Help with SPS issue in nano

[jgraz]

Ok well my 20H has been going since early Jan. Since the beginning I have had some problem crop up here and there and all have been solved except this one. Why no or very little polyp extension in most of my SPS. Here are my parameters as of 9am today:
PH- 8
KH-8
Phosphate-.04 (hanna)(no nusiance algae)
Mag-1440
Calcium-440
Ammonia-0
N02-0
NO3-0
All my parameters seem to be in check. My lighting is a 4x24" T5 DeepBlue Solar Extreme, running all ATI Blue+,Coral+,Blue+,Purple+ front to back and sits 4" from water surface.
For the most part I get good extension from my Green birdsnest and my Bird of paradise. Those are in the upper and lower 1/3 of the tank respectivly. I have a Cali Tort and a Bonsai that both get little to no extension again upper and lower 1/3 respetivly. My montis are a appleberry, idaho grape, flower petal, reverse sunset, and setosa that get very little extension, a pokerstar and superman digitata with no extension, and a sunset that gets good extension. The acros which inclued Pearlberry, tri-color, and Pink lemonade with no extension. All of these pieces are between midway and higher in the tank. I would like to add that For the most part growth seems to be good. Whenever I add something it normally encrusts very well, and I have noticed notable growth from many pieces. Color seems pretty good for the most part, though I have bleached a purple nana that moved from my other tank. I would also like to add pieces that have showed great extension in my other tank have lost such when moved to the nano. Is it possible that I have too much light? Sorr to be long winded just wanted to cover all the bases. Thanks in advance for the assist.
John

 

[prattreef]

Do you get polyp extension at night? Any fish in there that might be nipping, but not causing damage? If the corals are growing and encrusting and exhibiting good color, I wouldn't be all that concerned with daytime polyp extension.

 

[jgraz]

Only fish are two clowns and a clown goby. No real extension at night either. I do get nighttime extension from my chalices and expected just not SPS. It possible the goby is bothering I guess I feel like something is wrong maybe Im just paranoid.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

as you suspected, it's possibly the clown goby....

from liveaquaria....

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+1441&pcatid=1441

......Here, this member of the Gobiidae family will swim and perch amongst the polyps. Care needs to be taken, however, with SPS corals since the Yellow Clown Goby may nip at the smaller polyps.

other contributing factors can be ....fairly new tank, being a nano...small volume, flow???

 

[jgraz]

Well I think the real culprit here has been found. Red bugs.

It was pointed out to me last night. Let the fun begin.

 

[nanoreefer22]

At least you found the cause, now just a couple treatments and you're good to go.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

read somewhere recently that the interceptor is now hard to find. something about the manufacturer stop making it for some reason.
post a wtb thread, perhaps some members may have some left to spare.
gl with the treatments.

 

[jgraz]

Found it already. Just gotta figure out how to measure out that small of a dose. The pill is a 23mg pill. I need to grind that up and use 75mg of the powder. I was thinking of using a salifert spoon from the mag test.

 

[jgraz]

First dose completed successfully, so far. I can't see any red bugs anywhere. Everything seems to be ok. I'm keeping a close eye though. I have never run carbon in this system. I went with 1/3 cp but I'm only gonna run it for the day. Then lesson to just a couple of table spoons. It's only 23 total gal so that should be fine.

 

[nanoreefer22]

Good to hear things are going well so far and good move on the carbon. Did you put your skimmer back on if you have one?

 

[jgraz]

Yep skimmers going again also.

 

[Paolissimo]

Are you coral bleaching at all? from the bottom up? The only reason I ask, is because i am having issue with my sps too. Also whne awi talks about interceptor, is she talking about the medicine that you put on dogs.
Thanks

 

[jgraz]

I had one bleach but that was my fault. I had red bugs. That appears to have been my problem. The treatment for them is interceptor. Yes the dog medication.

 

[jgraz]

Well two days after my first treatment and my SPS already shows some improvement. I'm sure the removal of the clown goby also assisted in the improvement. But I'll take what I can get.

 

[jgraz]

Well treatments are done. Everything but my hermits have been succesfully added back to the display. My fire and sexy shrimp are fine. My pom pom and emerald both appear to be fine also. My hermits on the other hand dont seem to be doing well. All four of them are alive but kind of just sitting there, not moving but halfway out of their shells. They have not moved for about 24 hrs or so. I actually though they were dead but when I went to touch them they shoot back into their shell. I should add that during acclimation of them the container i had them in tipped and they went into the display with no acclimation. So im not sure how they are gonna turn out yet. The coral on the other hand is fine. P.E seems better. Color seems the same. All except my sunset monti and rainbow monti. The sunset just looks bad, off color and just general badness. The rainbow has not shown any polyps since I put it in the tank. The other half of the frag that went into my other tank has put on about a 1/4" all around and has full extension.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

my vet has the interceptor i gotta go back soon and i will def. be asking for it and will tell em the exact reason for the corals and hopefully they give me alot incase i ever have problems.