RFAs on the Struggle Bus - Advice Needed

[justdeb1107]

So I'm having RFA issues (only I could get everything else thriving but the "easiest" nem). Bought 3 at a coral show in March and put them in my 32 gallon BioCube that runs stock LEDs, on a rock at bottom of the tank. My nitrates in that tank have been zero almost since day one, but I don't want to supplement because all corals have been growing and thriving (LPS and a handful of softies). Phos has been a struggle, usually between .4 and .8 (I'm thinking due to the "used" LR I bought to establish the tank, which came with GHA).

Well, one has looked "okay," but none of them had a feeding response with mysis, one crammed itself into the crack between the rock and sand to the point I thought it was dead, and another just shriveled up, but is still on the rock.

Doing research on BTAs, I read they like slightly dirty water (I do regular significant water changes in my attempt to control my phosphates), so I moved them to my "new to me" used system that has sky high phosphates (2!) and nitrates sitting around 30-40. Immediately, the RFA that had crammed itself down in the crack moved up the rock, the one that was doing okay stayed the same, but the one that's been cupped and shriveled is still that way. My question is...will it get better in the higher nutrient water? Is it too far gone? Any advice appreciated. I mean, I am super happy the one has come up from his crevice, but would love to make all 3 happy. Pic shows the shriveled one (left), which ironically looks like a happy face and the one that had been crammed into a crack (right), which now looks much better. Other pic is the one that has been doing okay most of the time. All 3 were badly bleached when I bought them (what did I know? Nothing, yes.) and have definitely regained some color.

 

[fishguy242]

@JoJosReef ?

 

[JoJosReef]

That's a tough one. You say they are now in a tank with 30-40 nitrates and sky high phosphates? Non-zero nutrients, yes. Sky high, probably not. What lighting? The fact they won't eat mysis is a bad sign--you want them nice and sticky. I would bring down the phosphates with PhosGuard, Rowaphos, etc, just keep changing it out till the PO4 stabilizes. If the foot becomes loose and doesn't grab the rock, the nem is on the way out--you can do a hail mary and take it out for an antibiotic bath (e.g., Cipro), but that may or may not do anything. Them coloring up is a positive sign though. I would give them some time, work on nutrients, and maybe feed whenever you can to see if they stick to the food. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[JoJosReef]

@jkcoral has a couple of RFAs and might have advice. He's had some success with them.

 

[jkcoral]

It’s a good sign that their feet are attached and no gaping mouths. And like @JoJosReef said, coloring up is a good sign. Maybe skip trying to feed them with mysis for a while, and instead give them some reefroids/benereef/powdered food once or twice a week for a while.

The heat wave in the keys was really rough on RFAs. And few collected in recent months have come from the keys, and the ones that have are still recovering from bleaching. During that time a lot of wholesalers/vendors started brining in RFAs from other parts of the Caribbean (DR, Haiti, Belize). These other (non-Keys) RFAs are notorious for being difficult long term and prone to infections.

 

[justdeb1107]

That's a tough one. You say they are now in a tank with 30-40 nitrates and sky high phosphates? Non-zero nutrients, yes. Sky high, probably not. What lighting? The fact they won't eat mysis is a bad sign--you want them nice and sticky. I would bring down the phosphates with PhosGuard, Rowaphos, etc, just keep changing it out till the PO4 stabilizes. If the foot becomes loose and doesn't grab the rock, the nem is on the way out--you can do a hail mary and take it out for an antibiotic bath (e.g., Cipro), but that may or may not do anything. Them coloring up is a positive sign though. I would give them some time, work on nutrients, and maybe feed whenever you can to see if they stick to the food. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thank you! I ended up moving them back to their previous tank. Two are happy, one isn't, and it's not the same one. But it has better nutrient numbers. We shall see. Thanks again.

 

[justdeb1107]

It’s a good sign that their feet are attached and no gaping mouths. And like @JoJosReef said, coloring up is a good sign. Maybe skip trying to feed them with mysis for a while, and instead give them some reefroids/benereef/powdered food once or twice a week for a while.

The heat wave in the keys was really rough on RFAs. And few collected in recent months have come from the keys, and the ones that have are still recovering from bleaching. During that time a lot of wholesalers/vendors started brining in RFAs from other parts of the Caribbean (DR, Haiti, Belize). These other (non-Keys) RFAs are notorious for being difficult long term and prone to infections.

Mine were some of the bleached ones from the keys. I didn't know better.

 

[justdeb1107]

It’s a good sign that their feet are attached and no gaping mouths. And like @JoJosReef said, coloring up is a good sign. Maybe skip trying to feed them with mysis for a while, and instead give them some reefroids/benereef/powdered food once or twice a week for a while.

The heat wave in the keys was really rough on RFAs. And few collected in recent months have come from the keys, and the ones that have are still recovering from bleaching. During that time a lot of wholesalers/vendors started brining in RFAs from other parts of the Caribbean (DR, Haiti, Belize). These other (non-Keys) RFAs are notorious for being difficult long term and prone to infections.

P.S. Thanks for the feeding idea. I didn't even realize they could eat reef roids, etc.

 

[justdeb1107]

That's a tough one. You say they are now in a tank with 30-40 nitrates and sky high phosphates? Non-zero nutrients, yes. Sky high, probably not. What lighting? The fact they won't eat mysis is a bad sign--you want them nice and sticky. I would bring down the phosphates with PhosGuard, Rowaphos, etc, just keep changing it out till the PO4 stabilizes. If the foot becomes loose and doesn't grab the rock, the nem is on the way out--you can do a hail mary and take it out for an antibiotic bath (e.g., Cipro), but that may or may not do anything. Them coloring up is a positive sign though. I would give them some time, work on nutrients, and maybe feed whenever you can to see if they stick to the food. Good luck and keep us posted!

I put them back in the small tank which is at 0 nitrates and .19 phos. I also started running GFO in the big tank to try to get a handle on the phosphates. Last I checked, it was down to .84, which I know is still too high. Ugh.

 

[jkcoral]

Mine were some of the bleached ones from the keys. I didn't know better.

Keys flowers are hardy and can bounce back from a lot, even if it takes them a long time.

And it’s really cool to see them eat reefroids. It’s a completely different feeding response compared to meaty foods. They puff up like little balloons and it’s pretty neat!

 

[JoJosReef]

Keys flowers are hardy and can bounce back from a lot, even if it takes them a long time.

And it’s really cool to see them eat reefroids. It’s a completely different feeding response compared to meaty foods. They puff up like little balloons and it’s pretty neat!

I have one that left its longtime fav spot and started walking around the back. Not taking TDO pellets like before. Might try this.

 

[justdeb1107]

Turns out the problem was too much PAR. Honestly, didn't think Biocube stock lights could throw that much light. Moved them to under a ledge and they are good to go.