Jon_Hewett_85
Member
So it finally happened: I've got red bugs.
My system is setup so that there are 2 displays sharing a common sump. 20H for main display 40B for the other. The sump holds about 15 gallons.
Backstory: I bought the contents of a local reefers 65 gallon tank on thursday evening.. Consisted of about 60 lbs of rock and a good number of corals, probably 20+. The 40g display was empty except for water at this point and was just housing a few frags and just holding additional system volume.
When I got everything home I closed the return valve on the 40g to isolate it. I was concerned about the rock mini-cycleing form the move, even though I transported submerged with airstones. To get everything in the 40g I had to put a few pieces in the 20.
The tanks are still running in the isolated configuration. Everything in the 40 looks good, Everything is expanded and looking pretty happy. Some stuff has even started to color up a bit that looked a little pale. I have not been able to do lot of water testing on a regular basis because being color blind I have a difficult time reading some of the tests. I am trying to find time in my work schedule to get the water tested for some hard numbers. But ammonia nitrate and nitrite are all on the low end of the scales. By best guess is 8.3 for alk and 420 for calcium.
Tonight as I was inspecting the 40g tank I found red bugs on one of the dark acros that came with the setup! I immediately closely inspected the other acros, and discovered them on many as well. As I mentioned earlier even with the tanks isolated (due to my concern about a mini-cycle and not wanting to strain the established 20g) some pieces made it into the 20g. However these were only polyps and monti's. One small frag of green stag is the only acro that made it in. I have NOT been able to find any signs of red bugs in the 20g tank. I do however feel like there is good posibility some made it in and may only be a matter of time before they start showing up on my acros in the 20. Also, I bleached 2 monti frags and partially bleached an unknown acro and a millie when I ran carbon last week. Everything else looks great.
So the reality of my situation is that I need to treat with interceptor. I'm familiar with the process and have water and carbon ready. However the twist is that I am still concerned about a mini-cycle on the 40g tank. I have not seen any signs yet, but I don't have hard numbers on the tests and it's only been 5 days. I am checking with the local club to see if anyone has some interceptor, if that doesn't pan out, I will start checking with local vets. Once I am ready to treat that leaves me with a couple of options as I see them.
Option 1: Confirm water quality and bring 40g online with the rest of the system. Treat entire system. And leave the whole system tied together while I continue to monitor.
Option 2: Treat the entire system as described above, except isolate the 40g once the treatment has been completed.
Option 3: Treat both systems seperately.
Option 4: Treat only the 40g at this time and continue to monitor the 20g.
I feel like all of these options have positives and negatives, and I am trying to decide on my best course of action. Any advise, insight, or experience would be appreciated.
My system is setup so that there are 2 displays sharing a common sump. 20H for main display 40B for the other. The sump holds about 15 gallons.
Backstory: I bought the contents of a local reefers 65 gallon tank on thursday evening.. Consisted of about 60 lbs of rock and a good number of corals, probably 20+. The 40g display was empty except for water at this point and was just housing a few frags and just holding additional system volume.
When I got everything home I closed the return valve on the 40g to isolate it. I was concerned about the rock mini-cycleing form the move, even though I transported submerged with airstones. To get everything in the 40g I had to put a few pieces in the 20.
The tanks are still running in the isolated configuration. Everything in the 40 looks good, Everything is expanded and looking pretty happy. Some stuff has even started to color up a bit that looked a little pale. I have not been able to do lot of water testing on a regular basis because being color blind I have a difficult time reading some of the tests. I am trying to find time in my work schedule to get the water tested for some hard numbers. But ammonia nitrate and nitrite are all on the low end of the scales. By best guess is 8.3 for alk and 420 for calcium.
Tonight as I was inspecting the 40g tank I found red bugs on one of the dark acros that came with the setup! I immediately closely inspected the other acros, and discovered them on many as well. As I mentioned earlier even with the tanks isolated (due to my concern about a mini-cycle and not wanting to strain the established 20g) some pieces made it into the 20g. However these were only polyps and monti's. One small frag of green stag is the only acro that made it in. I have NOT been able to find any signs of red bugs in the 20g tank. I do however feel like there is good posibility some made it in and may only be a matter of time before they start showing up on my acros in the 20. Also, I bleached 2 monti frags and partially bleached an unknown acro and a millie when I ran carbon last week. Everything else looks great.
So the reality of my situation is that I need to treat with interceptor. I'm familiar with the process and have water and carbon ready. However the twist is that I am still concerned about a mini-cycle on the 40g tank. I have not seen any signs yet, but I don't have hard numbers on the tests and it's only been 5 days. I am checking with the local club to see if anyone has some interceptor, if that doesn't pan out, I will start checking with local vets. Once I am ready to treat that leaves me with a couple of options as I see them.
Option 1: Confirm water quality and bring 40g online with the rest of the system. Treat entire system. And leave the whole system tied together while I continue to monitor.
Option 2: Treat the entire system as described above, except isolate the 40g once the treatment has been completed.
Option 3: Treat both systems seperately.
Option 4: Treat only the 40g at this time and continue to monitor the 20g.
I feel like all of these options have positives and negatives, and I am trying to decide on my best course of action. Any advise, insight, or experience would be appreciated.
