Bugs on Acros at night

[Azazael13]

I have noticed some bugs on my acros at night after the lights go out, they all scatter when a light is shown on them (found using my red light). They do not seem to be the dreaded red bugs of doom to me, though I could be wrong which is why I am asking here.

Facts:
During the day I don't see any bugs on them at all.
At night under a red light I see them crawling on the rock and the acro.
When a white light is shown on them, they scatter.

Maybe related:
I have a piece of Candy Cane Coral, two of the heads recently seemed to die, the other two heads are flourishing though.

Are these just normal life that come out at night? Or do I need to try to get a QT Tank setup?

(Sorry the couple of times I have tried to get a picture I haven't been able to, between holding the light, the camera and trying to focus, I seem to have issues ><)

[eskymick]

If you're not seeing any damage to your acros, you may very well be seing harmless copepods "running" around on your rocks and acros.

[Azazael13]

I don't think there is any damage, no 'missing chunks' or anything. Though I am still fairly new to reefing so unless it is obvious it is possible I am missing it.

I guess I will just keep an eye on them.

[Azazael13]

what kind of damage should I be looking for?

[george1098]

the biggest sign of a nasty bug preying on your coral is reduce polyp extension. if your polyps aren't coming out any more something is likely picking on your coral. My guess is the bugs you are seeing are copapods. red bugs are WAY too small to see 'running around'. they will appear like little specs of dust, and on darker corals you probably could not see them at all, especially at night. as long as your polyps are extended, you are probably fine. don't worry about what you see at night, there is allot of noctournal life in our tanks.

[Azazael13]

I have never seen the polyps on my Acros (they are about 2 months old), yet they both look pretty good (one is looking very good imo). Although SPS have smaller polyps than my LPS right?

I will try to get pictures of the Acros tonight so you all can judge

[reefkoi]

Pictures will be good
I think they are pods and mysis shrimp. Those are the one's I see running around when I shine light at them, red bugs are super small and don't seem to care too much about a flashlight or aquarium lights.

[Azazael13]

Here are some pictures, left in their big size for details (totally not because I am too lazy to resize them down )

Acro 1 Picture 1
Acro 1 Picture 2

Tabling Acro Picture 1
Tabling Acro Picture 2

The first one spent a little more time at the bottom of the tank, and I just realized it is more colored on the side away from the glass.

The tabling acro seems to be be getting some good color in it (based on how it looked when I got it).

There isn't a lot of flow on them(or in the tank) at the moment, but that will be changing soon.

Comments and thoughts?

[Obi-dad]

Not to be a downer, and I may be wrong, but IMO those photos look like the green acros might not be alive - the green may be algae growing on the skeleton. The other two look partially bleached, close to dying (been there, done that).

[fishdoc11]

I hate to break this to you but Acro # 1 looks like it's in pretty bad shape and the tabling acro is dead
The color you are seeing in the later is boring or another type of algae living on/in the skeleton.
FWIW I can easily see red bugs with the naked eye running around....once you know what to look for they are easy to spot.
Sorry for the bad news, Chris

[Azazael13]

So you think that there were red bugs on there? Guess I need to learn what to look for.

Would those affect my Frog Spawn or Candy Cane at all?

[fishdoc11]

I couldn't see red bugs in your pics but I definately think it's possible. Yes red bugs (or something similar) can effect LPS.
Chris

[rwrussom]

Could well be pods picking at the dying tissue. When one of mine started RTN the pods or shrimp would work the dying area.
Get some flow fast and you could save the arco. I have found in the right conditions they recover rather quickly.

Ah . . I would not hold my breath on the "green" one.

[Azazael13]

I will toss some flow on it tonight and start praying to the acro gods. I am wondering at this point if I shouldn't take my corals out (5 counting the two acros) and put them in a 10G with some interceptor.

Am I correct in my reading that without corals in the tank the red bugs will eventually die off (about a week)? And if I take the corals out I don't need to worry about dosing the main tank.

[ReefWreak]

Hey Azazael13

Go over to High Tide Aquariums on Apalache

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=e...4&iwloc=A&om=1

Talk to Scott, tell him Eric from FSU sent you. He's an SPS wizard and if you haven't been to his store yet, you're in for a treat. Just be nice and open to him and he'll be nice back. Great store, great guy, really helpful, and has some really nice coral frags. I guarantee you'll be come a returning customer.

[Azazael13]

I was headed over there after work already

Google map is wrong though, he is in his new store, and his new coral tank is just plain sick looking.

[ReefWreak]

Wait where is the new store? Last I knew he was in the shopping center with the dive shop and bagelworks or w/e it was. Where is the new one?

[Azazael13]

New store

Zoom out as needed, it is just down from Sams Club.

Shouldn't you be back for school soon? Thought FSU started in like a week or so?

[ReefWreak]

Yea, in 2 weeks. Let's take this to PM so we stop bumping the thread in the SPS forum

[pepeinthenavy]

Any Pics???

[Azazael13]

the pics were towards the top (links)

The tabling acro has been removed and I am working on bringing the other back.