Is afw a valid coral identification term

[VoyagerX]

Different people have varying experiences with AEFW. In my case, millis were hit the hardest, with others following suit. If it's a new frag, I wouldn't take the risk. I had to treat for them twice and did a treatment similar to Dowtish's, but after 8 months, they came back. I think I only managed to decimate them, not eradicate them completely. It took a while for the issue to resurface. What I noticed was the corals turning grey, polyp extension taking a hit, and eventually, they just looked ragged. Basting does help, but it's not something I'd want to do long-term, or daily for that matter.

[SparrowFly]

It's also possible that nudibranchs are the culprits here. They're nocturnal, so they'd be active at night, which could explain why you're not seeing them. They do tend to take random bites out of corals, which might fit with what you're observing.

[Briko]

Honestly, it looks like bite marks to me, that's just my take on it.

I'm in agreement with the cautious approach. My personal experience with AEFW was mostly on smooth-skinned corals, as I've never had a large collection of millis. The signs I've seen were quite different from the photos posted here. I typically noticed distinct, pinhole-sized white bite marks, often in a line of several bites. And then there were the egg clusters at the base of the corals, right where the coral flesh ends. I think it's wise to err on the side of caution in this situation. Do you have any additional photos of the affected corals?

[Riverix]

I agree with Rovster's assessments, spot on in my opinion. Those marks seem to fit the bill, can't think of any other explanation that makes sense. My take is that the original colony had an issue and this piece was likely clean when it was fragged, but the bite marks have since started to heal.

[froggy9]

Those pale areas do seem quite large, and they appear to extend all the way to the tip's edge, where they become much smaller, distinct round circles. It's possible that this is a result of thinning and sloughed skin, rather than actual bite marks. I'm not experienced enough to make a definitive call, but it's clear that something's not right.

[fish_hawk]

I'll post more pics tonight of other corals. Most sps have that dull grey look and no polyp extension, which is why I'm thinking AEFW.

The weird thing is, some colonies are thriving - amazing color and polyp extension. It's only the frags that have this greyed out look. Maybe AEFW haven't reached the colonies yet?

I've checked my water parameters over and over, but can't find anything out of whack. If it is AEFW, it actually makes things easier - I can just start treatment.

I'm not worried about treating, it's just part of keeping SPS. Quarantine is the only way to prevent this, but space is limited, so I knew it was only a matter of time.

I'm all set to tackle this, just needed to be sure before making any changes to my reef.

[fish_hawk]

Can anyone spot AEFW in the dip water?