How can I be sure pests are dead?

[ps2cho]

I bought some SPS frags from the LFS and when I got home, there were a bunch of tiny, tiny specs on the bottom of the dixie cup.

It moved like a worm, but it didn't look like a worm exactly. I mean we are talking ~1/24" by ~1/96". I couldn't even get a clear picture with my camera. It just looks like a dot.

I've researched photos of pests including the sticky, and it doesn't look like any of them. I even tried my Nikon D5000 camera, and it can't focus well enough with the lens I have.

Any ideas what I should do here? I dipped the coral for 15mins in Revive and its now in my QT tank. I don't want to risk my DT without me knowing what it is.

 

[UTCReefer]

I suppose you can never be too paranoid, but unless its one of the big three, ie Acro eating Flatworm, A nudibranch, or Redbug I'd say its probably not a problem.

 

[ps2cho]

After more searching, I think it might have been flatworms...

Is it safe to give the corals a 2nd revive dip followed by a FW dip? Def not nudi or red.

 

[scottwhitson]

I would not do a FW dip but have had good luck with Bayer. Just do a search for Bayer dips and you will find all sorts of info. I use the Bayer without the germ control and use 2 tbsp per gallon of water for five minutes.

 

[ramseynb]

I would check for eggs too. If it has eggs, Bayer may not kill them and I'd be very leery of putting it in your tank.

 

[mayjong]

clip off of any rock /plug and that will "help" remove any eggs...

 

[ps2cho]

Do the eggs hold onto the rocks and not the coral itself?

I don't have any coral fragging tools specifically. Is there any generic tools that I may have in my toolbox that works good for removing encrusted SPS?

 

[TimothyJ]

Eggs will typically be just off the living tissue. So if the frag is on a plug, likely they would be on the plug. If the tissue is recessed at all, I would look on the dead skeleton.

 

[LoJack]

Yup, if worried the best course of action is to cut through the flesh as close to the base as you can.

Eggs are laid between the coral and the plug … so cut it fresh and then dip it … and you should be safe. Sucks to waste living coral, especially when its a small frag … but I'd rather set my growth back a month than introduce eggs into the display.