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FAQs about Corallimorph Health/Disease/Pests
2 Related Articles: Corallimorpharians, Cnidarians,
Water
Flow, How Much is Enough,
Related FAQs:
Mushroom Disease 1,
Cnidarian Disease,
Corallimorphs, Mushrooms
2, Mushrooms 3, Mushrooms
4, Mushroom Identification, Mushroom
Behavior, Mushroom Compatibility, Mushroom
Selection, Mushroom Systems, Mushroom
Feeding, Mushroom Reproduction,
Stinging-celled Animals,
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Giant Cup Mushroom Losing
Flesh 2/27/08
Hi Crew,
<Hi Mohamed>
I am asking this question for a friend.
She has a giant cup for 4 years with on <going> problems. The water quality
is within range, no high levels of nitrate, nitrite, etc. but she unsure of
iodine levels and water changes are done regularly.
<Wouldn't worry too much about iodine levels, regular water changes with a
good reef salt should provide all that is necessary. I've supplemented with
iodine (Lugo's solution) in the past and have not seen any benefit in it's
use.>
The giant cup does not open up completely and if you wave your hand next to
the GC its flesh is peeling.
Could a low level of iodine cause this or what could cause this, a disease?
<The Giant Cup Mushroom is a meat eater and I'm wondering if it has been fed
small pieces of shrimp etc. A healthy specimen should close/wrap completely
around the food. As far as lighting, they do require medium intensity light
to survive. You did not mention lighting being used.>
Thanks,
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Mohamed
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Ricordea Yuma question...
hlth. -02/20/08
Hey everyone at WWM... I hope all is well. It has been a pretty long while
since I have had a question that I had a hard time finding answers to. I
currently own a 34gal aquarium. A Current USA Solana to be exact. I have a
single 150W MH HQI Current USA bulb and fixture that sits about 8" over the tank
and is on for 8 hours a day (although it was on for about 10 hours a few days
this week because I was doing some tank maintenance) The tank has a 1/15th HP
chiller and an auto top-off system so the temperature and salinity stay very
steady. My tank parameters are as follows: Ammonia: 0ppm, Nitrite: 0 ppm,
Nitrate: 10ppm, pH: 8.3, Salinity: 1.025sg, Phosphate: 0ppm.
I do a 5 gallon water change weekly and the tank has a skimmer that works well
(surprisingly for an all-in-one setup). I am having an odd problem with a single
Ricordea Yuma that I have had for a very long time under a wide range of
lighting and tank conditions (unfortunately some worse than this).
It is an extremely rare 4.5" Neon Pink Ricordea Yuma. I bought it from a guy
about 2 years ago who had it directly under a 250W MH about 4" from the surface
of their tank. I put the Yuma into a 6 gallon nano-cube with weak PC lighting
which it sat in for about 2 or 3 months before I put it in the current tank
set-up that I have. The Yuma has been fine for the longest time and I slowly
acclimated it to about mid-way up in the tank (the tank is 20" deep... so about
10" from the surface)... after staying at that point
for a few days it started to become unhappy (shrinking and expelling its
zooxanthellae (sp)).
<Mmm, what other Cnidarians are in this system?>
So I moved it back down to the bottom of the tank and I decided that it would be
just fine there and I wasn't going to try and move it anymore... It opened back
up fine for about a week and just today when I took my lid off the tank to do
some maintenance it became unhappy again and started shrinking up and expelling
its zooxanthellae (sp). Now I can think of any number of things that it may be
that is causing him to react adversely but I would really be grateful of any
input from you guys (and gals). 1. I just changed out the bulb and it just
finished burning in over the past 2 days.
<Would be an influence for sure>
2. Moving him may have just been too much trauma for him.
<To a smaller degree>
3. any other ideas?
<Allelopathy>
haha... I plan on cutting back the light cycle to 5 hours over the next week and
slowly increasing it. Does this sound sufficient?
<Mmm, no... I would have on a good 8-10 hours a day>
Any ideas? Thanks and I look forward to your response.
--
Chris
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/cnidcompppt.htm
and the linked files above re Corallimorph and whatever other stinging-celled
life groups you have here's Compatibility. Bob Fenner>
Re: Ricordea Yuma
question... hlth, comp. 2/21/08
I could understand that but the particular Ricordea in question
is surrounded by a lot of other Ricordea too...
<Ahh!>
there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of them... All of my
other Cnidarians are fine...
<Heee! Sure, they're the winners... the Yuma is losing...>
I do have a toadstool leather that I have had for a long time that
has recently begun to be eaten on by some sort of parasite... It is
the only leather in the tank. I can not remove it because of its
location in the rockwork... I know that these leathers in particular
can give off noxious chemicals that can
harm other inhabitants... could this possibly be the culprit?
<Possibly>
Thank you for the fast reply Bob, I know you are busy.
<Doing... this! Heeee! No worries... do look into the methods,
techniques outlined where I sent you... It may be expeditious to
move the one Corallimorph. BobF>
Re: Ricordea Yuma question...
2/21/08
Thank you very much... you have always been a great help in the past...
hopefully one day I will have enough knowledge to not have to ask questions but
to be asked them.
<Oh yes! I too look forward to this time... your joining us here on the WWM
Crew. Be chatting, Bob Fenner>
Re: Ricordea
yuma question... 2/23/08
HAHA... I don't know about all that. Just an update on the Ricordea
yuma in question: I moved it to a different spot in the tank (away from
the leather and in a little bit better flow... it as opened up nicely
and seems to be doing much better. Thank you for all the help and
advice.
