Do Red Bugs cause STN/RTN?

[JMBoehling]

A general question regarding Red bugs and STN/RTN. Do they cause it?

I have read a couple dozen threads, most people agree that they are bad for SPS, being that they stress out the SPS because they are constantly eating on the slime and bothering the polyps. Is it this stress what can cause STN, or do the bugs actually eat away the entire surface of the SPS leading to infection and RTN.

From this post you can conclude that I do indeed have Redbugs and I have some early signs of STN on an infected frag.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[vwluv10338]

I'll bump because I want to hear some answers. I have had corals both STN and RTN but I cant find evidence of redbugs or ACFWs.

Eric

 

[easttn]

Bugs will stress the coral, true. I've read so many posts about RB and SPS death, yet there are those that have them and the SPS will tolerate the aggravation. I believe that the combination of RB stress and the unstable parameters of our tanks are the demise. Our lights, our salt, our flow, our minimal water volume (compared to a reef) and the fluctuations we induce with each are too much. Rid the bugs as it is a known stress factor.

 

[tvle]

i had red bugs before and my corals was losing alot of color. my purple bonsai was starting to bleach. when i treated the tank with interceptor
you could see a big difference the polyps open up alot. and they looked alot happier

 

[my2girls]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6549623#post6549623 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by easttn
Bugs will stress the coral, true. I've read so many posts about RB and SPS death, yet there are those that have them and the SPS will tolerate the aggravation. I believe that the combination of RB stress and the unstable parameters of our tanks are the demise. Our lights, our salt, our flow, our minimal water volume (compared to a reef) and the fluctuations we induce with each are too much. Rid the bugs as it is a known stress factor.

I could not agree more. Interceptor. Don't be afraid of the treatment.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Agree with easttn's nice synopsis too.

I had no problem, delayed treating for 3 months after I knew I had them ... no corals lost. [even with an accidental temp spike]. That said ... it's another stressor, and some of my Acropora did not color/grow much once infected with RB's.

An added risk factor IMO, but not a direct `cause' ... at least for my varieties.

 

[Freed]

Do you HAVE to use carbon when doing the treatment or can you just do water changes? Does anyone know the answer to this one? If I ever have to do it I don't have any way/where to put any carbon so I am hoping that big water changes would suffice instead of running carbon as well. Thanks.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Freed, I think in Dustin's thread a few people noted that they didn't do the water change [Jeremy of CRA during tests, forget others] or the carbon and didn't have issues.

That said, given it affects more than red bugs, and any lingering amounts are of unknown long-term consequence ... I prefer safe vs. sorry. It's been a long time, no lingering effects ... but I don't regret carbon and the extra water changes I did.
[I don't have a filter for carbon either, but figured heavy passive use in bags in sump was better than nothing].

Do post your experience, if you don't use carbon. I'm sure you're not the only one ...

 

[easttn]

No carbon and regular water changes for me, that was last summer. Too much going on (lazy), and too much $$ for salt (cheap).

 

[Freed]

And everything worked out fine then? How big of water changes did you do? What size tank? How many?

 

[slojmn]

I used carbon and did water changes on the first two treatments of Interceptor. Forgot the carbon on the last treatment, oops, had it all ready to go, just forgot to put it in. I did however do a water change. I did 25% water change each time about 7-8 hours after treatment. No more than that though. All well 2 weeks later. Not a long time frame to work with but amazing change in the ciorals affected by the bugs, which were only a few. I think I noticed them very early on. I have a mesoscope and use it all the time, this is how I noticed them so quickly. they were not that many on any corals and only 1 or 2 on a few corals. My Bali tri color was the one that had the most. It has colored up and grown noticebly in the past two weeks. Don't worry about the treatment, easiest fix I have ever done.

 

[easttn]

Yes. 35 Gallons in a 300 system each Sunday. Skimmer off first night.

How many:
Tanks:1
Treatments:3
Dosage: 1 pill for a big dog each time
Say g'bye to your crabs.

There is one issue I would like to post, unfortunately no proof. The treatments killed ALL acro crabs. I have had the center of my largest pieces STN in the last month or so. No bugs, no AEFW, no eggs observed.

I honestly believe the crabs were killing/cleaning something that I do not see. Anyone see similar? Hummm, sorry Freed, I'll post as a new thread, didn't mean to derail.