Something eating torch! PICTURE

[briangg57]

Just when things are going great, POW!! Right in the kisser!!! Something is eating the skeletal part of my torch. So last night I turned on the lights and saw a small fireworm in the eaten part along with some amphipods. Are they eating the skeletan or just the decaying matter?Do you guys think I should dip? Fresh water or Lugols? Any other sugestions?http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/sicktorch-1.jpg

[briangg57]

I forgot to mention that I have 3 similar spots and they have grown,

[briangg57]

I just checked out my tank, and a perfectly good finger leather frag that I added yesterday has also been attacked. About 2 months ago I had eagle eye zoos that I saw amphapods eating and the author, Anthony Calfo said the pods were probably just cleaning up decaying material.Now my zoos are gone. But there was no decay on my new fragged leather and my torch looks great except where it has been eaten

[Agu]

That's unusual !!

It's doubtful that worms or pods could do that much damage to a coral skeleton. I would suspect you have some type if hitch hiker crab that's getting desperate for food.

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12151141#post12151141 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Agu
That's unusual !!

It's doubtful that worms or pods could do that much damage to a coral skeleton. I would suspect you have some type if hitch hiker crab that's getting desperate for food. When this was happening to my zoos, I checked numerous times all night long. Nothing but pods. And with the torch, one spot in particular would be very hard for a crab because he would have to hang upside down while he ate. Not impossible, but very hard. Like I said, If it were something like that,with all the times I popped on the lights, I think I would have saw it.

[aquaman67]

Just curious, what's your calcium and alkalinity levels?

[Logzor]

This tissue is normal with a newly fragged torch but just happening on its own seems unusual.

Keep a close eye on it.

[2farNorth]

What are you other parameters?

[2farNorth]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12151289#post12151289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaman67
Just curious, what's your calcium and alkalinity levels?

Darn, beat me to it!! Stupid dial-up over here....

[aquaman67]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12151312#post12151312 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2farNorth
Darn, beat me to it!! Stupid dial-up over here....

LOL!

Have you looked into satellite internet? It works like DSL.

[briangg57]

Last week, Cal 400 alk, 8 dkh , PH 8.2 .My tank is pretty level. I change water twice a month. I promised to take my son fishing now,but I'll check water tonight. But being that this has been going on for a while, It has therefore be going on when my parameters are as stated.

[xtm]

What fish do you have?

[Devil Man]

i have seen this type of deteration on a frog spawn and couldnt figure it out. i figured that it was normal with older age or something. but what was werid was it was only with that frog spwan that i saw that problem. i am curious as to what this is. maybe it is a diesese that some of these corals get? who knows.

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12151588#post12151588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtm
What fish do you have? I have one each of, yellow tang, false percula,yellow tail and talbots damsels, firefish,sixline wrass, royal gramma. None of the fish even come close to picking on a coral

[bv_reefer]

thats odd my torch started degenerating from the middle, at the top, if i had to guess, i'd say it's an unwanted crab

[Apercula]

Do you have an urchin?

[MrVociferous]

You know...I had the same thing happen to my torch about 6 months ago. It looked like something was eating the middle of the skeleton and started slowly growing bigger and bigger. I was kinda concerned, but the rest of the coral seemed to be fine. The coral is still fine and has grown quite a bit since then. I never saw anything eating it and just assumed that it was old dead coral "dissolving" off or something like that.

[joelrod72]

I never seen this before . it must be a hitch hicker.something within the coral itself!

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12155872#post12155872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joelrod72
I never seen this before . it must be a hitch hicker.something within the coral itself! I've had this coral for 4 years. I haven't added anything in the last year except a red motie cap. I got a favia brain last early summer, but he is fine. I really have nothing new. I'm gonna have to wait on posting my parameters till tomorrow. I only get my son on weekends and time with him is very precious. I did set up a glass right against the eaten spot and put shrimp in it. I'm hoping !! I want to thank all you guys for trying to help. I really appreciate it.

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12155576#post12155576 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Apercula
Do you have an urchin? No, I thought about it but after reading up on it I decided against it.

[LeslieH]

Worms, amphipods, or even crabs wouldn't do that type of damage. I know that's not much help but at least you can rule them out.

[briangg57]

Well, this is what I caught in the glass trap. I know he is probably not the culpret but somebody has to pay for this crime. But I did see him in the eaten spot the night before. He's probably floating down the hudson river right now. lol Gonna keep setting trap
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/fireworm-2.jpg

[sabbath]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12157615#post12157615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by briangg57
Well, this is what I caught in the glass trap. I know he is probably not the culpret but somebody has to pay for this crime. But I did see him in the eaten spot the night before. He's probably floating down the hudson river right now. lol Gonna keep setting trap
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/fireworm-2.jpg

What are you using for bait in the trap?

[LeslieH]

That's a harmless amphinomid polychaete that would have been eating the necrotic flesh but it wouldn't have caused the initial damage.

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12159772#post12159772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeslieH
That's a harmless amphinomid polychaete that would have been eating the necrotic flesh but it wouldn't have caused the initial damage. As I said in my post, I know he probably didn't do it but when I saw him the day before eating at that spot I just couldn't put it back. Sorry!

[SuperNerd]

Pods, bristles, etc will eat dead or dying tissues yo.

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12159772#post12159772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeslieH
That's a harmless amphinomid polychaete that would have been eating the necrotic flesh but it wouldn't have caused the initial damage. I realize he may not have caused the damage but I did see him munching in that exact spot.What I want to know is, when he's done eating the dead matter and gets to the living flesh, what does he say, opps, sorry. lol

[briangg57]

OK, yes, I still have a problem, a big one.3 days ago,due to coral growth, I had to add apiece of dead bleached coral that I had in my old 55 gal. from 2 years ago. I boiled it for a full 2 hours just to be safe. It had a really nice smooth front. Then today I noticed that a hole, the exact shape and size as the one in my torch has been chewed right in the front of it. It has to be that darned emerald crab that I haven't seen for at least 6 months, probably longer. I thought he was dead. How do I catch this beast? will the glass with the shimp trick work?
http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh293/briguert57/coraldamage-1.jpg

[tinmanny]

how does the monti look

[briangg57]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12162234#post12162234 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tinmanny
how does the monti look
Everthing else is doing very good.

[Anemonebuff]

Unless you have a fish that eats coral skeletons, I think that maybe, your torch thinks that it is time to "frag" itself. Sometimes when they overcrowd themselves they will Split on their own, especially if the Ca and alk levels are compromised. By compromised I mean that there have been other coral additions or calcareous algae that are now present and are using the "stable" amount of available Ca/Alk. the coral cannot absorb as fast as the competition.

Just my observation.