Cnidarian and Softy problems?

[Anonymous]

I seem to have a problem in my 75 reef. I have lost or am losing several types of zooanthids to an unknown cause.

Here's my setup.

75 gallon reef tank: 130 lbs live rock, aqua C remora skimmer, 4 x maxi-jet 1200 powerheads, 2 maxi-jet 104 powerheads, 260 watts (130w->10,000k, 130w->actinic) power compact lighting, 80 watts supplemental flourescent actinic lighting, emperor 400 power filter (phosguard and purigen only in cartridges), 4"-6" DSB, I hope that I didn't forget anything.
Water parameters: Ph- 8.3, Ca-400, Alk- 6-8 meq/L, temp varies from time to time 76 night 80-82(extreme) midday, Mg-1000-1300, SG-1.0255, NO2-0.0, NO3-0.0, NH3/NH4- 0.0, I-? dose biweekly, Sr-?hopefully water changes take care of it.

Here's my population:

seven zoanthid colonies(multiple varieties), 4 x trumpet frags (caulastrea), 2 x green star polyps(briareum), 12 green silver dollar sized rhodactis, 8 x 2"-3" green ricordea, 7" favia, 3 cup corals (turbinaria), one blue green brain, med long tentalcle anemone, 8" yellow serpent star, 3" mandarin, 5 1/2" chevron tang, 3" yellow tang, 3 x (2- 6", 1 - 3 1/2") engineer gobies, 4" fuzzy dwarf lion, two 6" & 3" gold striped maroons, 3 1/2" sixline wrasse, 4"lawnmower blenny, 3"regal tang, 8-12 various snails ( turbos, nasaurius ?sp., cerith, trochus. 2 hermits (one 2" one 1/2"), one 3" emerald crab although I haven't seen him in awhile, one 2" fire shrimp although I haven't seen him in awhile either. Don't worry I have a large tank I am currently setting up to house the ,soon to be, large fish currently residing in my reef.

Here's my problem:

Over the last 4 months I have lost three zoanthid clusters. Well actually I'm currently losing the third zoanthid colony presently. The hawiian blue zoanthids(2) (zoanthus) were first and second; then I started to lose greenstar polyps (Briareum) which then stopped and then my green buttons (Protopalythoa) started to decline. They seem to close up, turn milky colored, and then desintegrate. :?:

Do you thik it's from my flucuating temperature, coral muncher amongst the population in tank, some disease, overdosing problem, invader.... :?:

 

[Len]

It's just a guess, but I think it's an infectious agent. There have been reports of a white mold-like bacteria or protozoan that melts (for lack of better word) zoanthids. I lost one cluster to something like what you're describing, but the surrounding clusters of a different species was ok. Go figure.

I've also had zoanthids simply shrivel up and die for no reason I can explain.

 

[Anonymous]

very interesting do you know what this mystery infectious agent has been labeled? Do you have any suggestions on treatment? Ideas? any advice is good advice at the moment as I am lost as to the best method of treatment prevention. Should I do Iodide dips? I'm curious as to this moldy substance as it sounds exactly like what I've got.