Little black hairs possibly killing SPS?

JerkinJohn · 02/02/2013, 07:10 AM

I'm at work at the moment so I can't provide any pics right now. Later tonight I can. I searched for an answer but can't find anything that is the same looking things as I think I have in my system. I thought maybe someone may have an idea. I have a few SPS frags in my DT. They are doing well although overnight ( Just like that ) I had a red planet die. Looked great before bed and the next day when I came home from work it was a white skeleton

I noticed on a green birdsnest that a couple of tips started turning white also. Over the course of the same night. I have a pink birdsnest that is doing great at the moment how ever. I chalked up the demise of the red planet to ( RTN ) but under further investigation I noticed on the dead tips of the green birdsnest and my setosa little black hair looking things. Like in your sink when you shave is the best reference I can think of.

I noticed that on the setosa they look embedded in its tissue also. Any clue as to what this could be? I dipped with revive a week ago when I added these corals and am thinking of doing another dip tonight after work. Its hard to tell if they are moving on there own or if the flow in the tank is moving these black looking hair things. Thanks for any input

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sponger0 · 02/02/2013, 07:19 AM

Sounds like the beginning of bryopsis. But pics will definately help identify it. Im interested to see what this is so Im tagging along.

bnumair · 02/02/2013, 07:23 AM

pic will make a positive id but i agree with sponger0.

JerkinJohn · 02/02/2013, 07:35 AM

When looking at them with a flashlight in the DT these things look like they move around like a little pest of some nature.

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JerkinJohn · 02/03/2013, 08:53 AM

Excuse the crude photo's. I'm working on getting a better camera for things just like this. I dipped the green birdsnest and setosa last night with revive. I use a turkey baster and I have to say these things are hard to get off. I'm sure they are some type of worm. Really small though.

I looked over the coral with a magnifying glass and a high power light before putting them back in the DT. I couldn't see any after the dip. Then about 10 minutes after being back in the DT they reappeared out of nowhere. Now they are back in full force as if I never even dipped them and I believe they are spreading. I am pretty sure I've seen one on a Zoa polyp although there has been no negative affect there.

These things seem to be able to penetrate almost anything. I took a close look at the frag plug and some old super glue from the other frag plugs and they look embedded in there as well.

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JerkinJohn · 02/03/2013, 11:39 PM

Well, after realizing that these things have spread into the hundreds perhaps thousands I started doing massive research. Seems these worms are harmless and relatively common in a new setup. A little over reaction on my part.

Stomkat · 02/04/2013, 08:39 AM

Glad I read this for future reference! But now you need to figure out what the problem is

potterjon · 02/04/2013, 09:13 AM

You have peaked my curiosity. Please keep us posted as to what you have learned about these critters.

JerkinJohn · 02/04/2013, 09:27 AM

I am working on getting a better camera. I have access to a good one with a Macro lense but I have to get a new battery and charger for it apparently. Can ya's see the little black worms in the pictures I provided? I took them with my lousy phone camera. Anyway, these worms are scary at first because they appear in great numbers practically overnight. But during further research it appears that these worms are a sign that my tank is starting to come alive.

I did put a six line wrasse in yesterday to hopefully keep the numbers in check to some degree. I do not like the fact that they are on coral though. I have a hammer, plate, slimmer, tri color acro and a few others that seem completely unaffected by these little guys. I am keeping a ( close ) eye on things to say the least and am trying to figure out why my red planet died overnight like that. Was it these little critters? Was it RTN? I don't really know at this point. Its the only coral I've lost but I don't want to see a pattern starting that's for sure.

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potterjon · 02/04/2013, 10:40 AM

I guess that is what weird's me out. The fact that they are on the coral itself. Simply haven't ever heard of them.

