Rtn! Rtn! Rtn!

I started to notice some disturbing die-off in some of my montipora digita frags last friday, and my dad called me at school today to let me know that all of the frags were dead and the large mother colony was starting to be affected as well. Why he didn't tell me earlier, I don't know. The death started at the base of the frags and went up the branches. None of my other corals are being affected. I have my dad testing/changing the water as we speak.

Apparently, our heater is broken, sending the temps careening from as low as 76 degrees to as high as 79 degrees. I don't know why this would only affect the montipora and not the other organisms in the tank. I also have and DSB, but again, I don't believe this is the issue since everything else seems ok. I suspect predation. Any ideas/advice?

 

Woooow. Not fun. Running these tanks remotely is a terific pain. I have been away only a few days for work and my son reports to me that my pH is diving and my heater may be crapping out. Doing this over the phone is like trying to push a rope. Don't have much in the way of suggestions now. Hopefully your dad can get the chemistry numbers to you soon. Karma for luck!

 

You could have AEFW or maybe Red Bug. They will start eating at the base of the coral.

 

I dont think the temp is the problem, in fact, the temp is fine. Have you tried testing your water? I would test everything. What kind of lighting do you have?

 

Here is a couple article you should read.

AEFW | Acro Eating Flatworms

Red Bug

 

My dad's testing right now. I have T5 HO: 2 10,000K and 1 actinic.

 

I would definitely check for monti eating nudibranchs. A(cropora) E(ating) F(lat) W(orms) and red bugs only eat acropora corals

 

Oooop! got ahead of myself...just go ahead and slap me Annick! :-/ Heck I even had these things...guess I need to read better.
The will look like this, I had these little burgers.

 

I forgive you...you are a boy after all

The best way to check for sure if you have nudis is with a magnifying glass. I've only seen two of them large enough to be seen with my naked eye since learning about these little parasites.

 

You can see them in those picture, they are the fuzzy white things on the base of the frag..........easy on the boy thing now...