Author |
Topic Search Topic Options
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Topic: Need to kill Amphipods! Posted: June 11 2012 at 5:12pm |
Ok, so my tank is becoming overrun by amphipods. They are eating at all of my soft corals and damaging some of my LPS and SPS. Currently the only fish in the tank are 2 clownfish, 1 pbt, and 1 bicolor blenny. I don't really want to buy a fish for eating them (mandarin, or something similar) because once it's done its job it will starve, and I also just don't want to add any fish right now. The only things that are appreciating the amphipods are my sun polyps because the amphipods seem to make a good snack, and my sump is ridiculously clean.
ANY suggestions would be great!
|
|
|
aquablue
Guest
Joined: December 29 2005
Location: Roy UT
Status: Offline
Points: 389
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 5:52pm |
I had this same problem a while back, the amphipods even got to where they were out 24/7 since there was no fear of being eaten. Getting a six line wrasse significantly decreased their population and stopped them from eating coral, they also went back to being nocturnal.
Edited by aquablue - June 11 2012 at 5:52pm
|
29G Rimless BioCube | DIY LED 12G Nano Cube | DIY LED
Member of GCFB
|
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 5:57pm |
Dang I really don't want to add more fish right now. The larger ones (1/4" zoa eaters) are out all the time now.
|
|
|
ksmart
Guest
Joined: August 31 2009
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 1582
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 5:59pm |
ya not sure how to do it without a fish. what is great about a wrasse is that they will help keep the population down and once down they will still eat other types of foods like pellets and brine, and mysis. I got a wrasse for the same reason and havent regretted it at all
|
|
|
aquablue
Guest
Joined: December 29 2005
Location: Roy UT
Status: Offline
Points: 389
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 6:12pm |
Aquatic Dreams usually has time tiny six line wrasses.
|
29G Rimless BioCube | DIY LED 12G Nano Cube | DIY LED
Member of GCFB
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 6:12pm |
Mandarins are the only fish we would typically say to avoid unless the tank is over 55 gal. So in your case it would be okay to add a Mandarin. Any Wrasse will work, though some get really large. The Six-Line Wrasse is an excellent choice. Stay away from the 4 or 8 line Wrasses because they are more likely to eat Hermits and Snails. Before running out to buy a fish, may I make a comment? I am actually surprised that Amphipods are eating the coral. Typically they are part of the cleanup crew eating only dieing and dead flesh. How do you feel about letting us give an evaluation of the tank? We would need to see current pics of the entire system and to know what the Temp, Salinity, Alk and Ca levels are currently? I'd also like to see a pic of these coral eating Amphipods.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 6:29pm |
I'll work on pics when I get home tonight. Current parameters are as follows: Specific Gravity 1.025Ammonia and Nitrite 0ppmNitrate ~4ppmPhosphates 0ppmCalcium 460-440dKH 8.7Everything is healthy, and I know they're amphipods eating the zoas. Definitely not nudibranchs, or anything else. Until I can take pictures of them this is what they look like.
|
|
|
Kaiden32
Guest
Joined: April 09 2011
Location: Lehi, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 355
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 11 2012 at 6:40pm |
That is weird.. hope you get it resolved!
|
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 12:46pm |
Ok, so not to sound like I know everything or arguing that amphipods can eat healthy corals, but...
They ARE amphipods! I've read a ton of stuff on pests and found multiple accounts of healthy zoanthids and other corals being eaten by amphipods. I'm thinking I will have to get a fish now, but am debating what to get. I don't really want the "common" fish...something more unique or rarely seen in a home aquarium would be cool. I'm also ruling out a dragonet because I had one a while ago and want to try something new (not that I won't go back to it later...with a bigger tank).
Any suggestions on fish?
|
|
|
BubbleGuppy
Guest
Joined: February 01 2012
Location: Tooele
Status: Offline
Points: 287
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 1:16pm |
Ann_A wrote:
Ok, so not to sound like I know everything or arguing that amphipods can eat healthy corals, but...
They ARE amphipods! I've read a ton of stuff on pests and found multiple accounts of healthy zoanthids and other corals being eaten by amphipods. I'm thinking I will have to get a fish now, but am debating what to get. I don't really want the "common" fish...something more unique or rarely seen in a home aquarium would be cool. I'm also ruling out a dragonet because I had one a while ago and want to try something new (not that I won't go back to it later...with a bigger tank).