I have attached a few pictures of my tank set-up and the yuma in
question.
<Ahh, very nice! Congratulations and thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner> |
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Corallimorpharians and
Allelopathy – 01/08/07
Crew,
<<Hello Scott>>
I have a 120 gallon, several year-old mostly fish and live rock system which
I was beginning to populate with some hardy species of soft corals.
<<Okay>>
This included 2 pink mushroom corals that were doing well for about 6 months
and split to a number of about 12 total.
<<Corallimorpharians can be quite prolific, often to the point of being
problematic…overgrowing/killing more desirous organisms>>
I added a couple of other propagated green mushrooms on the other side of
the tank from a friend's system that were doing well and splitting. I also
have about a 2" size toadstool and some "devil’s finger" leathers that are
also about 2-3". A few weeks back my mushrooms started to sag and shrivel,
the pink ones especially. Now the green ones are following suit, and the
devil’s fingers don't look so hot. I checked the water parameters with zero
ammonia and nitrite and 20ppm of nitrate which is par for the tank.
<<Ah! A clue then… This Nitrate reading is too high. 20ppm may well be at
the upper limit for acceptable in a FO/FOWLR system, but once you start
trying to go “reef” you should bring this down to 5ppm or less through
increased filtration (biological/chemical), or a reduced fish load.
Installing/switching to a more efficient skimmer can also help>>
To summarize, everything has been status quo or better in terms of water
quality/tank conditions, but with these Shrooms shriveling up I can tell
things just are off.
<<Indeed>>
I started to think it was just a failed experiment into the world of corals
until I noticed my purple pseudo missing today (read: dead) and my Eibli
angel breathing a zillion X/min and on death's door.
<<Likely a result of chemicals released by the stressed/dying soft
corals…and compounded by the high Nitrate level>>
At least one of my larger fish does not look great either. Water parameters
still checked out. I haven't targeted the cause of the coral decline, but
given the lack of changing conditions and their previous health and
proliferation, I suspect some kind of allelopathy.
<<Maybe...but I’m more apt to blame the Nitrates at this stage for the
Corallimorph’s and soft coral’s decline>>
QUESTION: Could the fish be affected by some type of soft coral chemical
warfare to this degree?
<<Indeed yes…dying and decaying organisms such as these can/will give off a
large amount of noxious chemicals. I hope you have applied some extra
chemical filtration to help deal with this?>>
Some of the tank inhabitants appear to be unaffected, including cleaner
inverts (snails and hermits), shrimps, and a Galaxea coral which I acquired
a year ago and appears well
<<Differing degrees of tolerance>>
(I realize this is actually a pretty delicate stony coral).
<<I’ve never considered Galaxea coral as particularly delicate…though do be
aware it is a very aggressive coral and will do extensive damage to any
neighbors within reach of its quite long sweeper tentacles. Hmmm…you didn’t
happen to place any of the new additions within reach of this coral did
you?...say about 10” or less?>>
I figured some of these other organisms would be the canary for water
quality issues. In the meantime, on a friend's advice I have started to run
large amounts of carbon today in an effort to pull out any toxins that may
be in the water.
<<Ah, very good…and I would suggest use of some type of chemical filtrant
(carbon/Poly-Filter) become a “permanent” aspect of your filtering
methodology>>
Should I remove the remaining mushrooms?
<<If they are declining/dying, yes…else, is up to you as the carbon should
help much with the removal of Allelopathic chemicals>>
Incidentally, the pink Shrooms were very close, and several actually growing
on the stalk, of the toadstool-they seemed to almost have an "affinity" for
it.
<<These noxious organisms can sense one another/will be fighting for space
even when separated…allowing them to “touch” heightens the conflict and
speeds the demise of one or both. I would take steps to physically separate
these>>
Any advice into this dilemma is greatly appreciated.
-Scott
<<Happy to assist. EricR>>
Re: Corallimorpharians and
Allelopathy – 01/08/07
Thanks for the reply...
<<Quite welcome>>
Just one more thing, though.
<<Okay>>
I neglected to mention that the only other thing that has changed in my tank
recently is I put about 50 new self-harvested Caribbean snails (USVI) which are
alive and well in the tank.
<< You don’t say what species…hopefully you identified beforehand that these
would be safe/compatible with your existing and future intended livestock>>
These were placed about mid December and not quarantined.
<<I see>>
Could they be the culprit or vector for some malicious parasite...i.e. gill
flukes?
<<Sure… Parasites, bacterial/viral infections, most anything>>
There is nothing visible on the fish that I can identify whatsoever except for
the respiratory distress and then quick demise.
<<This is likely environmental…a water quality issue. Have you performed any
water changes? I very much suggest you do>>
Perhaps the invert/mushroom issue is only temporally related and not directly
related?
<<Yes…likely not the sole cause of your problems here, but working in
combination with other factors (high Nitrate, etc.)>>
The fish have tolerated 20-35ppm of nitrate for quite some time.
<<Indeed…and likely weakened by the long term exposure to same. The chemical
explosion from the deteriorating Corallimorphs may just be the straw that broke
the camel’s back…>>
Scott
<<Regards, EricR>>
Mushroom Life Span – 09/29/07
Cheers Crew.
<Hello again Andy, Mich with you tonight.>
This may be a stupid question, but I can't find an answer. I assume that
mushrooms, like all living things, must die?
<Yes. Generally all cells exhibit apoptosis, or programmed cell death. The
exception to this rule is cancer cells, which is why cancer is so difficult
to fight.>
Is there a known life span for these and/or,
<Presumably, though I have never hear an actual number.>
like other living things, do they sometime just die early of natural
(genetic abnormalities, etc.) causes?
