Soulpatch's build thread (ongoing)
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soulpatch
New member
So did a water change today and noticed that one of my acans was shrinking a bit on the backside. This was unusual so while water was low I took my flashlight and shined on coral for better look. I thnk I saw some black dots moving on it which could mean the horrible LPS black bugs. I am not sure as the water was just changed and thus stuff was floating around since I had kicked it up.
Nonetheless I took that batch out to be dipped and will need to keep an eye on my pieces this week. I fear I might have to go the inteceptor route and will need to pull my cleaner shrimp and most likely replace my hermits...
If it's not one thing it is another. I think this all came in on my one SPS piece that I barely dipped. Lesson learned there...
Nonetheless I took that batch out to be dipped and will need to keep an eye on my pieces this week. I fear I might have to go the inteceptor route and will need to pull my cleaner shrimp and most likely replace my hermits...
If it's not one thing it is another. I think this all came in on my one SPS piece that I barely dipped. Lesson learned there...
Sorry to hear that man. I've been so hesitant to add anything, fish or coral, to my tank now because of the pest issue. I need to just suck it up and be happy with what I have and let things grow out. It's hard though!
I've never heard of the LPS black bugs before, but I wish you luck in dealing with whatever it is.
I think the favia/war coral that I bought is receeding too, but no black bugs. I just have to figure out how to keep LPS happy
I've never heard of the LPS black bugs before, but I wish you luck in dealing with whatever it is.
I think the favia/war coral that I bought is receeding too, but no black bugs. I just have to figure out how to keep LPS happy
soulpatch
New member
It is easily handled with dog heartworm drug inteceptor but that will most likely kill my cleaner shrimp and hermits (though some of my hermits I wouldnt mind....)
Trouble is two fold... geting the drug as it is script only and cutting the pills to correct size for my tank...
Trouble is two fold... geting the drug as it is script only and cutting the pills to correct size for my tank...
Getting the medication shouldn't be hard. Just call a vet office, see if you can speak to the DVM, and worse case they make you make an appointment, but more than likely they'll just write you a script once you explain to them what it's for.
The only reason it's controlled is so dumb people who let their pets go without it for years, developing heartworms, don't instantly kill their dog by giving them the medication and it quickly killing all of the heartworms, leaving bleeding holes in the animal's heart.
Vets get that, and once you explain why you need it/what it's for, then it shouldn't be hard to get it.
You could also look at the Beyer Advanced garden pest killer. There are a lot of threads in the SPS forum about using it as an alternative to interceptor since it was off the market for so long.
The only reason it's controlled is so dumb people who let their pets go without it for years, developing heartworms, don't instantly kill their dog by giving them the medication and it quickly killing all of the heartworms, leaving bleeding holes in the animal's heart.
Vets get that, and once you explain why you need it/what it's for, then it shouldn't be hard to get it.
You could also look at the Beyer Advanced garden pest killer. There are a lot of threads in the SPS forum about using it as an alternative to interceptor since it was off the market for so long.
I think they're all pretty bad across any of the organisms that fit the biological profile of the bugs (i.e. crustaceans), but would definitely recommend checking it out.
I'm glad to know that interceptor is available again, though honestly I want to pick up some of that Bayer Advanced (though they explicitly, specifically, do not sell it in any of the boros of NYC).
I guess the safest dipping/quarantine is not adding anything at all!
I'm glad to know that interceptor is available again, though honestly I want to pick up some of that Bayer Advanced (though they explicitly, specifically, do not sell it in any of the boros of NYC).
I guess the safest dipping/quarantine is not adding anything at all!
soulpatch
New member
Yeah I thought about switching my dip to the bayer as it is supposed to get more but I have some coral rx left over and wanted to finish that bottle first. Guess I learned my lesson and should probably switch it up.
This article is my current bible: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/3/corals
This article is my current bible: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/3/corals
soulpatch
New member
I should note that I did a deep clean of the tank yesterday as well. I had some white growth in my return chamber. I dont know if it was from my old chateo since I never took pumps out to vac after it died on me a while ago and the white stuff was the dead remains. Either way it is out of the tank.
The heater was scrubbed to stay clean and I took a pic from my frag kit to the inlets on the pumps to ensure they were spotless.
Tonight I need to change out my GFO/Carbon in the reactor or simply turn it off as I decide on bug treatment options.
The heater was scrubbed to stay clean and I took a pic from my frag kit to the inlets on the pumps to ensure they were spotless.
Tonight I need to change out my GFO/Carbon in the reactor or simply turn it off as I decide on bug treatment options.
homer1475
New member
Your running GFO and Carbon in the same reactor? Or 2 different?
I'm just running GFO in the BRS mini, but thinking of running both. Saw a video on BRS on how effective running carbon in a reactor was Vs. just a media bag. Was wondering how bad the GFO clumped together with not tumbling it because of the carbon mixed in.
FYI, the push fit fittings at lowes, are not interchangeable with the john guest. 50$ in fittings going back to lowes, just wish it wasn't an hour drive away.
