Aefw why must dip every week?

[gcp123]

I have aefw and i'm determined to go through the 6 weeks cycle to dip and eliminate aefw once and for all.

I'm into my second week dipping and i start to realise quite a few of my colonies are stressed from the dipping and show no sign of polyps extension. Im starting to worry that i may end up killing them before aefw do.

Instead of dipping once a week for 6 weeks, can i dip every forenightly and do it for 12 weeks instead? In both cases will have 6 dips just that one will be done in 6 weeks whereas the other one in 12 weeks. I feel that doing it this way the sps has better chance to recover from the dip. I do understand that some of the eggs are going to hatch in 2 weeks but that should be taken care by the next dip right?

Please advise. Btw im currently using fauna marin ultra pest control dip. It seems pretty effective in getting the aefw to detach from the sps. Please let me know if i should switch the dip. Thanks so much.

 

[Scorpius]

You dip a lot to keep killing the little buggers as eggs hatch. I dipped for a month weekly or more and didn't lose my acropora. They lost their color, but they didn't perish.

 

[Piper27]

If you don't dip every week it will give the aefw a chance to lay new eggs. Are you dipping acros from your display or using a qt tank? I would use melafix or revive if that dip is stressing the coral, I haven't used that type of dip. Melafix is extremely easy on corals and works great on the aefw.
For us to better help you, you should share your complete process of attacking the aefw.

 

[Reefstarter2]

It's one or the other once AEFW are gone it will take a solid month or more for your corals to recover. You prob will lose some as the corals are already stressed from those bastids. I went through it and lost a few but won in the end . It's hard watching things turn brown and getting beat up but worth getting rid of aefw

 

[sahin]

I dipped for 3 months and didnt lose any acros. Thats smooth skinned sensitive corals. I used TLF Revive.

Losses due to dipping are as a result of dipping too long or too harshly (ie concentration of dip).

Initially I dipped every 5 days and then every week after about 2 weeks. With smooth skinned acros I cut down the dip time by 40% or so and didnt baste them as hard, but did inspect them well.

Make sure you get all the eggs. Scrape them off or superglue over them. Cut bases off where possible etc.

 

[Piper27]

I dipped for 3 months and didnt lose any acros. Thats smooth skinned sensitive corals. I used TLF Revive.

Losses due to dipping are as a result of dipping too long or too harshly (ie concentration of dip).

Initially I dipped every 5 days and then every week after about 2 weeks. With smooth skinned acros I cut down the dip time by 40% or so and didnt baste them as hard, but did inspect them well.

Make sure you get all the eggs. Scrape them off or superglue over them. Cut bases off where possible etc.

My experience as well. Use a better dip, I didn't have any browning or losses. Make sure you make a rinse station with tank water to shake the acros off in and let them rinse the dip and clinging aefw off as well.

 

[gcp123]

If you don't dip every week it will give the aefw a chance to lay new eggs. Are you dipping acros from your display or using a qt tank? I would use melafix or revive if that dip is stressing the coral, I haven't used that type of dip. Melafix is extremely easy on corals and works great on the aefw.
For us to better help you, you should share your complete process of attacking the aefw.

Dear Piper27,

Do you have the photo of the melafix? I searched online and find that it is an antibacterial medicine for freshwater fish. Is it the same one?

https://www.amazon.com/API-Melafix-Antibacterial-Remedy-8-Ounce/dp/B0002567SW

 

[Piper27]

Yes I think that's it, there is only one kind of melafix that I know of. I think it's e tracts from tea tree or something. Check old posts about it for dosage I forgot the amount I used.

 

[gcp123]

Just to update everyone. I bought a bottle of melafix and use it for my weekly coral dip. I use a concentration of 10ml per liter of water. I have just finished my 5th coral dip last weekend. This coming week will be my 6th.

I basically do not see anymore aefw after my 3rd dip, but i cant be sure if there is any newly hatched aefw as they might be too small to see.

My question is whether 6 weeks of dipping is enough or i need to continue to 8 weeks?

I pretty much follow Piper27 advise and did not remove my live rock. My sps are just sitting on the live rock without encrustation and no hidden sps that i didnt dip.

Thanks.



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[sprite]

I just went through this and dipped for 3 months before I got rid of all them. When you don't see anymore be wise and dip a few more times to be sure. It would suck to do all that dipping and then find out you didn't kill them all

 

[gcp123]

Sprite,

So you dip 12 times? What kind of dip do you use?

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[sprite]

I really can't say how many times dipped. I was dipping twice a week when first started and about the last month went to every 5 days. I went through almost 2 bottles of Bayer using 20ml each time I dipped. All mine was frags so I only put 2 cups of tank water in a bowl and added 20ml of Bayer.

 

[Jbsoccer06]

I used bayer. It worked really well and didn't seem to stress the coral as much as other dips.

 

[gcp123]

Im using melafix. Seems to be very gentle on my coral.

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[Piper27]

I would dip two more times just to be safe, thoes things are evil and will pop back up at any chance they get. I did 8 weeks in a row. I would say dip 4 weeks past the last egg laid would be the least I would dip. With bigger colonies where you can't be sure definatly dip past that. I am glad the melafix worked well! I wish more people knew it worked because it's very gentle on most all corals.