<Undoubtedly.>
The reason I ask is that I have a beautiful mushroom rock with 8-10 hairy
green mushrooms--had it for about 5 months. Over the last three or so days,
one of the smaller shrooms tightened up, lost its neon green color and
appears to be slowly melting.
<Sounds like some sort of trauma response to me.>
The rest of the shrooms look great, are open, colorful, etc., as are my
other shrooms, tree corals and BTA. My water is good--SPG is 1.025, ammonia,
nitrite and nitrate all 0, temp 79*F, pH is 8.2, phosphate is 0.05-.1 (this
is new. Has previously always been 0.
<You'll want to get that down.>
I use RO/DI water, my TDS meter shows 0 ppm, I have 80lbs live rock,
aggressive protein skimming, 30g fuge with 4" DSB and Chaeto, and I feed
quality foods (Formula One and frozen Mysis and blood worms that I thaw and
drain before feeding). I think the reading may have been influenced by BGA
that I had disturbed/cleaned from my substrate about 1 hr before testing
phosphates).
<Could be.>
Not sure if any of you experts might know about the life span of shrooms . .
. .
<A small mushroom would generally indicate a younger mushroom, so I highly
doubt this is a lifespan issue to begin with.>
Thanks!
<Welcome! Mich>
Andy
Need Help, Mushrooms
looking limp and not opening all the way, Cnidarian Allelopathy mostly
8/24/07
Hey all. My tank has been up and running for 4 months. The first coral I
added was mushrooms (4 green mushrooms on one rock). They have been doing
great the whole time and have even sprouted two new mushrooms on the rock.
The mushrooms started looking really limp and only opening to about half
their normal size a couple weeks ago. Color of the mushrooms look good.
Mushrooms are at the bottom of the tank, under a little ledge, and have not
been moved since I put them there a couple months ago. No other corals near
the mushroom. All parameters look good. Calcium is low, 340, but has been at
that level all along (only softies and LPS in my tank right now). I plan on
switching salts when I run out, changing from Tropic Marin to Reef Crystals
to see if I can bring up the Calcium without getting into dosing.
My Parameters have been very consistent for the past couple months. They
are:
SG: 1.025
Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates are all 0.
Phosphates .1
Calcium 330-340
PH ranging between 8.1 and 8.2 with lights off / on.
Alk 2.9
Temp 82 to 83.6 (heats up to 83.6 when the MH comes on)
I first noticed the problem when my central AC died a couple weeks ago. Tank
heated up to 86.
<Yikes...>
Brought the temp down with ice bottles in the sump, and got the AC running
within 48 hours.
<I'd leave the lights off on such hot days... turn on more toward night>
Another thing that changed, is I added a second powerhead. I have the
mushrooms between two rock structures, and they don't appear to be getting
blasted with current. I have a 53g tank with about 25x flow now (was about
12x). Have a MJ1200 and added a Tunze6025. Also have a Eheim 1260 for a
return pump.
<Corallimorphs often are found in quite stagnant settings>
There's only one other softie that's not doing well all of a sudden, and
that's a yellow colony polyp.
<... Here could be a major portion of the problem...>
When I bought it from another reefer, it was brownish and "fringe" for lack
of a better word, on each polyp were long, and the dots in the middle of
each polyp, were bright yellow. They have since changed to completely bright
yellow, and the fringe is really short. I suspect these changes are because
I have stronger lighting than the reefer I bought them from had. This coral
seems a bit limp to me too.
I have a Aussie Duncan which is doing awesome.
<Duncanopsammia? As in a Dendrophylliid I take it>
Bought one head, and it has sprouted 3 new heads. Have a zoo that is doing
great and spreading.
<...>
Leather looks great. Hammer looks great. Any ideas on the mushroom?
<It's losing to more dominant Cnidarians... the Sarcophyton, likely the
Zoanthid...>
Could it be the temperature spike from when my AC died and it just takes a
more than a couple weeks for the mushroom to recover?
<Could be a contributing factor>
Nothing except for the mushrooms seemed to be affected when the AC died.
Should I be feeding this mushroom? I've tried putting a little frozen
Cyclops or enriched brine near it, but have never seen it take any food. I
haven't been adding any phyto or anything, but tried adding a capful of Kent
Phyto last night and left the return pump off for about 45 minutes. Don't
know if that will help.
Thanks!
Pam
<Too much too soon... I would move the Mushrooms to another system, spiff up
your skimming, start the expensive ongoing use of carbon... And read on WWM
re Cnidarian Allelopathy... use the search tool here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/WWMAdminSubWebIndex/question_page.htm
Bob Fenner>
Re: Need Help, Mushrooms
looking limp and not opening all the way 8/24/07
Ahh...the great Bob Fenner.
<...? Wait, (goes to mirror... same ole non-hair combed petfish kind of guy...
ego-deflated, returns to the computer...>
Thank you so much for the response.
<Welcome>
I had never heard the term "Cnidarian Allelopathy", so at least now I have
something to read up on.
<Neat term eh?>
I will take your advise on the carbon.
<Good... advice>
I don't have another system to move any of these corals to. The mushrooms are
one of my favorites. Should I remove the Yellow Colonial Polyps, zoos, or the
Sarcophyton if I want to keep the mushrooms, or do you think Carbon would handle
what I guess you're saying is chemical warfare? (or is that something completely
different?)
<Is of a sort and more encompassing... takes in "stingers", agglutinants...
sweeper "tentacles" and more...>
I thought of one other possibility. I have never tested for, or dosed Iodine.
