Stonefish13
New member
I'll get some pics up tomorrow.
Another option for red bugs
- Thread starter Whisperer
- Start date
avaneaton2000
Member
I picked up some of the complete insect killer concentrate in the 40oz bottle and tried it out on a few frags that a buddy got with AEFW bites all over it.
We mixed up a solution of 4 cups of salt water to 1ml of concentrate and dipped for 5-7 minutes. What was strange was within two minutes many of the smaller AEFS started thrashing about and dieing but there was one big one that was cruising around the walls of the dip cup for over half an hour completely unfazed before we dumped it out. We even put another .5ml in the cup after 10 minutes to see if it would have any effect on the flat worm and it didn't even notice.
Any ideas?
Are some of them just immune to the poison?
Not enough concentration?
We mixed up a solution of 4 cups of salt water to 1ml of concentrate and dipped for 5-7 minutes. What was strange was within two minutes many of the smaller AEFS started thrashing about and dieing but there was one big one that was cruising around the walls of the dip cup for over half an hour completely unfazed before we dumped it out. We even put another .5ml in the cup after 10 minutes to see if it would have any effect on the flat worm and it didn't even notice.
Any ideas?
Are some of them just immune to the poison?
Not enough concentration?
Update from my tests. I had gotten sidetracked while doing the math for the dip. I used 2x the recommended dose for 8 mins and the corals made it thru just fine.
I used 10 cups water to 5ml concentrate and its been 2 weeks and everything is better than before with PE and color.
I think its been almost a month now since my first test with this method and no red bugs are on any acros that have been dipped.
I still have 2 pieces that have bugs which I have been observing to see if they would spread back to the corals that have been dipped previously. I can say so far the corals that have been dipped have not been re infested at this point.
I used 10 cups water to 5ml concentrate and its been 2 weeks and everything is better than before with PE and color.
I think its been almost a month now since my first test with this method and no red bugs are on any acros that have been dipped.
I still have 2 pieces that have bugs which I have been observing to see if they would spread back to the corals that have been dipped previously. I can say so far the corals that have been dipped have not been re infested at this point.
battplus
New member
I wouldn't recommend doing this, that's entirely too long. Follow the formula posted earlier and you will have results. Any deviation from that and pushing the envelope too far and you'll cause irreversable effects on your corals. Remember, we're using insect killer on them, use caution.
naterealbig
Premium Member
I have read through this thread, and want to say thanks to the people who have tried this and posted their results. I recently got my 150 up and running and will be using this procedure to quarantine my corals before they go into the main tank. I will be dosing 1ml per 2 Cups of salt water, and dipping for 15-20 min. I will do this every Friday for 6 weeks.
I did the first dip last Friday, lots of redbugs died, and the corals look great. I used a mortar mixing tray to pour water (from a water change on my 29 Biocube) inside of, and used a Koralia 2 to keep the water stirred while the corals were being dipped.
I dipped several species of acropora, montipora, favias, zoas, sinulara, and gonipora. Everything is looking great so far. I will keep the thread up-to-date with my progress.
Nate
I did the first dip last Friday, lots of redbugs died, and the corals look great. I used a mortar mixing tray to pour water (from a water change on my 29 Biocube) inside of, and used a Koralia 2 to keep the water stirred while the corals were being dipped.
I dipped several species of acropora, montipora, favias, zoas, sinulara, and gonipora. Everything is looking great so far. I will keep the thread up-to-date with my progress.
Nate
MelloW33
Member
I finally got around to dipping my first acro. I waited to the point that redbugs were literally everywhere on the coral before I dipped it. Ever since I received this coral, there was never any polyp extension. The store I got it from said that their colony never even had any polyp extension. Less than 2 hours after the 15 minute dip, polyps began to extend. I couldn't have more faith in this dipping method and will use it for every new SPS.
battplus
New member
This is great news and good to hear more success stories!
Bumping this thread with more observations.
Every frage or colony that has been dipped has not be re infested with bugs. I have only 1 acro left with bugs that i can see now out of 22 pieces. That acro has yet to be dipped. The only bad part is that I have killed a couple acro crabs in the process.
Such a great thread hope the word keeps spreading.
Every frage or colony that has been dipped has not be re infested with bugs. I have only 1 acro left with bugs that i can see now out of 22 pieces. That acro has yet to be dipped. The only bad part is that I have killed a couple acro crabs in the process.
Such a great thread hope the word keeps spreading.
Here is what I worked on yesterday.
I was basting my tricolor for AEFW and actually caught a few as they blew off before the fish ate them. So I figured I would test the bayer out on them. I started with .2ml in 1/2 cup of water, and the flatworm that I tested lived for over half an hour. It either died from the bayer or died when I was basting. I put a frag in each of the dips, also. For the first one, I used a frag of miami orchid. It looks fine today.
