How not to contaminate one tank to the next when moving corals (algae/flatworms)

[brad65ford]

Ok this may sounds easier than it may seem but I think its more complicated than just dipping in my situation.

Here's the story; I have a 6g nano running for almost a year now with great coral growth success. Its full of zoa's,palys,mushrooms,duncan's, ridcora's, sponges etc... (all softies). I know they aren't the most desirable but they are mine and paid for already. But here is my issue I have three types of algae and also flat worms :debi: that I've never tried to get rid of but hate with a passion. And now I would like to start slowly moving some of these corals by fragging them to a new larger frag station I've been building.

I'm hoping I can kill all the flat worms with a super strong dip of coralRX but I'm mostly afraid of the algae some how hitch-hiking over by some means :wavehand::debi::thumbdown.

When moving corals that are attached to rocks that have algae or other issues like flat worms, is it best to cut the coral off the rock and attach to a new rock/plate/basic piece?

Has anyone successfully done what I'm about to do if so I'm all ears since bubble algae and hair algae are two of the most ugliest things a side from flat worms.

 

[acropora1981]

Have you looked into peroxide dips for the algae? It is highly effective and if done properly it does not damage many types of corals.

 

[Chris27]

Give the corals a dip to address the flatworms. As for the algae, give the plugs/rock a good scrubbing with a stiff brush and transfer them over. Make sure to have some algae eating inverts in the new tank to address the algae. Depending on what type it is, a few hermits and astrea's will surely handle the task of keeping it at bay.

 

[brad65ford]

thanks guys, i ended up mulitiple dosing with flatworm exit. Stuff works but you never kill them all the first shot.

Corals seemed to do well after also which was nice.

Bottom line is flat worms suck to get rid of.