Could lack of Iodine be a cause?
<Again... perhaps a co-factor>
I checked my LFS but they didn't have a test kit, and I don't want to dose
without testing, but I will order a Iodine test kit online just in case.
<Ah, good. Likely once-weekly administration per dosage... would not
overshoot...>
One last question, do you think I'd be better without the two
powerheads, and just go with one powerhead and the return pump like I had before
I started having this problem with the Mushrooms?
<Maybe... but what re the rest of the life in the system? If there's room, I'd
just move the Mushrooms to a less-circulated area...>
I only had the MJ1200 and the Eheim return pump for flow, and added a Tunze6025,
but I thought I could pull out the MJ1200 and just go with the Tunze now if that
would be better. (53G tank which is 31.5" x 19.5" x 19.5")
Corals I have so far if it makes a difference on flow:
Sun Coral (just added two days ago and doing well)
Waiving Hand Xenia (also just added two days ago and doing well)
<... I'd be slowing down on these non-ordered/directed additions here...>
Aussie Duncan (doing great)
Tan Sarcophyton with Green Polyps (doing great)
one orange centered zoo (doing fine)
Bright Green Mushrooms (Doing poorly)
Thinking of adding a Hawaiian Feather Duster.
Thanks so much Bob.
Pam
<Please do read re the Compatibility of each of these Pam... here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/index.htm
A very good idea for all to understand the "order", propensity for one group of
animals... mainly Cnidarians in this case... to out-sting, out-grow, overshadow,
displace one another... and to formulate, adhere to a plan of placing the less
"winning" groups... of appropriate size... first... spacing time and
dimensionally subsequent additions... using techniques, gear to limit the
warfare that is/are these environments, including their living complements.
BobF>
Re: Need Help, Mushrooms
looking limp and not opening all the way 8/27/08
Hi Bob. I took your advise and added activated carbon this weekend. I also
moved the Leather to a corner of the tank (it was only a couple inches from the
mushrooms).
<Yikes!>
I'm not sure if it was the carbon, or moving the leather, or a combination of
both, but within two days, my mushrooms have totally perked up!!! Not completely
back to their full glory, but close!! I'll have to read more on the
compatibility of corals. Thanks for your help!
Pam
<Thank you for this update Pam... and do keep reading. BobF>
Mushroom Meltdown 7/6/07
I have had a 120 for 10 years, and during that time, had a mushroom rock
(Green/blue striped) that has literally become a massive colony. I'm talking on
and under every rock (200+ lbs of rock). Even many with no color since they got
no light (very cool), not to mention many over 6 inches across. The tank has
been very stable and the mushrooms open up beautifully. (I have pretty low flow
in that tank). Below are two links that show the tank. (they don't do the
mushrooms justice as they were taken just after the lights came on before the
mushrooms were open, but you get the point)
I say again that this tank has been stable for 10 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD_3i2ALjDo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvtAvnBbwWg
So, I went away for a week, had someone watch my tank for me (Who I trust).
Fed the tank (Frozen- 1 cube Mysis and 1 cube Mix A - Also, very small amt of
arctic pods) 2x over the course of the week (I was feeding the day I got home).
-
In the tank:
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Unicorn Tank
Flame Angel
Brittle Star
4 Ricordea
a million of the aforementioned mushrooms
1 yellow leather
3 frags of pumping leather
yellow polyps
red Blastomussa
So, I walk in and 75% of the mushrooms are gone. That's right. Vanished.
(Melted is more like).
PH was 7.89 (Low). Temp was fine. Water was a little cloudy. Fish and all other
corals were fine.
Temp was fine (77 as always)
I did a 35 gallon water change the next day. The Mushrooms were 90% gone and
water was getting cloudier.
Next day - shrooms were 100% gone, water was cloudier and all else, again, fine.
Skimmer going crazy of course. I did another 35 gallon water change since I'm
sure my levels must be spiking like crazy.
Today - all shrooms gone. I did a 45 gallon water change.
Nitrates are 20 Bad but not terrible. Ammonia is through the roof. I took the
leather (Which was finally looking stressed, as well as the Ricordea and a
Blastomussa, and pumping leather and am putting them into my 180 (40 G sump and
75 gallon fuge) for safe keeping.
<Good>
I am thinking that the 120 has a serious cycle to go through for the near
future.
<Perhaps...>
Questions:
1)What could have happened to dissolve every single mushroom and not the
other corals??? (Did she pour a ton of arctic pods in ((Says she didn't))
<Mmm, some sort of "cascade event"... One thing leading quickly and deadly to
another... Some sort of pathogen perhaps... or other trigger causing one
Corallimorph to poison the system for its genetic likes>
2)Should I get all fish out (into the 180) as well and throw some damsels in
there for the cycle?? (Buy some liquid quick cycle (I forget the name)
<Mmmm, perhaps... if they appear stressed... too much... And BioSpira is likely
the product you refer to and want to use>
It's just amazing to me that after 10 years, they could all vanish literally
overnight! Could this have been a spawning event of some kind?
<Mmmm, not likely, no... This same sort of triggered response can come from
"something" lacking in the environment, allelopathy with other Cnidarians... the
Clavulariid, or Sarcophyton most likely from what you list...>
Thank you very much!
Mitch
<These "things" do happen... even in well-kept, long-term-stable settings...
Periodically upsetting the homeostasis (dynamic equilibrium... jumbo shrimp?
