Missing Tailfin
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Help
Forum Name: EMERGENCY FORUM
Forum Description: If you have an Emergency post here and you should receive a quick reply.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=47875
Printed Date: July 24 2026 at 7:36pm
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Topic: Missing Tailfin
Posted By: Borinal
Subject: Missing Tailfin
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 2:31pm
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So, the Chromis is missing the bottom half of his tail fin. There is an emerald crab in there. It looks white and slightly stringy. I'm trying to figure out what happened. Is my tank not ready? My water params were good, my Nitrate is 10PPM, Nitrite is 0PPM, Ammonia is Zero, and PH is 8.0.
I know that the Nitrate is not ideal, but could that cause the tissue to disappear? The rest of him looks perfectly fine. The tank has only been established for 3-Weeks, and I worried it may be too soon to add anything. |
Replies:
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 7:47pm
I wouldn't worry too much. I doubt the emerald crab is the culprit but I've been wrong before  . Could you post a pic of the tank?------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Borinal
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 8:13pm
Sure |
Posted By: Borinal
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 8:14pm
| Yeah, I'm not sure. He tries to attack paper towels. I seriously have the funniest video of the crab. If he sees a paper towel he lunges at it with all his legs out like I'm gonna getcha. |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 8:22pm
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Emerald Crabs are herbivores, so without any algae to eat it is plausible that it may have attacked the fish. I'd just keep an eye on the fish for the next few days. Side note: what powerhead is that with the sponge pre-filter? You'll probably want to remove the sponge. Once they get dirty they become nitrate generators. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Borinal
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 8:25pm
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It's the MP-10. I don't mind doing that, I was just worried about them getting sucked in. Good to know! During my cycle I left the lights on a lot, had a lot of algae, but cleaned most of it off the glass and back wall and I supplement some Spectrum pellets as I see they are gone.
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Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: March 29 2011 at 8:30pm
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Sounds good. Emerald crabs naturally eat valonia aka Bubble Algae. So if the tank doesn't have any they turn to scavenging whatever they can find. Better crabs for general cleanup are blue leg hermits, red leg hermits, and sally lightfoots ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |
Posted By: Borinal
Date Posted: March 30 2011 at 12:37am
| Good to know, I didn't know that about emeralds. I was just looking at that, how does Valonia occur in your tank? |
Posted By: CapnMorgan
Date Posted: March 30 2011 at 5:28am
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Valonia usually sneaks in on live rock and corals. It can be a nuisance but usually it's pretty easy to control. ------------- Steve http://utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40637&PID=356246" rel="nofollow - My Old 180G Mixed Reef Currently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8 |