The second test I did 1ml in 1/2 cup along with a tricolor acro frag. I dipped for 10 minutes and the worm (new specimen) was writhing in some serious pain.
The frag looks fine now.
The third test was 1.5ml in 1/2 cup. The frag was a pink lemonade. The flatworm was seriously agititated, but still alive, after 8 minutes. Frag looks fine now.
The fourth and final test (due to time constraints- I will do more tests) was 2ml in 1/2 cup. The frag was a red planet. I dipped for six minutes and the frag looks fine. The worm was writhing and doing it's death roll - curling in a ball after five minutes. It did come back to life after six minutes, so I wonder I'd the bayer is only paralyzing them temporarily? It was still convulsing, so I doubt it had much life left in it.
I also dropped about .1ml into a very small amount of water on the first flatworm and it curled instantly. That is the effect I would like to find, but I would bet the concentration would kill any coral - that is what I'll be testing for.
If the coral can handle a higher dose for two minutes, then that is the route I will be taking. It will just take me some time to find that magic number. My plan is to test on several different specimens to reduce the risk of me killing a large colony.
I was basting my tricolor for AEFW and actually caught a few as they blew off before the fish ate them. So I figured I would test the bayer out on them. I started with .2ml in 1/2 cup of water, and the flatworm that I tested lived for over half an hour. It either died from the bayer or died when I was basting. I put a frag in each of the dips, also. For the first one, I used a frag of miami orchid. It looks fine today.
The second test I did 1ml in 1/2 cup along with a tricolor acro frag. I dipped for 10 minutes and the worm (new specimen) was writhing in some serious pain.
The frag looks fine now.
The third test was 1.5ml in 1/2 cup. The frag was a pink lemonade. The flatworm was seriously agititated, but still alive, after 8 minutes. Frag looks fine now.
The fourth and final test (due to time constraints- I will do more tests) was 2ml in 1/2 cup. The frag was a red planet. I dipped for six minutes and the frag looks fine. The worm was writhing and doing it's death roll - curling in a ball after five minutes. It did come back to life after six minutes, so I wonder I'd the bayer is only paralyzing them temporarily? It was still convulsing, so I doubt it had much life left in it.
I also dropped about .1ml into a very small amount of water on the first flatworm and it curled instantly. That is the effect I would like to find, but I would bet the concentration would kill any coral - that is what I'll be testing for.
If the coral can handle a higher dose for two minutes, then that is the route I will be taking. It will just take me some time to find that magic number. My plan is to test on several different specimens to reduce the risk of me killing a large colony.
gary faulkner
New member
Very interested in your results. Thanks for being the Guiney Pig.:bounce3:
Just saw your sig. In 2 deep reef club, I think I'm already a member =)
No problem Gary. I've been dealing with these buggers since the beginning of the year (when I noticed the damage).
My hope is to simplify the dipping process so that everyone can get the results they need. I'm not sure if the flatworms I have are just more resistant to the bayer, or if there were other factors at play, but the original dosages didn't seem to be giving me the results that everyone else was reporting.
My hope is to simplify the dipping process so that everyone can get the results they need. I'm not sure if the flatworms I have are just more resistant to the bayer, or if there were other factors at play, but the original dosages didn't seem to be giving me the results that everyone else was reporting.
Whisperer
New member
If one follows safe dosing guidelines (and there is a wide therapeutic range), coral death is unlikely. There may be some temporary color change but it should not persist. The red bugs are definitley susceptible. The flatworms get stunned and fall off. They may continue to writhe but they soon die. I have heard of some FW not dying but still got shocked and fell off the coral. I suggest, remove the flatworms from the dipping container as soon as they leave the coral even if they are not moving anymore.
Tortuga78
New member
Just read through this thread. Even though I don't have red bugs (knock on wood) I found it very interesting. Whisperer, thank you for experimenting on your tank and sharing your results. You've made a great dicovery.
I have a few question. Is this method an alternative to using CoralRx? Is the main difference between the two cost of treatment or is the Bayer treatment more effective?
I have a few question. Is this method an alternative to using CoralRx? Is the main difference between the two cost of treatment or is the Bayer treatment more effective?
Whisperer
New member
You are welcome, everyone who appreciate this thread. Just to be clear, I did not treat the whole tank and I do not recommend that. This solution is not safe for fish and other tank inhabitants. Regarding the comparison between Bayer and CoralRx, I do not have any experience with the latter to render an opinion. I would assume that they are both effective, the difference is the price. A container of Bayer goes a very long way. I can also say that it is effective against AEFW whereas coralRx isn't.