Chaotic Reefer4u · 02/04/2013, 01:07 PM

Sounds very interesting indeed

JerkinJohn · 02/11/2013, 09:00 AM

Thought I would give an update on my situation. I am still dealing with these little black worms. I did get a bad six line wrasse from my lfs. He looked great in the store of course but 2 day's after I added him to the DT he just died off which surprised me because I've known the six line to be very hardy. He did make an impact on the little black worms while he was living how ever. Just in a couple days. Since his demise I can see more worms on my green birds nest and it's not doing very well. My setosa how ever is doing okay with all of its polyps still intact. It's looking bleached though, which I don't get because it's only a quarter of the way up and a portion of it is under shade.

These little guys are every where. In my skimmer, and skimmer chamber, overflow, sand bed but not in my fuge interestingly enough. I figure my pods must be eradicating them in there. I can't even be sure if they are having an impact on any coral. The green birds nest isn't doing well but the pink birds nest looks happy and healthy. I found a couple of pages on the web about these little guy's but nothing really informative. Here's one link that seems to have something that looks like what I have in my tank under black worms. http://www.extreme-aquatics.com/707/...reef-aquarium/

And here is a post from 07 with a pic that looks like what I have although she seems to have them in greater numbers. http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/...rms-41550.html I'm giving my lfs a call this afternoon to see if they got there shipment in and hopefully score another six line and am keeping a close eye on things. Of course I'm hoping these tiny black worms are harmless and just part of a explosion of first life in this newly setup aquarium.

If anyone has had anything like these at one time or another please share. I would love a little piece of mind. Thanks

02/02/2013, 07:10 AM	#1
JerkinJohn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 74	Little black hairs possibly killing SPS? I'm at work at the moment so I can't provide any pics right now. Later tonight I can. I searched for an answer but can't find anything that is the same looking things as I think I have in my system. I thought maybe someone may have an idea. I have a few SPS frags in my DT. They are doing well although overnight ( Just like that ) I had a red planet die. Looked great before bed and the next day when I came home from work it was a white skeleton I noticed on a green birdsnest that a couple of tips started turning white also. Over the course of the same night. I have a pink birdsnest that is doing great at the moment how ever. I chalked up the demise of the red planet to ( RTN ) but under further investigation I noticed on the dead tips of the green birdsnest and my setosa little black hair looking things. Like in your sink when you shave is the best reference I can think of. I noticed that on the setosa they look embedded in its tissue also. Any clue as to what this could be? I dipped with revive a week ago when I added these corals and am thinking of doing another dip tonight after work. Its hard to tell if they are moving on there own or if the flow in the tank is moving these black looking hair things. Thanks for any input Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ I need the whatchamacallit for the thingamajigger

02/02/2013, 07:23 AM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	pic will make a positive id but i agree with sponger0. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/02/2013, 07:35 AM	#4
JerkinJohn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 74	When looking at them with a flashlight in the DT these things look like they move around like a little pest of some nature. Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ I need the whatchamacallit for the thingamajigger

02/03/2013, 08:53 AM	#5
JerkinJohn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 74	Excuse the crude photo's. I'm working on getting a better camera for things just like this. I dipped the green birdsnest and setosa last night with revive. I use a turkey baster and I have to say these things are hard to get off. I'm sure they are some type of worm. Really small though. I looked over the coral with a magnifying glass and a high power light before putting them back in the DT. I couldn't see any after the dip. Then about 10 minutes after being back in the DT they reappeared out of nowhere. Now they are back in full force as if I never even dipped them and I believe they are spreading. I am pretty sure I've seen one on a Zoa polyp although there has been no negative affect there. These things seem to be able to penetrate almost anything. I took a close look at the frag plug and some old super glue from the other frag plugs and they look embedded in there as well. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] __________________ I need the whatchamacallit for the thingamajigger

02/03/2013, 11:39 PM	#6
JerkinJohn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 74	Well, after realizing that these things have spread into the hundreds perhaps thousands I started doing massive research. Seems these worms are harmless and relatively common in a new setup. A little over reaction on my part. __________________ I need the whatchamacallit for the thingamajigger

02/02/2013, 07:19 AM	#2
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Sounds like the beginning of bryopsis. But pics will definately help identify it. Im interested to see what this is so Im tagging along.

