up a small electric current running through your water?

I don't recall anyone mentioning it on this thread, but I have tested for it in the past. I'll check it again.

 

[TheEngineer]

5VAC. That's probably just from the return pump running.

 

[Madelion33]

I don't recall anyone mentioning it on this thread, but I have tested for it in the past. I'll check it again.

If the little aiptasia babies weren't the culprit and you're certain on the nudi front, stray current would be my next vote!

 

[TheEngineer]

If the little aiptasia babies weren't the culprit and you're certain on the nudi front, stray current would be my next vote!

Yeah, I hear that. The issue is that the effect is not systemic. It is one colony here and one colony there. Then nothing for a while. It's really odd.

That said, I'm not opposed to sticking a grounding probe in there just to eliminate the possibility. I'll order one.

 

[Madelion33]

Yeah, I hear that. The issue is that the effect is not systemic. It is one colony here and one colony there. Then nothing for a while. It's really odd.

That said, I'm not opposed to sticking a grounding probe in there just to eliminate the possibility. I'll order one.

Also how often are you or have you tested your phosphate levels?

 

[TheEngineer]

Precisely once about a month ago. It was zero.

 

[Madelion33]

Hmmm... well it seems like we're still on the case! Interested to hear about whether or not the grounding probe has any affect. I'm on the tail end of pumbling and rehabbing our 275 and I'll probably work one into my set up now. $16 bucks for peace of mind.

 

[Madelion33]

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forum/...-closed-care-pests-and-troubleshooting.55054/
This person highlights the necessity of some dissolved organics and phosphate levels around .02-.03 for zoas devoid conditions lead to what they called "cheesing".

 

[TheEngineer]

Interesting...

I keep my nitrate levels around 2-5, but I only have one fish so phosphates would remain fairly low based on the amount I feed her. I'll research some ways to increase it.