Not treating SPS for Red Bugs, Anyone?

[blstravler]

Well the topic of the post says it all.

I am wonderinng if anyone out there has not treated for red bugs and had no problems with the health of their SPS?

I realize most of these people probably get blasted for not treating but I am not hear to blast I am hear to learn....

With that said if you do have them and your corals are fine, could you also post the parameters of your tank and equipment that you use.

 

[Acronana06]

Inland aquatics in Terre Haute has them and doesnt seem to have any negative effects also I dont either.... had them for over six months with no ill effects yet

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I have them... so far the only problems are slower growth and not selling frags.

I think I'll eventually treat the system, but instead of treating and then dipping all incoming corals, I'll just treat the tank after I slow down on stocking the tank so I dont have to dip as many corals. After all, I was doing interceptor dips and still ended up with the bugs.

Ca- in the 400's?
Alk - upper 9
SG - 1.025
Temp - 80

Using a large DIY beckett skimmer, running phosban and carbon in reactors, Ca reactor, heaving feeding of a moderately heavy bioload. SSB.

 

[menard]

Same here , 10 yrs living w/ them.
I KEEP MY LEVELS STEADY, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS
PH 8.2 DAYS 7.9 NIGHTS
CA 430
ALK 8 TO 9 DKH
MAG 1300 1350
NITRATE 0
PO3 .02
Temp. 78
SG 1.023
Sr 12

Equipment
300 Gal.
ETSS 1200 Skimmer
3' X 8" CA REACTOR
2240 W OF POWER over the Tank
2 X 6200 Stream, 4 stationary jets on closed loop , 2 sea swirl

TANK PICS.

 

[PUGroyale]

I'm a big fan menard... you really know your stuff :thumbsup: A little curious about this param. Any reason you keep it at the low end?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7994265#post7994265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by menard
SG 1.023

I'm not interested in debating for/against treating either. Most of my acro's didn't show any significant distress but I had one piece in particular [Paletta] that was clearly not enjoying having all those little parasites clawing away at it... so I treated. While the results aren't mindblowing, I will say they have been remarkable. I'd do it again but obviously it's a personal call.

 

[menard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7994378#post7994378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PUGroyale
I'm a big fan menard... you really know your stuff :thumbsup: A little curious about this param. Any reason you keep it at the low end?



I'm not interested in debating for/against treating either. Most of my acro's didn't show any significant distress but I had one piece in particular [Paletta] that was clearly not enjoying having all those little parasites clawing away at it... so I treated. While the results aren't mindblowing, I will say they have been remarkable. I'd do it again but obviously it's a personal call.

Dave
Ever since I jump into this hobby, some the books that i've read in the 80's SG 1.023, so until this time I caried this habit w/ me. Stays in my head, till this time, I dont see any negative effect on my corals. If aint broken dont fix it , Right .

 

[murphreef]

i have had red bugs in my 180 for about 9 months now since i first noticed them....

they are only on an a. valida which is doing great and growing really fast....

i seem to only notice them around the base of the coral where its encrusted... those polyps stay retracted but the coral looks fine.... im thinking that i have the so called "good" red bugs or my acro crabs keep them in check i have 2 in that colony alone...

none of my other corals show any red bugs on them or bad symptoms

all seem to grow at a steady rate

tank parameters

Ph8.1-8.3
am,na,ni,po4 all undetectable
ca 400
alk 8dkh
mg 1400
temp 79-80
sg 1.025
40x's turnover
phoenix 14K on PFO hqi ballast and mini pendants
uv filter
asm-g4 skimmer
mrc-cr2 ca reactor

i wont treat until i see something bad happening as for now they are fine

 

[PUGroyale]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7994477#post7994477 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by menard
If aint broken dont fix it

LEVELS STEADY, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS...

:beer:

 

[blstravler]

Menard-

Appreciate the picks, WOW what an amazing tank.

murphreef-

Thanks also for your input.

The reason I posted all of this is once again, i have the little guys on my coral.

I have done the tereatments in the past and it has worked and once again I got them again. I always treat new corals before they go into my tank so this time around I am taking a different stance, because it seems no matter what I do I get them.

At this point I am prteyy sure they have been there at least 2 months. I have been really sick latley and haven't had much time to look up close at them, I did last night and well, there you have it.

Also I am tired of killing off the crabs that I could not get out of my large colonies that have encrusted to massize poieces of rock. Not to mention have you uever tried to get 3 different types of shrimp out of a well stocked 180 reef?

So regardless I am about to go in for some surgery and I think I am going to leave the bugs alone this time. In a few months time from now when I would be able to do all of the major work needed to kill them off I might, but if my corals look like they do now, nothing is changing.

Oh and whe I am back out of the hospital if any of my fellow reefers with the bugs would like to trade some frags just let me know in about 8 weeks from now

LEVELS STEADY, NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS...

I couldn't say it any better.


Thanks everyone for posting and if there is anyone else out there that live with the bugs let us know.

Keith.

 

[King-Kong]

I had red bugs and untreated for 6 months plus. In the 2 months since treating, the affected corals colored up, extended polyps, and grew faster than they ever had. I will never allow those critters back in my tank again.

ie:

from this: http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/51-acro-unknown.jpg

to this: http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/97-acro2-unknown-rm.jpg

 

[blstravler]

I had red bugs and untreated for 6 months plus. In the 2 months since treating, the affected corals colored up, extended polyps, and grew faster than they ever had. I will never allow those critters back in my tank again.

King-Kong, thanks for your input but, I am looking for people that are living with red bugs-

Again I do not want this post to turn into a nasty debate.