Any suggestions on fish? |
Sixline you don't have to worry about them dying due to starvation because they also eat frozen and pellets, I've never had a pod problem because of my Sixline keeping them under control, but i still have enough that you can see them run around the rocks.
|
Jeni 435.841.2346
72Gal Bowfront Mixed Reef
46gal Bowfront Mixed Reef
20gal mixed reef
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 1:35pm |
I wasn't doubting that they are Amphipods. Not at all. I just wanted to see what Coral eating Amphipods look like because they have never been a problem in my reef tanks. The thing I wanted to check by looking at the pic of the tank is whether it appears that the Amphipods are a different variety, a mutation or may have changed their eating habits causing coral to become the next best food in the tank. I would need to see a pic in order to give some suggestions as to what else to do, because it sounded like having to add a bug eating fish was not really your first choice.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
pgravis
Guest
Joined: August 13 2008
Location: Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 763
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 1:54pm |
I was never a fan of my 6 line wrasse. It was always a bully to the other fish. Maybe try something like a bangaii cardinal, or depending on tank size, some sort of anthias. for something a little different try a flame wrasse.
|
See my house: www.eclecticvictorian.com
|
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 2:29pm |
Ok so I'm looking into different options and these are the fish I've narrowed it down to...for now:
-Copperband Butterfly -Longnose Butterfly -Mandarin Dragonet -Leopard Wrasse -Fairy Wrasse (not sure what kind yet) -Sixline (as a last resort)
|
|
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 2:30pm |
Ok so I'm looking into different options and these are the fish I've narrowed it down to...for now:
-Copperband Butterfly -Longnose Butterfly -Mandarin Dragonet -Leopard Wrasse -Fairy Wrasse (not sure what kind yet) -Sixline (as a last resort)
|
|
|
ch3tt
Guest
Joined: June 03 2011
Location: North Salt Lake
Status: Offline
Points: 1169
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 3:20pm |
I would go with the Leopard Wrasse hands down. Beautiful fish and do a great job eating pods.
|
Red Sea Reefer 625 XXL
|
|
eldiente
Guest
Joined: October 08 2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 258
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 3:51pm |
Looked up the Leopard Wrasse on Liveaquaria.com and saw this and thought it interesting!
"A 50 gallon or larger aquarium with well established live rock and a layer of live sand is recommended. They will do best when introduced in groups of three or more."
Never known a wrasse to do better in groups, beautiful fish though, I like the male coloration but hard to argue with the female. (In fact I try to never argue with females, I always lose!)
Edited by eldiente - June 12 2012 at 3:53pm
|
Brian Twin Falls, Idaho
210 Gallon Glass reef
|
|
rize2
Guest
Joined: November 27 2011
Location: Midvale
Status: Offline
Points: 691
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 4:29pm |
Leopard wrasse looks pretty neat. I bought an earmuff wrasse from the Aquarium last month and love the colors. I think that that is a pretty unique wrasse. They may be able to get in another one.
|
|
FishnFriendz
Guest
Joined: April 17 2012
Location: Layton
Status: Offline
Points: 158
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 5:02pm |
I would pick Leopard wrasse aslo. I used to have one, she looked pretty, but hide alot. Here is mine:
|
|
Ann_A
Guest
Joined: August 18 2011
Location: Kaysville, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2767
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 12 2012 at 6:49pm |
Ok, so I'm hopefully going to be getting one of these fish (probably the leopard wrasse) fairly soon, but...
I caught my bicolor blenny nipping at my torch coral today! I think he has been contributing to the coral loss as well, although there are definitely amphipods helping out since they're out 24/7 and I can literally watch them eating my corals.
So my current plan is to pull the bicolor blenny ASAP and catch as many amphipods as possible while I decide on a fish, which will likely go into the tank within the next week. Any suggestions or last minute criticism (constructive of course)?
|
|
|
suiso man
Guest
Joined: January 18 2012
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 1012
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 13 2012 at 8:23am |
Ann, I agree get a wrass. I have a six line and a mandarin but I have a 180 gallon tank. I think I need another fish to control my population
Edited by suiso man - June 13 2012 at 8:24am
|
|