Military intelligence?) is suggested... Bob Fenner>
Mushroom Meltdown - one addition 7/6/07
I have to add: I just realized that I forgot to mention something that could
be important. My protein skimmer had not been working for a few months (with no
detrimental effects) and I did take it apart and clean and fix it about 3 weeks
ago. I wonder if this could have started the shift in water chemistry. (IE
cleaning the water of excess nutrients that the mushrooms were thriving on,
leading to the great mushroom crash.)
<Yes... this definitely is a factor>
Again, it was overnight and only the mushrooms, so I would still love to hear
your thoughts.
Thanks again,
Mitch
<Bob Fenner> Re:
Mushroom Meltdown 7/7/07
Thanks for the response Bob! ok- so a follow up. I am now seeing a white
fungus on several rocks and on the bottom of the tank. Could this be related to
the cause of the mushroom loss, or a growth after the fact based on the levels
in the tank going so crazy in the past week? Also, of course- what should I do
about it?
Thanks again,
Mitch
<Is very likely related to the meltdown... are decomposition products... Need to
monitor water quality, utilize activated carbon in your filter flow path, keep
your skimmer cleaned (esp. the contact chamber), and carefully watch your other
livestock. BobF>
Mushroom Coral Problem. No data on sys.,
tankmates, maint., foods/feeding, water quality testing... 5/29/07
Hi Guys, I have recently noticed my Mushroom coral starting to go black all
over. A week ago it was fine and I have never had a problem with it.
Please could you tell me what you think it might be?
Cheers
Phil
<... What? Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/corallim.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Xeniid Help RESEND 4/12/07
Hi all! I am sending this again via webmail to see if it makes
it this time. No response first time around (Those web gods!!)
<Thank you for this. Your first go "kind of" made it... but
"trayless"... the short expl.: we'd have to re-send it through our
system to respond...>
I am an avid reader of your site and have been known to spend hours
upon hours researching for the answers to many of my questions, most
of the time with success; however, this one has me stumped. First
the tank specs:
TANK SPECS:
29 Gal BC with additional "baby powerhead" and external skimmer
Salinity 1.26
pH Stable at 8.4 (taken consistently at 4:30 AM with pH monitor)
Temp 79.4 day / 78.6 night
Salifert test kit results:
Calcium 460
Alk 13 dKH
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate > 5
Phosphate 0
I am currently using a PolyFilter and Chemi-Pure in case of chemical
warfare
<Okay... though these are more useful for inorganics...>
RESIDENTS:
2 cleaner shrimp
1 fire shrimp
One 1.5 inch maroon clown and one 2 inch yellow tang
<Mmm...>
(until they are big enough not to be eaten by V lion in the 240
gal)
Presumed mantis shrimp due to skinned/diced Mandarin
<Also mis-placed in such a small volume>
(which was trained to eat frozen as well as flake food and was FAT),
another story entirely¦
CORAL:
Open brain
Candy cane
Torch
Leather toadstool
Finger leather
Mushrooms
Xenia which are at the top of the tank by water return and far away
from any of my LPS and softies (which are still thriving)
<A clue here>
PROBLEM:
My Xenia had been thriving for about four months now growing from
three stalks to approximately 20 in this same time period; that is
until five days ago, at which point they have been only bulbs which
are now slowly deteriorating. I have been doing consistent 5 gal
water changes every other day upon discovering this until two days
ago when I upped it to 5 gal every day. I have even taken an 8 oz
glass with tank water and added 1 drop Lugol's and gently poured it
on the Xenia with no success (only once). I am wondering if there
is some macroalgae growing within the Xenia stalks which may be the
culprit.
<Mmm, likely "after the fact"... but... are you sure this is an
algae? Might be a Hydroid pictured here...>
I have enclosed a picture which I hope you get. If not let me
attempt to describe these things. They are long rigid stalks with a
feather tip only, dark green in color and approximately 1 to 2
inches in length) They are very stubborn as I tried to tweeze one
out thinking it was a human hair entangled within the Xenia and it
did not break or budge!?!?!?!?
<Bingo>
I have no idea what these things are but if this is in fact
macroalgae then do I just tweeze these pieces, or cut them with
scissors?
<May take more drastic action here... the cleaving of the Xeniid
colony, scrubbing around the bases of the salvaged polyps...>
Once again I have no idea what I am seeing or dealing with or if it
is even a problem and the real problem lies elsewhere. Any insight
would be greatly appreciated
<Is something other than algae... a look through a microscope would
help here... I'd remove the colony, clean out these pests, try to
restore the pulsing corals health in isolation. Bob Fenner> |
Re: Xeniid Help RESEND, hydroid ID 4/13/07
Mr. Fenner,
<Kim!>
I am honored to have you reply to my email; thank you.
<Welcome... Geez, I must be getting old/er...>
I would have never even thought hydroid as I always associated this
with a very minute "thing with tentacles", but after doing more
research and comparing pictures with what I have, I am in complete
agreement. Looks a lot like Antennellopsis sp.
<Possibly>
I promptly removed the Xenia and scrubbed the areas that I could
and took needle nose pliers to those buggers since the tweezers
proved to be of no help. I managed to remove all that I could see
plus the dead and dying Xenia stalks and now I will wait and see
what happens.
<Good>
I feel bad that I was thinking environmental cause (reason for
overkill with the PolyFilter, Chemi-pure, and extensive water
changes) and my poor Xenia were being stung the whole time (I
visualize myself being locked in a car with bees for a week). One
more lesson learned to lock away in my head.