02/04/2013, 08:39 AM	#7
Stomkat Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oregon, OH Posts: 215	Glad I read this for future reference! But now you need to figure out what the problem is __________________ 40L, 2 - Zoo Med PowerSweep 212 (125 gph), 1 penguin 1140 (300 gph), 2 - Whisper 40 power filters (210 gph). 48" 4 bulb HO T5, 2 54w actinic, 2 54w 12k white, 8 LED moonlight. 15 gallon sump: Chaeto, 400gph return pump, 300gph skimmer. 85 Watt HighMax CFL bulb (250w output) Current Tank Info: 40L, ~80lbs LR, 30 gallon sump

02/04/2013, 09:13 AM	#8
potterjon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 933	You have peaked my curiosity. Please keep us posted as to what you have learned about these critters.

02/04/2013, 09:27 AM	#9
JerkinJohn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 74	I am working on getting a better camera. I have access to a good one with a Macro lense but I have to get a new battery and charger for it apparently. Can ya's see the little black worms in the pictures I provided? I took them with my lousy phone camera. Anyway, these worms are scary at first because they appear in great numbers practically overnight. But during further research it appears that these worms are a sign that my tank is starting to come alive. I did put a six line wrasse in yesterday to hopefully keep the numbers in check to some degree. I do not like the fact that they are on coral though. I have a hammer, plate, slimmer, tri color acro and a few others that seem completely unaffected by these little guys. I am keeping a ( close ) eye on things to say the least and am trying to figure out why my red planet died overnight like that. Was it these little critters? Was it RTN? I don't really know at this point. Its the only coral I've lost but I don't want to see a pattern starting that's for sure. Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ I need the whatchamacallit for the thingamajigger

02/04/2013, 10:40 AM	#10
potterjon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 933	I guess that is what weird's me out. The fact that they are on the coral itself. Simply haven't ever heard of them.

02/04/2013, 01:07 PM	#11
Chaotic Reefer4u ♥Acropora Aficionado♥ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hollister,Ca. Posts: 5,163	Sounds very interesting indeed __________________ Live everyday as if it was your last, take time to smell the flowers, enjoy all things living, never take anything for granted, you just never know when your number might be up... Current Tank Info: * 90g. Reef Ready TruVu tank with 30g. Platinum Filtration Series Sump SpS Acro enthusiast *

02/11/2013, 09:00 AM	#12
JerkinJohn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 74	Thought I would give an update on my situation. I am still dealing with these little black worms. I did get a bad six line wrasse from my lfs. He looked great in the store of course but 2 day's after I added him to the DT he just died off which surprised me because I've known the six line to be very hardy. He did make an impact on the little black worms while he was living how ever. Just in a couple days. Since his demise I can see more worms on my green birds nest and it's not doing very well. My setosa how ever is doing okay with all of its polyps still intact. It's looking bleached though, which I don't get because it's only a quarter of the way up and a portion of it is under shade. These little guys are every where. In my skimmer, and skimmer chamber, overflow, sand bed but not in my fuge interestingly enough. I figure my pods must be eradicating them in there. I can't even be sure if they are having an impact on any coral. The green birds nest isn't doing well but the pink birds nest looks happy and healthy. I found a couple of pages on the web about these little guy's but nothing really informative. Here's one link that seems to have something that looks like what I have in my tank under black worms. http://www.extreme-aquatics.com/707/...reef-aquarium/ And here is a post from 07 with a pic that looks like what I have although she seems to have them in greater numbers. http://www.3reef.com/forums/inverts/...rms-41550.html I'm giving my lfs a call this afternoon to see if they got there shipment in and hopefully score another six line and am keeping a close eye on things. Of course I'm hoping these tiny black worms are harmless and just part of a explosion of first life in this newly setup aquarium. If anyone has had anything like these at one time or another please share. I would love a little piece of mind. Thanks __________________ I need the whatchamacallit for the thingamajigger