Laser Lammons
New member
My brother has been reefing for many years right along side me. Over the years he has accumulated a nice collection of acropora and keeps backups for me if necessary. He recently purchased a few acros online and although they were dipped he has now developed a bad case of AEFW. So bad that within 2 weeks his acros went from beautiful and growing nicely to most being infected and showing no PE, loss of colors, RTN at base. As most of you know the classic signs of the nasty critters that all Stick Heads despise. Unfortunately for my brother his tank is filled now with mostly large colonies that are totally encrusted on rock and removal for QT and dipping over a several week period was not an option. So desperation set in and a new method was employeed based on readings from the following
http://www.ph84.idv.tw/vbb/showthread.php?t=191451
The treatment was performed last Thursday (8 days ago) and was amazing. I added 1lb of pure potassium chloride per gallon of tank water. We mixed the KCL solution (water softner product from Lowes) with RO water. Approximately 5 gallons RO for 7 lb of KCl is about the max I could dissolve.
We removed as many fish, crabs, snails, shrimp as we could prior to treatment and put in QT. We then dumped the entire contents of KCL solution into the sump and observed.
What followed was amazing for sure but not shocking due to the success that the solution showed during dipping experiments (Yes We did at least test some acros in a dip solution and they came flying off, shriveled up, changed to circular shape, turned white, then discentegrated). A snow storm of AEFW, pods and many creatures instantly floated off the acros! The treatment was left in tank for 30 mintues with all powerheads running full blast, skimmer on, carbon running.
After 30 minutes we then did a 25% water change.
3 hours after treatment did another 25% water change.
12 hours after treatment did another 2% water change
24 Hours after treatment did a 50% water change.
Potassium levels in tank were initially 450 ppm. After treatment levels were 1500 ppm and then brought back to normal levels with water changes.
Observations:
1- AEFW in tank treatment was successful with first treatment
2- large amount of kill off turned low nutrient system into hight nutrient instantly promoting algae outbreak. Dealing with this is nothing new for SPS keepers. Just lot of water changes, carbon, filter socks, and heavy wet skimming.
3-8 days after treatment all acros are recovering very nicely and all exhibiting PE again with colors coming back quickly
4- only the most infected acros were lost and would have been DOA within 24 hours most likely anyway. We estimate we had about a 90% survival rate.
5-many fish were not caught that went into rocks during treatment. 6 total were left in tank and 3 are actually still alive and show no ill signs of the treatment at all. 2 bluethroat triggers, blue tang, and a wrasse
6- after being left for dead many of the snails came back to work once Potassium levels were restored
We will be doing 3 treatments total. Our second treatment will be this upcoming Thursday and the last 2 weeks after that. We anticipate that the next treatment will not yield anywhere near the kill off and should bounce back much quicker. We are watching one colony of Jason Fox yellow tips acropora that has eggs on the base and has shown a great recovery. 8 days now and they still have not hatched so maybe the treatment was effective on the eggs as well. If not the follow up treatments should do the trick.
I know this will open up a bag of worms and that many will question the method but it WORKED for us so far. We will certainly keep all updated with further findings.
We have tried to get in touch with the AEFW research team with no luck but I really think they will be interested in this info...
Disclaimer--- It worked on my brothers tank and may nuke yours just sharing personnel experiences.
http://www.ph84.idv.tw/vbb/showthread.php?t=191451
The treatment was performed last Thursday (8 days ago) and was amazing. I added 1lb of pure potassium chloride per gallon of tank water. We mixed the KCL solution (water softner product from Lowes) with RO water. Approximately 5 gallons RO for 7 lb of KCl is about the max I could dissolve.
We removed as many fish, crabs, snails, shrimp as we could prior to treatment and put in QT. We then dumped the entire contents of KCL solution into the sump and observed.
What followed was amazing for sure but not shocking due to the success that the solution showed during dipping experiments (Yes We did at least test some acros in a dip solution and they came flying off, shriveled up, changed to circular shape, turned white, then discentegrated). A snow storm of AEFW, pods and many creatures instantly floated off the acros! The treatment was left in tank for 30 mintues with all powerheads running full blast, skimmer on, carbon running.
After 30 minutes we then did a 25% water change.
3 hours after treatment did another 25% water change.
12 hours after treatment did another 2% water change
24 Hours after treatment did a 50% water change.
Potassium levels in tank were initially 450 ppm. After treatment levels were 1500 ppm and then brought back to normal levels with water changes.
Observations:
1- AEFW in tank treatment was successful with first treatment
2- large amount of kill off turned low nutrient system into hight nutrient instantly promoting algae outbreak. Dealing with this is nothing new for SPS keepers. Just lot of water changes, carbon, filter socks, and heavy wet skimming.
3-8 days after treatment all acros are recovering very nicely and all exhibiting PE again with colors coming back quickly
4- only the most infected acros were lost and would have been DOA within 24 hours most likely anyway. We estimate we had about a 90% survival rate.
5-many fish were not caught that went into rocks during treatment. 6 total were left in tank and 3 are actually still alive and show no ill signs of the treatment at all. 2 bluethroat triggers, blue tang, and a wrasse
6- after being left for dead many of the snails came back to work once Potassium levels were restored
We will be doing 3 treatments total. Our second treatment will be this upcoming Thursday and the last 2 weeks after that. We anticipate that the next treatment will not yield anywhere near the kill off and should bounce back much quicker. We are watching one colony of Jason Fox yellow tips acropora that has eggs on the base and has shown a great recovery. 8 days now and they still have not hatched so maybe the treatment was effective on the eggs as well. If not the follow up treatments should do the trick.
I know this will open up a bag of worms and that many will question the method but it WORKED for us so far. We will certainly keep all updated with further findings.
We have tried to get in touch with the AEFW research team with no luck but I really think they will be interested in this info...
Disclaimer--- It worked on my brothers tank and may nuke yours just sharing personnel experiences.
The scientists don't move fast enough, do they? 