<Mmm, not locked... but shared, released to other possibilities>
As an aside, I would never even think of keeping my clown and tang
in an environment this small for any extended length of time;
however, the last attempt to add juvenile fish with the lion proved
to be an expensive meal for the lion and a month to retrain him to
eat prepared food again. These two fish are still smaller than my
cleaner shrimp and I am sure would be consumed within one day by the
lion if given the chance (lion is a good 6-8 inches).
<Yikes>
I do have a spare 55 gallon lying around that I could set up to
"grow out these toddlers" if you feel this would be more
appropriate. I really respect your opinion and thank you again for
your keen insight.
Have a Great Day!
Kimberly
<Ah, from the tenor and apparent intelligence of your writing, I
fully suspect you are more than capable of "making the call" here re
the observable behavior of these two and their need to be
re-situated. Bob Fenner> |
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Re: Xeniid Help....HYDROIDS HAPPY UPDATE – 4/28/07
Hello to all and thank you again for being there!! I have placed a
copy of our previous correspondence below for reference.
<Thank you for this>
I wanted to let you know that because of your (Mr. Fenner's) ability to
teach me something new my Xenia are back on track with new babies
everywhere!! I am certain they would have died without your 100%
accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations (which I
followed to the letter) as I was treating for everything BUT hydroids
and they kept going downhill. I have enclosed pictures of their
incredible recovery!! (It has only been two weeks since their near death
experience). Thank you again SO much for being there, you saved another
life! If there is anything I can do to help you out in return, it would
be my pleasure!!
Kimberly
<Thank you for sharing the news of your success. Bob Fenner>
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Issues... Mushrooms dying, BGA showing up... 3/8/07
I have two main concerns. I have a 4 month old system, 30 gallon with a 20
gallon refugium. By all accounts everything is doing well, my water parameters
are all great, lighting is above average, I have plenty of water movement,
everything is good. Anyway, One of the inhabitants was a large Hairy mushroom
polyp, probably about 3" when fully expanded... It had asexually divided into
three identical sized polyps about 1 month after I acquired it.
<Often such activity resultant from very good... or very stressful environment>
It was performing beautifully. This past weekend though I noticed one started
to "change"...I unfortunately have no pictures to show so I will try to
describe. It looked like it was melting, quite simply... A slimy layer was
peeling off of it, it appeared as though it had shot it's nematocysts and it had
shrunk dramatically in size. I tried to siphon some of the material off
thinking it was completely dead for some reason, and the main body appeared to
still be intact, and attached to the rock. But by the following day it was gone
and the other two had begun the same phenomena. There is NO evidence that they
ever even existed and it is baffling to me.
I also recently have developed more of a red Cyano-bacteria issue... not sure if
there is a correlation, I doubt there is.
<Mmm, I do not doubt a positive correlation here myself>
Any potential reason would be appreciated. Thank you
Sean Uslabar
<Well... it reads like "something" is amiss here... either directly or
indirectly your Corallimorphs are/were being poisoned, mal-affected... by the
BGA? By something else... the list of possibilities here is vast... Your
resultant actions, important... Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/shroomhlthfaqs.htm
and the linked files above... Re what might be at fault here... And further on
WWM re BGA... its causes, cures and controls. Bob Fenner>
Flatworms on my Corallimorpharia 1/5/07
First, happy new years to everyone at WWM.
<And to you.>
My Corallimorpharians are covered in flat worms similar to the pic in the
article, "Flatworms, including "Planaria" & Marine Aquariums" by Bob Fenner, on
your website. In the article Bob recommends leaving them alone or getting a
predator. <I actually prefer manual removal over getting a predator, most find
something better to eat in the tank than the flatworms.> They do not appear to
be harming the mushrooms however can I remove the rock the Corallimorpharians
are on and give it a fresh water dip? <Would hurt/kill the corals.> If not, or
also, what type of predator would you recommend. <A siphon during water
changes. Otherwise 6-line wrasse are sometimes a good choice.>
I have a 100 gal tank with 1-yellow tang, 1-regal tang, 1-blenny, 2-maroon
clowns and two-Banggai cardinals. The tank is 6-months old and is doing well:
sg-1.026
kh-12
cal-420
nitrates-0
phos low
Thanks again.
One additional thing I failed to mention, which may affect the choice of a
predator, is that I have 2-cleaner shrimp.
<A possible problem with the six-lined wrasse, although often works out
fine. My suggestion is to go with manual removal during water changes. The
worm's population will often wax and wane over time..>
<Chris>
Snail comp., relating, Mushroom malady? 12/6/06
Hi Crew,
<Hello, Mich here.>
10 gallon with some fish and mushrooms plus critters. Every once and a
while I take a flashlight to see what's going on when the lights are out and I
always find it fascinating. Usually I just see the threads of the spaghetti worm
but last night it was out in full view with a whole web of red strands spread
out over the rock.
<Cool!>
And I found some new snails (4 that I saw) that I did not buy and I have not
added much in the past few months except for some small (2 inch ) rocks with
mushrooms.
<Many snails are fine, but be aware there are some snails that are not reef
safe. Google WWM if you have questions.>
The snails are small with the largest about half the size of a dime. They are
like a dime standing on edge with a very visible spiral which is beautifully
colored in bands of red and black with white background. Each band has a
repeating design in it. It is amazing that something so small has such intricate
designs.
<The world is a fascinating place. You just have to stop to notice it.>
One was on the glass and the others on the rock. I am surprised that I have not
seen them till now. I have another small snail that I got with live sand. These
are white and cerith shaped but were so small that it would take 4 to equal on
grain of rice. I have lots of them and they are now about double in size but I
do not see any smaller ones so I guess they will not reproduce. They are over a
year old and are on the glass and rocks but only at night. I did have a strange
episode in that I lost about 8 small (smaller than a dime) mushrooms that were
all produced from the same parent. This happened over a two week period and I
was unable to determine the cause.
