Another option for red bugs
- Thread starter Whisperer
- Start date
Eurobeaner
New member
worked great. coloring up nicely and 0 redbugs. PE has been consistently better than before
battplus
New member
If it's the first your seeing of them, treat the whole tank with the proper dose of Interceptor. Redbugs prefer smoothed skinned acros mainly, but I would treat the entire tank. I use Interceptor with mixed results, this thread is mainly exploration of a cheaper alternative that works only for dipping corals, as it is toxic to fish.
MelloW33
Member
I realize this isn't a whole tank treatment. I noticed I had some red bugs on an acro and searched the forums for a solution. I found this thread and realized I have some of the Bayer in my garage that I haven't used yet. I'd rather try out this stuff than bother my Vet for the Interceptor, not a real nice guy.
All of my acros are mainly frags still so I would rather take them out of the tank and treat them as a group or individually. Do you think I could rid the tank of the red bugs if I dipped all of the acros over a course of weeks? I think I have more money in my hermits and shrimp than I do in my acros.
All of my acros are mainly frags still so I would rather take them out of the tank and treat them as a group or individually. Do you think I could rid the tank of the red bugs if I dipped all of the acros over a course of weeks? I think I have more money in my hermits and shrimp than I do in my acros.
Whisperer
New member
If you have a spare 10G tank, you can make a fresh batch of saltwater (let is sit overnight) and do water change but save the "old" tankwater for the dipping. You can use powerhead to circulate water in the dipping tank (or an air pump if you have one). The corals will not even notice the Bayer but the redbugs will fall off. Try not to exceed 15 minutes.
Eurobeaner
New member
bump for recent redbug questions. this should be a sticky!
ousnakebyte
New member
Whisperer -
I'm wondering what the rational is for not swirling the coral in the dip after the treatment time is finished and then also not "rinsing" the coral in fresh sea (tank) water after the treatment...? Seems like you might increase the chances of knocking off any remaining bugs while also hopefully removing any remaining medication and not introducing to the display.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Mike
I'm wondering what the rational is for not swirling the coral in the dip after the treatment time is finished and then also not "rinsing" the coral in fresh sea (tank) water after the treatment...? Seems like you might increase the chances of knocking off any remaining bugs while also hopefully removing any remaining medication and not introducing to the display.
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Mike
Eurobeaner
New member
i rinsed in clean saltwater, and blasted a little. no issues (that i saw)
This could indicate the coral tissue is uptaking and retaining the imidacloprid for some time.
battplus
New member
That's what we're hoping, I need to do more testing to be sure.
taylor t
New member
I agree, this needs to be a sticky.
Well, I tried it last week myself. All I can say is, wow! I didn't know how many I actually had until I dipped. I accidently doubled the dose as recommended, instead of .5 ml per 2 cups, I did 5ml per 10 cups (should have been 2.5ml for 10 cups). It was a little rough on my bali tricolor. I only dipped for between 30 seconds and 1 minute tops. I was amazed at how fast it killed bugs, and how many were left behind. The bali tricolor lost all it's purple with-in 10 minutes of the dip. It's now recovered some purple 1 week later. All other acro's dipped are doing very good. I have seen a couple red bugs show up here and there on a couple, but the next day I don't see them on that acro, I'll see 1 somewhere else. I planned on doing a dip a week later, which would be this weekend, but I'm going to wait. I will definately use this for ALL future dips for sps in the future.
Well, I tried it last week myself. All I can say is, wow! I didn't know how many I actually had until I dipped. I accidently doubled the dose as recommended, instead of .5 ml per 2 cups, I did 5ml per 10 cups (should have been 2.5ml for 10 cups). It was a little rough on my bali tricolor. I only dipped for between 30 seconds and 1 minute tops. I was amazed at how fast it killed bugs, and how many were left behind. The bali tricolor lost all it's purple with-in 10 minutes of the dip. It's now recovered some purple 1 week later. All other acro's dipped are doing very good. I have seen a couple red bugs show up here and there on a couple, but the next day I don't see them on that acro, I'll see 1 somewhere else. I planned on doing a dip a week later, which would be this weekend, but I'm going to wait. I will definately use this for ALL future dips for sps in the future.
ecomdesign
New member
I went to Lowes and home depot up here is Canada for this stuff but they didn't carry it. I might have to settle for something else. I'm not sure what to look for though... What made you choose Bayer advanced completer insect killer???
battplus
New member
This particular product has the active ingredient needed, Imidacloprid, which is in larger concentration of this brand. Try looking at local hardware stores as well, worst case you can order it online.
Whisperer deserves the credit for finding and testing this one first. On a hunch, like he said earlier in the thread, it is a broad range insect killer, not just grubs, but all types of insects, meaning it can penetrate the exoskeleton. That may be what makes this brand so effective without harming the coral tissue itself. It is used for direct spray onto lawns without killing the grass like most insect killers.
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ecomdesign
New member
I did a little google searching and it turns out that Imidacloprid is banned in Canada. That sucks!
