Any ideas

[CoryDude]

I have an orange montipora digitata that has done great for the past 3 months. But, it's begun to have some tissue recession on a lower branch and near the base. The polyps do not extend near the base and now the white skeleton is starting to show through. No other problems have been detected on other inhabitants.

I've checked for nudibranches but haven't seen any evidence of egg sacks or the creatures themselves.

Here's the 411 on my 90 gallon tank that's been established for 5 years:
Light: 2X 250W 14K Bluelife and 2X 110W VHO Actinics (yes, I'm still old school and use VHO)
Filtration: 110 lbs of tonga lalo rock & EuroReef CS 6-3
Water movement: Iwaki 40 RLT for sump return w/2 maxi-jet sure flow 1600 mod kits on a red sea wave timer
knop C calcium reactor w/koralith media

H2O Parameters
Salinity 1.025
PH: constant 8.3
Temp: 79-80F (constant temp w/ 1/3 HP chiller)
Alk: 3 meq/L total hardness and 7dKH
Ca: 425 meq/L
Mg: 1325
Phos: <5ppm
Nitrate: 0ppm

Any ideas or personal experiences are GREATLY appreciated. Thanks guys!

[CoryDude]

Never mind. I just re-checked the piece w/a flashlight just now, and found nudibranches. Ugh, those little white things are gross!

I'm dipping the piece in lugol's solution right now! I just pray that I've caught this early.

Any personal experiences with these pests? I'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions. Are they exclusive to monti's only or can they go after lps and clams?

[Mr Cob]

I know they love zoanthids too.

[reybeast]

What would these nudi's look like? I googled and found images, but there are lots of images. Do you have a link to some nudi's similar to what you saw? I'm a noob who is just starting a 90G after having had a 29G biocube for some time.

[Mr Cob]

What would these nudi's look like? I googled and found images, but there are lots of images. Do you have a link to some nudi's similar to what you saw? I'm a noob who is just starting a 90G after having had a 29G biocube for some time.

Welcome to Maast :)

[CoryDude]

What would these nudi's look like? I googled and found images, but there are lots of images. Do you have a link to some nudi's similar to what you saw? I'm a noob who is just starting a 90G after having had a 29G biocube for some time.

This article and a previous maast thread tipped me off to them. They were very similar to the ones shown here:

http://www.reeffarmers.com/tracygraynudi01.htm

This montipora and a crocea were the first new additions to my tank in almost 5 years. I rushed and didn't quarantine or dip the monti. before adding to the display tank. Learned my lesson.

[Fish4life]

hate when that happens. good luck with the clean up!

Cheers,

Kurt

[CoryDude]

Time will tell. Thankfully, I don't have an zoa's so I'll just keep a close eye on both monti's. I was able to remove the visible egg sacks. Just another little set back we all encounter sometimes.