<As if often the case.>
The parent is fine as well as other mushrooms in the tank including some that
are small. But this group which was spread out over the tank just dissolved
except for two that bleached and are still hanging in.
<Sorry for your loss.>
Keep up the good work.
<Thank you, we'll try!-Mich>
Re: Mushroom Anenome and Soft Coral Help - 12/04/06
Good morning Justin,
<Hey Ben, hope you're well>
I'm very sorry about the long delay, once again I have been out of the office.
<No problems>
I thought I would keep you updated on the current affairs in my tank.
<Sure! Always good to hear updates!>
Since moving my leather toadstool it has look infinitely better and is
increasing its size rapidly however the feathery tips are still not extending.
<Good, I'd give the polyps some more time after the stress and moving, but if
its reinflating itself again, this is a good sign.>
I have ordered two 18watt T5 bulbs one 10000k daylight and one actinic
(unfortunately I don't have the funds at present to get a 24watt luminary to fit
my tank). I hope that this will be sufficient for now until the new year when I
will be looking into a better lighting setup.
<Sounds good>
In regards to the unknown hitchhiker I tried to take a picture of it but it was
just too small to get a clear image of it. At present it is not causing a
problem to any of the tank inhabitants but I will keep an eye on it and if it
gets bigger I will send you a picture of it.
<You are wise here.>
I have recently purchased a piccolo (not sure of the spelling) protein skimmer
which I have added to my tank and this is running fine although I was told that
because of the Seachem Renew it may not make much of a difference. Would you
agree here?
<Mmm, no, I would not. A protein skimmer will be a beneficial addition,
regardless of what chemical filtration you may employ. While they may remove
similar things, you will still see water quality improvement.>
Thanks very much for your advice over the past few weeks. Hopefully once I have
my T5 bulbs I will see an even greater improvement from my corals I will keep
you informed of any progress within my tank.
<Please do!>
Thanks again and have a great Christmas and a happy new year if I don't hear
from you before.
Ben
<I wish the same for you and yours, Ben. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year
as well, and do keep in contact! -JustinN>
Mushroom infestation 11/30/06
Dear WWM Crew,
<Hi Ashlie, Michelle here.> I have had a rock of mushrooms in my tank for
years. The shrooms have gradually been getting spots on them. They look like
what a water blister would look like if a mushroom coral could get a water
blister. (little pockets of air all over the individual mushrooms) However, in
the past day or two, the blisters have multiplied greatly in numbers and now
they are moving from place to place around them. Is this threatening to my
mushrooms or any other corals/ fish in my tank. I'm really worried about this!
Please help!!!!
I have searched the web to try and find out what this is, but I can't seem
to figure it out! <It sounds like you may have flatworms. Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatworms.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/flatwrmfaq2.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pestflatwrmanthony.htm>
Thanks so much for anything you can tell me, <Welcome.>
Ashlie
Mushrooms sick, possible contamination - 10/22/06
Hi, <Greetings.> I have a 4 year old 90 gallon tank that in every other way seems to be
thriving. No nitrates, nitrite or ammonia. All others levels are fine
except some phosphates. I got a small rock with handful of mushrooms
when I started the tank. It took off and I counted about 30 mushrooms a
few weeks ago. A week ago my mushrooms started getting those squiggly
white lines coming out of them. Most have shriveled up or
disappeared. I
am not sure what is going on. The only thing that has changed is my
light got a short in 2 of the bulbs a few weeks ago so they had to live
on about 200 watts for a week until my new light came in ( roughly 600
watts), I acclimated them to the new light and it is now on full force
but they have not come back. I also recently added a galaxy coral but
it is nowhere near the mushrooms. Any ideas what could be up?
< There is likely a water quality issue at play. A few large water
changes in addition to fresh carbon and PolyFilter would be a good
starting point. You may want to check your source water for
contamination as well as stuff around the house (cleaning supplies etc)
for a possible source. > Leah < Best of luck - Emerson >
Dyed Ricordea? - 06/20/06
Dear Crew,
<<Evening Narayan>>
I've read about dyed soft corals, anemones and glass fish on WWM.
<<Indeed>>
But just out of curiosity, have you heard of anyone dying Ricordea?
<<Can't say that I have>>
The reason I ask is that my LFS has a bright florescent-green polyp that looks
too bright and florescent to be real.
<<Hmm...>>
I searched the Internet for pictures and haven't found one that colorful.
<<Perhaps a true "find"...or perhaps not...>>
I'm very tempted, but I want to make sure...
<<Is a possibility I suppose...I think you'll have to use your own good judgment
here>>
Thank you,
Narayan
<<Welcome, EricR>>
Re: Dyed Ricordea? - 06/21/06
Thanks! I'll let you know if it's offspring are not as vibrant!
