SPS Dying?

Hello All,

I recently got an unknown of species of SPS from a LFS. Once I got it home I notice it was home to a "Guard Crab" as well. Everything was fine until the other day when I notice chucks of the SPS were white. I thought it maybe bleaching so I moved it to the bottom of the tank, but this doesn't seem to be helping. All the water parameters are normal. It is a 75 gallon tank with 6 bulb T-5s. Currently there are 2 clowns, lawnmower blenny, peppermint and clearer shrimp, and the "guard crab" so nothing that I am aware that would eat it. The flow is moderate. Is it common for the crab to eat the SPS home it has made? Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Thanks in advance for you help

 

Are you sure this is a Guard Crab? Can you be more specific? How big is the coral the crab has chosen as its host? Sometimes even a Guard Crab as helpful as they mean to be can kill small SPS corals. I would consider stopping moving the coral around as stability is what you should aim for. We need your current parameters and a picture of the crab if possible and especially the coral would be helpful.

 

+1 A pic would be helpful. There are some crabs that, as juvies, will take up residence in SPS and feed on them.

Also, what do you consider moderate flow? Most SPS prefer strong current.

 

I can only assume it is a guard crab, since it has not moved from the coral and traveled with it. It appears to be a sp. Tetralia glaberrima. But it is very difficult to get a picture of it.
Coral Crabs - specimen #3

Thanks

 

Unless you can accurately identify the crab I would remove it. You may have a coral predator on your hands. Happens more than you think. In fact, I removed a Coral predator Star from my tank tonight. It was wrecking havoc on my Star Polyps. Please post parameters and pictures of the coral. This will give us something more to go on. Thanks!

 

Sps

Parameters
Ammonia- 0
NO2- 0
NO3- Nearly 0
Cal- 430
dKH-11
PO4- 0
Salinity -1.022

I have removed the crab and placed it in a quarantine tank and moved the coral higher in the tank to have a more direct flow. I will let you know what happens.

Here is a picture of the crab and coral, let me know if anyone can identify them.

Moderate Flow in my opinion is the water "bouncing" of the side of the tank then around the coral... I guess it would be more indirect.

Thanks again for your help

 

He looks like my old acropora crab.

I would start by bringing your SG up to 1.025 slowly.

Are you running any bio-pellets?

 

I run a protein skimmer in the sump with some basic filters. But no bio-pellets.