Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Thanks for all of the suggestions about my cyano problem. I've continued to monitor tank conditions, and everything seems pretty stable and normal. And after a big tank clean-up, the cyano problem seems to be pretty mild, actually. Just a couple of small pinkish spots (silver dollar sized) that appear and disappear with the light cycle. Sooooo...I'm starting to wonder if it's not tank conditions that is making stuff in my tank disappear. Like I said, the zoas are fat and happy. The ricordia and other mushrooms are doing well. The acans look like they're rebounding. The cyphastrea looks stable. Torches holding steady. But stuff keeps on disappearing. Is there some sort of coral-eating monster living in my tank?? For instance, I have (had) a cool branching frogspawn that had nine heads. One by one, they have disappeared. Yesterday I had two left, fat and happy and fully extended. Today there is one lonely branch still looking fat and happy. It's neighbor is totally gone- nothing but skeleton. There's nothing nearby that could be stinging it. Could I have some sort of giant worm or crab in there that is devouring corals while I sleep? The fish in the tank include a yellow tang and a blue tang, an algae blenny, an engineer goby, a blue damsel, two false percs, and a pseudochromis. For inverts, I have a bunch of hermits and mixed snails, three emeralds (at last count), two cleaner shrimp, two peppermint shrimp, an orange spotted star and a purple spotted star (both reef safe according to Nick at Rose City), and a large striped brittle star that was in another tank of ours with no trouble. Could there be something else lurking in there? I can't think of what else would make a healthy-looking coral vanish overnight. Thanks for the ideas! Gillian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 After the heads disappeared was there anything "brown and stringing" on the skeleton heads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 You might have a euclid I believe it is....get a red lense flashlight an investigate the tank at night lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 No, that's the weird thing- the skeleton is totally clean. Just bare skeleton. I've seen that brown and stringy thing before, and that's definitely not going on. The other corals that I've lost have been candy canes, and really hardy ones at that. We've had them in other tanks for about a year and they've grown like crazy. They're all just skeletons now, and I noticed a couple of tiny remnants of the fleshy tissue had settled onto the bottom of the tank when I cleaned it out. It was like something ripped them apart. Gillian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ok, now I am getting a little creeped out. I had a couple of small fish disappear without a trace a few weeks ago. Could the monster have eaten them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I agree with Mick (Did i just say that DOH!(laugh)) Get a redlight flashlight or even a plain flashlight and just go inspect the tank in the early morning or late night when the lights are out. It's fun too because strange things happen at night LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ok' date=' now I am getting a little creeped out. I had a couple of small fish disappear without a trace a few weeks ago. Could the monster have eaten them??[/quote'] Well Frank had a picture of this huge bristle worm that was hiding in his rock when he did a tank move. He thinks that was what was eating his ricordias. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltfinsax Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Sure sounds like you got something coming out at night and doing its "Dirty Deed's Done Cheep". I would start looking at the tank at night every couple hours with red or really low light. What I have done is put my fist around a small flashlight and just let a little light through so as not to scare the evil thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Shoot a message to Steve Weast, he did an article a while back about a giant euclid he pulled out of someone's tank, [language filter] thing had to be 6' long at least, or so itloooked, it was friggin huge though. They'll eat anything from what I understand, including fish and corals, so yeah, it's very likely that's what's eating your corals and making your fish disappear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Giant worm! Here's the thread where Frank found one in his tank... (scary)(scary) http://www.pnwmas.org/forums/showthread.php?17506-Something-I-found-....&highlight= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ew. Sounds like the stuff on nightmares. Should I keep the cat away from the tank at night, lest she get swept in by a long tentacle? So.. If I do see an evil meanie in there at 4 am, how do I catch it? I mean, after I stop hyperventilating and shrieking? Gillian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Honestly, ifit's a big one, y our best bet is to break the tank down an soak the rock in freshwater, it'll come out of the rock lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 That was pulled out of Steves tank. And it has happened to him twice. One was six feet and the other was 3+ feet. It use to be on his website..... www.oregonreef.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoobtoSalt Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ew. Sounds like the stuff on nightmares. Should I keep the cat away from the tank at night, lest she get swept in by a long tentacle? So.. If I do see an evil meanie in there at 4 am, how do I catch it? I mean, after I stop hyperventilating and shrieking? Gillian The only easy way to catch them is to stick your hand in the tank and let it latch on to you. It only hurts for a few seconds...(laugh) I would say tweezers but you need to make sure you grab the whole thing otherwise you may create two monsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Scary lookin man....It's why I'm breaking our tank down in a few weeks, once I have all the parts needed to do what I want to do to the tank, it'll be broken down an recycled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ew. Sounds like the stuff on nightmares. Should I keep the cat away from the tank at night, lest she get swept in by a long tentacle? So.. If I do see an evil meanie in there at 4 am, how do I catch it? I mean, after I stop hyperventilating and shrieking? Gillian rofl C'mon Gillian you're giving us ladies a bad reputation. There's no shrieking allowed in the saltwater hobby..(nono) Unless of course you're out of town and your salinity drops and your basement floods...DOH! If it's truly what it is, good luck catching it. If I recall you got the live rock from another tank? So if that's the case it's very possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Anyone want a 90G really cheap? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 It'll be ok Gillian, just yank all of the rock out of the tank an soak it in some freshwater, basically give it a FW dip, that should drive the worm out of the rock an then you can put it back in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Kim, I disagree- shrieking is totally warranted in a situation like this. I am very brave about spiders, big scary dogs, and childbirth. Nocturnal, fish and coral-eating worms that are longer than I am tall? Aiiiyyyeeeeeee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 The only easy way to catch them is to stick your hand in the tank and let it latch on to you. It only hurts for a few seconds...(laugh) I would say tweezers but you need to make sure you grab the whole thing otherwise you may create two monsters. Anyone want a 90G really cheap? LOL See Gillian! They are easy to catch! LMAO! No need to break down your tank or sell it! Just stick your hand in there and close your eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 I have a lot of zoas encrusted on some of the rocks. Will they survive a FW dip? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 They should Gillian, shoot a message to Steve Weast an ask him how he finally caught his, I believe it was a FW rock dip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Kim' date=' I disagree- shrieking is totally warranted in a situation like this. I am very brave about spiders, big scary dogs, and childbirth. Nocturnal, fish and coral-eating worms that are longer than I am tall? Aiiiyyyeeeeeee![/quote'] rofl You're killing me! Shrieking allowed with childbirth!!! Shrieking not allowed with bristle worms LOL! Just imagine it is really an engineer goby or a snowflake eel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emerald525 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Yes Gills the zoas will survive the freshwater dip. I do freshwater dips on mine sometimes before I put then in the tank to kill any unwanted hitchhikers. You're shrieking however will kill them for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliroo Posted February 26, 2011 Author Share Posted February 26, 2011 Ok, we have the red flashlight at the ready and will go worm hunting in a couple of hours. I will report back what we discover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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