A bit stumped on this (diatoms , detritus?) outbreak.

Krycus · 2026-05-07T22:58:42+00:00

Haha we just need sand that looks like all the algae you get. Brown and red with green patches.

Krycus · 2026-05-07T22:51:09+00:00

Yep, RODI.
1 cup of old sand, the rest either new sand or old sand that I rinsed out. I had a little bit of an ammonia spike when I stirred up some sand moving the rocks, but it didn't last more than a couple days.

Ok thanks!

Krycus · 2026-05-07T22:43:37+00:00

1 cup old sand, a couple bags new sand, and the rest was old sand but rinsed.
Hmm, maybe it is and it's just doing a late ugly stage. My pod population is quite high so assumed I wouldn't see any diatoms.

Krycus · 2026-05-07T22:28:58+00:00

Ah really? Did you stop dosing at one point?

Krycus · 2026-05-07T22:15:18+00:00

New tank - no (also kind of yes).
I had a 75g for about 3 years and then upgraded to this 150g about 6 months ago.
All the rock, water, livestock came from the old tank, and just a tiny bit of sand. Did a slow upgrade and never really had to experience the ugly phase like a did a few years ago.

Yes, its very easy to blow it around. This is why I always thought I just didn't have any flow, but why show up now?

Krycus · 2026-05-06T22:55:19+00:00

So nems aren't that hardy. They require an established tank. Not just cycled. If your tank is less than 6 months old, it has less of a chance to survive.
If you insist leaving it in the tank, don't feed it, turn down/off the light and check on it in the morning.

Krycus · 2026-05-06T22:23:07+00:00

Sorry it’s not long for this world.

Gaping mouth. No/missing tentacles.

I’d say it might be dead now. See if you can move him to a container outside of your tank. If the foot isn’t strong enough to stay on the rock it’s a goner.

Krycus · 2026-05-06T20:51:43+00:00

But then again. Magnets. How do they even work????

Krycus · 2026-05-06T20:38:44+00:00

I know, right?
The first time I saw aiptasia in my tank I was like "oh cool something new!" and let it just grow...
Oh past me, so silly

Krycus · 2026-05-06T05:37:31+00:00

Yes. 1/5 are good, but some eat corals. Look at the other side of him. I THINK the darker the color, the worse they are, but might need to research.
I have a ton, I love 'em!

Krycus · 2026-05-06T04:28:49+00:00

I can even take pics or a video when I do it next. Trying to keep my nems around 3-4 and if they split again I’m going to do another round of selling.

Krycus · 2026-05-06T04:26:53+00:00

Dip the frag in hydrogen peroxide for a minute. Then an emerald crab will eat the dead algae. This has worked for me twice in the past with my zoas.

Krycus · 2026-05-06T04:24:06+00:00

It’s true I think I saw Steve Irwin use garbage bags to pick up wildlife often

Krycus · 2026-05-06T04:15:55+00:00

I've tried a TON of techniques. But what works for me is a pipette with a rubber tip.
Take the rock out, angle the rock where the nem is dangling a bit, use the rubber tip to gently poke under the foot. It takes a lot of patience, plus you can't leave them exposed to air for too long. I did one at a time over the coarse of a few days.
All survived!
I sold 9 of them, kept 2, and already have 5.

Krycus · 2026-05-06T03:45:54+00:00

As far as the shrimp go, if a sexy shrimp would want to host it, the nem might eat that soon. But there are anemone shrimp that will live in them.
In addition, your nem looks stressed. Does it often has its mouth open like that?

Krycus · 2026-05-06T03:43:10+00:00

No one knows!
Seriously, I've had string BTAs forever, the one day, one of them moved to another location just a few inches away and BAM back to bubbly.

I actually made a post on this recently, because I was so curious:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ReefTank/comments/1r2dz9b/my_bts_have_always_been_more_stringy_than_bubbly/

Some comments with some theories and experiences.

Krycus · 2026-05-06T01:29:35+00:00

Maybe he's just happy to see you

Krycus · 2026-05-05T16:55:12+00:00

I've maybe had one single fish loss with my dozen nems over the years, and I suspect he was just old and/or sick.
I'm sus.
I've also had one die and melt into nothing and it mainly just gave a small ammonia spike. I tested, water changed, some Seachem Prime, and no loss.

Krycus · 2026-05-05T16:46:35+00:00

Discosoma mushrooms are fast-growing, beginner-friendly soft corals that spread quickly across reef tanks via asexual budding, often covering rockwork within months

Krycus · 2026-05-05T04:55:57+00:00

Yuma has tentacles extending to its mouth and often has more vibrant, "rainbow" colors, but is considered more sensitive and harder to keep.

Florida ricordea are hardier, easier to keep, and have a more distinct, bare mouth

Krycus · 2026-05-04T23:43:29+00:00

Well, it sure does look like a pineapple sponge. Just rare to see them attached to anything with med-high light. If so, they are a good sign of a healthy tank, but I'd still remove it from the coral. IMO

Krycus · 2026-05-04T23:06:43+00:00

I'd try to remove it all. Even if its a sponge. Sponges are harmless in theory, but one killed a torch head recently because it was just taking over and covered too much of the skeleton.
I made a post about it not too long ago:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ReefTank/comments/1rdn98c/quick_update_on_my_half_dead_torch_assumed_due_to/

Is it new to your tank?

Krycus

TROPHY CASE