Narayan
<<Please do! EricR>>
- Mushrooms Fed and then Died 6/15/06 -
Sorry, I have never posted before and I REALLY hope I am doing this
correctly. <No worries.> I bought a BEAUTIFUL rock of chromes some months
ago. It was healthy and happy, very open and thriving. It is in the tank next
to a rock heavy with green hairy mushrooms. They have both been doing fine,
actually the green ones are about a year old and have done really well. A few
days ago my husband felt the need to target feed them because he was CONVINCED
it was the right thing to do for them since I have NEVER EVER fed them. I run a
fuge and feed the fish everyday and they always seem to catch a little of their
food every once and a while. They always looked happy so I figured, if it isn't
broke DON'T fix it. He is an engineer so he ALWAYS knows a better
way... Anyway, he fed them Cyclop-eeze mixed with tank water through a tube
feeder direct in the middle of each mushroom. They immediately closed up like
they were eating so he thought it was what they needed and did it again the
following day. They reacted the same way as the day before. Then when wok up
on morning three, both rocks inhabitants seemed to start just melting away. Now
one rock is completely empty and the green ones are not far behind... Is this
happening because he OVERFED them? <It certainly sounds that way but it's
difficult to know with absolute certainty. That being said, it would be unusual
for food alone to kill a mushroom. Perhaps cross contamination from the feeder
device.> If they were doing fine with what I was doing, should I just continue
to care for mushrooms in this fashion??? <Mushrooms need little direct attention
and often do better with none at all... so, stick with your methodology and tell
your husband to keep his feeder to himself.>
Thanks
Danielle
<Cheers, J -- >
White specks on mushroom coral - 06/07/06
Hello there!! Quick question regarding my mushroom corals. I was looking
at the mushroom corals today and noticed very tiny white dots attached to the
mushrooms. They do not move at all but when I poke them with a stick, they
quickly dart around the mushroom. They move sporadically. I happened to siphon
one out into a cup to observe it (they are like the size of a flea). They do
not look like amphipods or copepods that I see in my tank. Once in the cup, I
poke it with the stick. Since it has nothing to hold on to, it would swim and
dart around with no sense of direction (Similar to a fish darting around when
they have ich). I Googled mushroom coral parasites/pest but nothing comes
up. I have no idea what this is and is it harmful to my mushrooms or any of my
other corals such as colony polyps and frogspawn coral.
<Mmm, from your description of morphology, behavior these are likely some
species of small crustacean... and not likely of harm. I would tolerate them...
and enjoy them while you can, as it is highly likely they will "cycle out" on
their own. Bob Fenner>
Rhodactis mushroom 2/8/06
Hi guys,
Thanks so much for your help over the last year or so, you guys have been a
huge part in my tank doing so well. I recently made a lot of additions to
my 29 gallon tank to finally make it more of a reef. I recently acquired
some frags of pulsing xenias for free from a fellow reefer in my area, and
yesterday I added a small frag of zoo's and a couple of (what I was told are)
Rhodactis mushrooms.
<... these groups of animals are hard to keep in such a small volume with each
other...>
Everything seems to being great, but one of my
Rhodactis mushrooms is showing mesenterial filaments and his mouth has
opened up to about the size of the end of a q-tip. I know that these are a
sign of defense, but there is nothing near him except the other, smaller
Rhodactis and he is doing just fine.
<Maybe damaged, perhaps a weaker individual... likely allelopathogenic influence
from the Zoanthids, perhaps the Xeniids as well>
Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are all
0. pH is about 8.3. I dose Purple for Calcium and Iodine which I know is
essential for mushrooms. I'm asking early so I can fix whatever may be
wrong. Thanks again for all your help.
<... Please read here:
http://www.google.com/custom?q=mushroom%2C+allelopathy%2C+zoanthid&sitesearch=wetwebmedia.com
Bob Fenner>
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Ricordea Yuma Bleaching 10/18/05
Hello,
<Hey, Mike G here.>
I have a brilliant, large rock covered with Ricordea yuma and Discosoma. This piece has been in my tank for about a year now. It has not been through any great changes to it's habitat, water levels are perfect, salinity has not changed, lighting has not changed and temperature has not changed.
<Okay.>
My problem: For about a week now the Ricordea have not opened to their full potential.
<Always a cause for concern.>
They are still responsive as they close when the lunar lights are on and open when the when the rest of the lights come on.
<Good.>
They only open to about a 1/4 of their size though.
<Not so good.>
They also seem to be changing color, from a deep reddish brown to an almost white.
<Ah, they are bleaching. That is, all corals live endosymbiotically with a
photosynthetic dinoflagellate known as zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae thrive in the corals' tissues, and provide them not only with their color, but also with their respiratory wastes. The corals do the same, and, as each has different needs in terms of respiration, both thrive. In fact, zooxanthellae are credited with being the reason corals are able to build such massive reef structures. In any case, under stress, corals will
expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae, and, in doing so, effectively destroy their own ability to sustain themselves via photosynthesis. Any coral turning white is a cause for alarm, as this (known as bleaching) is the aforementioned expellation
(expulsion) of zooxanthellae. It is of paramount importance to figure out why the Ricordea have decided to evict these (very valuable) tenants.>
They also seem to be partially releasing themselves from their host rock.
<Too weak to hold on? Trying to catch a wave to a better place?>
The Discosoma have begun shedding themselves from the rock and transplanting on other rocks. This has only seemed to give the other
Discosoma more room to open larger.
<Sounds like everyone's trying to get away from that rock. Likely a bad spot in regard to lighting, flow, etc.>
The question: Are these issues natural or is there a problem that I need to address?
<Natural? Yes, but not in the least a "good" kind of natural.>
I have attached a picture of the tank for your viewing. You can find the Ricordea
located in the middle right of the picture.
<Absolutely gorgeous system you have there! Can't tell much from the pic in terms of the Ricordea, however. Going by your description,
I'm almost positive they're bleaching. Do try moving them around a bit, try to get them to a spot they like.>
Thank you in advance for your help,
<You're very welcome.>
Steve S
<Mike G> |
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