Bugs and Zoa Question

small black bugs????

Some of my zoas have not been opening up and some seem to be dying over the past couple of weeks. All of my water perameters have been stable and good. Salinity is 1.024.

So, the last two nights I have watched for a while under the moon lights to see if I could see anything. I have small bugs moving over some of the zoas. I can't take pictures because they never come out during the day. I also saw some on a piece of live rock.

They are small, they seem to be black (hard to tell for sure under moon light), they are quick and look like a bug you would see on dry land, not in a tank.

Sorry I can't offer a picture, I will keep trying. Does anyone have any idea what they might be? If they may be affecting my zoas? and how to get rid of them?

Thanks

 

Can you try taking a pic, or using a pipette to catch one off the zoa when under moon lights and then take a picture? Most common pests are nudibranchs and flatworms, but from what you describe sounds like harmless pods. A picture of your zoas colony and the ones which are dying might help solve the problem. Plus what are your actual water parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate)?

 

If they are pods then its likely that they are just feeding off the dead parts, doing there job by scavaging.

 

Perameters -
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate are all - 0.
Phosphate - .25
Calcium - 450
Mag. - 1280
KH- 9
pH - 8.2
Thanks for replying. I will try to get a picture of them if I can catch one.
I have looked of pics of both nudibranches and flatworms and I am pretty
certain it is not either of those. It could be pods...

Someone else has suggested zoapox which would make sense with your
theory that the pods are scavenging at night?