 

[menard]

I see this guys nothing more of an OPORTUNISTIC. I observe them for many yrs. the min the Acros. becomes unhealthy coz of your water quality aint right they'll be on it. (like a pack of WOLFS )
Keep your levels check, they cant harm the acros.
AEFW is another story, wish U would never get them.

Possum wrasse, ever since I put 3 in my tank, bugs population are slowly going down. I believe they are eating them. They are active at night, searching for a meal. Fun to watch they be gliding picking on corals and rocks. Tiny little fish w/ pointed mouth.

 

[jiggy]

although ive never had them, i think anything parasitic should be treated. IMO, i think you are looking for people living with red bugs to justify the fact that u dont want to go through the hassle of treating your tanks. just like people who dont want/too cheap to buy a skimmer always ask about people who have success running skimmerless.

 

[clkwrk]

Jiggy - the poster said they were looking for people that live with RB's .



I am with Menard 100%
living with red bugs

 

[RichConley]

I've spent a couple 6+ month periods with them, and some things seem to be unnaffected, while other corals dont do well.


If you're not worried about them, cool, just make sure than anyone you trade with is informed.

 

[clkwrk]

Believe me everyone who trades or gets frags from me knows I have rb's , have had AEFW's and have had Monti eating nudis .

It doesn't slow any of them down because our local community is well aware that any and every coral need to be treated no matter where it comes from .

I am constantly finding pests in our local fish stores and I always post when I find them so I can continue to scare people enough to treat all incoming corals sps,non sps or whaterver.

In the end it is our responsibility to QT or treat our incoming corals . So if an unwanted infection happens its our own fault not the person/etailer/wholesaler. Since our tanks are our responsibility.

 

[menard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7998422#post7998422 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I've spent a couple 6+ month periods with them, and some things seem to be unnaffected, while other corals dont do well.


If you're not worried about them, cool, just make sure than anyone you trade with is informed.

Rich
The once that get heavyly infected are already not in the best of health. Sm. frags are sitting ducks.
I always informed people that I have them, I even take them to the house to see it first hand, and what do I get? (give me a frag of that , that one too , heres another , man too damm many choices. )

 

[King-Kong]

Its been pretty well observed that RBs only affect certain acroporas -- not all SPS.

It is unfair to show coral shots and say "look how great all these are doing!". When I had RBs my tort, chips, millis, and montis all continued to grow and have great polyp extension -- they were unaffected.

The bugs only target certain types of acros, but you can be sure that once they are on, those specific acros will be underperforming. This includes color, PE, and growth. Even with RB, some of my affected corals continued to grow.

When I first treated for RB I did not follow the treatment exactly, and due to what seemed like a 100% initial kill, I did not perform a second treatment. In 3 weeks they were back, without adding another frag. I re-treated, this time following the common treatment plans and theyve been gone ever since.

If you can't get certain crustaceans out of your tank, then it can be difficult to balance the moral issues of "which is more important" (sps or the inverts). I can understand not wanting to continue killing your inverts attempting to treat, however you shouldn't cast aside the FACT that they are affecting some of your SPS corals.

This morality question is quasi addressed by Borneman's suggested treatment plan, which includes removing every coral out of your display tank and treating in a seperate tank. Sadly, we all do not have the time or patience to take down our entire tank and re-locate everytime we have a pest, so, as stated above, it is very important that we treat ahead of time, and know our sources.

 

[blstravler]

clkwrk-

Amazing tank, thanks for you input.

I agree that in dealing with the bugs a few times they are only an issue when other issues arise in your tanks, ie water quality, etc.


King Kong-

If you can't get certain crustaceans out of your tank, then it can be difficult to balance the moral issues of "which is more important" (sps or the inverts). I can understand not wanting to continue killing your inverts attempting to treat, however you shouldn't cast aside the FACT that they are affecting some of your SPS corals.

LOL

Is it a FACT? Do you see my corals on a daily basis like I do, is your tank exactly the same as mine? My corals are doinng great and grow like weeds. Why would it be unfair to show pictures of coral and say look how good they are doing, this is the exact same measuring stick you would use to say, "look at how good my corals look and I don't have Red Bigs" Would it not?

Jiggy-

although ive never had them, i think anything parasitic should be treated. IMO, i think you are looking for people living with red bugs to justify the fact that u dont want to go through the hassle of treating your tanks.

First off let me say Jiggy that I have had the bugs before- and I have treated them before as well as treat them before I put them inot my tank, the hassel is not the issue. The issue is, and if you had read my second post, which it looks like you didn't instead just making a pointless comment when I have stated several times I do not want this to get ugly...

What I did say in my second post was...

So regardless I am about to go in for some surgery and I think I am going to leave the bugs alone this time. In a few months time from now when I would be able to do all of the major work needed to kill them off I might, but if my corals look like they do now, nothing is changing.

This is the issue, I am about to go into the hospital for many weeks for major surgery. The issues does not have a thing to do with me not wanting to deal with a hassel, it has to do with me putting my health in front of the treatment of red bugs for a few weeks; or possibly for good b/c I have had them before and killed them off before and they never did any damage in the first place.


So for now my tanks remains as is----

I will post after picks inn 2 months form now when I get home from surgery and physical therapy.

 

[menard]

Kong
I kept Acros. since 95. If U are not looking for the damm thing your not gonna find it. Well the truth is they always been around.
I'm gonna say it again if your WQ isnt steady and this effect Acros. health ,they'll be allover it. I'm not against treating. I'm just expressing my experience w/ them.
One of the picture has the Valida, that one is infected. Did it loose colors?, NO!. Did it stop it from growing, NO!. Its been like that since 98 when I bought a frag from SCIENTIFIC CORALS.....PEACE