I'm just running GFO in the BRS mini, but thinking of running both. Saw a video on BRS on how effective running carbon in a reactor was Vs. just a media bag. Was wondering how bad the GFO clumped together with not tumbling it because of the carbon mixed in.
FYI, the push fit fittings at lowes, are not interchangeable with the john guest. 50$ in fittings going back to lowes, just wish it wasn't an hour drive away.
soulpatch
New member
I run both in the one reactor. You do not need to tumble GFO if it is very well mixed in the carbon so as to avoid clumping. I use a 2:1 carbon GFO mix and completely mix it before putting in reactor. No issues thus far other then by running both in one reactor I have to change slightly more often. I think I do it about every 2 weeks or so whereas with only carbon I would be able to run closer to a month I think.
soulpatch
New member
Shoulda gone with the bayer...
I'm surprised they actually asked you to bring it in. It's probably out of curiosity/not believing you more than anything else. Sounds like fun!
I cant get all the coral out to do a dip at this point and the bugs are in the tank so they woudl come back.
Yes I am switching my dip to bayer from now on. This will not happen again.
The vet is willing to bend the rules for me. I guess the vets all around me are very to the point of the law and fish are not a species for heart worm meds... Thankfully this vet is a fish person and I believe just wants to coral to come in to ensure I have corals and that they do have bugs. Plus legally she needs to establish a vet relationship with something so seeing the coral satisfies that I guess.
She was impressed I knew the ingredient I needed when she tried to rattle off some alternatives that lacked it. Either way it should be an interesting Thursday morning before work.
Need to get the frag to the office then back home and in the tank in time before I go off to work. Just lost myself well over an hour of sleep...
\Clownfish/
Saltwater Beginner
What kind of bugs are these?
soulpatch
New member
LPS black bugs. They are currently ravaging my one acan and frogspawn. I pulled out my acan rock to dip with my rx but it had no impact. Though pulling that rock out allowed me to see that my own frogspawn is in much worse shape then I thought as the skeleton is even showing necrosis... Can actually see holes where the bug are residing.
I should have the meds Thursday morning and will dose Friday evening so I can do a water change the following day. Also give me time to set my QT tank back up for any of the hermits I can catch and my cleaner shrimp. That or they will just sit in a bucket overnight (heated of course) with a small powerhead. Be 1/2 the water to just do the bucket and I can more easily dump that back into the tank...
I should have the meds Thursday morning and will dose Friday evening so I can do a water change the following day. Also give me time to set my QT tank back up for any of the hermits I can catch and my cleaner shrimp. That or they will just sit in a bucket overnight (heated of course) with a small powerhead. Be 1/2 the water to just do the bucket and I can more easily dump that back into the tank...
soulpatch
New member
Well interesting experience this morning taking my one frogspawn coral to the vet. She was unable to see any of the bugs but did agree with the tell tale signs from her research. We put the coral under a microscope with additional lighting and were able to see some of the bore marks which was interesting.
Either way she agreed with my assessment about the bugs eating away the coral and as such I have my script for inteceptor I need to fill tonight. I will pull my crustations out tomorrow afternoon and treat the tank doing a water change late tomorrow night. Repeat it next Friday and the following Friday to ensure complete eradication.
Thankfully the crustations only need to be out of the tank for the 6 hours or so. After I put the charcoal back in and let that run for a short period they are good to go back in.
Really excited to start this treatment (excited is probably wrong word but I want my corals happy again) and get this infestation behind me. I will be picking up some bayer tonight so I am prepped for the next corals I bring home...
Either way she agreed with my assessment about the bugs eating away the coral and as such I have my script for inteceptor I need to fill tonight. I will pull my crustations out tomorrow afternoon and treat the tank doing a water change late tomorrow night. Repeat it next Friday and the following Friday to ensure complete eradication.
Thankfully the crustations only need to be out of the tank for the 6 hours or so. After I put the charcoal back in and let that run for a short period they are good to go back in.
Really excited to start this treatment (excited is probably wrong word but I want my corals happy again) and get this infestation behind me. I will be picking up some bayer tonight so I am prepped for the next corals I bring home...
That's hilarious that she actually looked, but hey, I approve! I'm glad it worked out. You took your coral to the vet
Yea, let us know how it goes through the treatment process. I did an interceptor treatment once on my 120g for redbugs. Lost the one or two hermits I had and 2 emerald crabs, but I didn't want any of them anyway. Everything else was happier than ever and didn't notice. Charcoal and over-foaming skimmate for a few days, then back to normal.
Good luck!
Yea, let us know how it goes through the treatment process. I did an interceptor treatment once on my 120g for redbugs. Lost the one or two hermits I had and 2 emerald crabs, but I didn't want any of them anyway. Everything else was happier than ever and didn't notice. Charcoal and over-foaming skimmate for a few days, then back to normal.
Good luck!
soulpatch
New member
Well cleaner shrimp proved impossible to get out and I said the hell with him. I got out all the hermits I could find. Treatment is in and will water change tonight around 1 am. UGH
Then repeat each Friday for the next 2 weeks. Hopefully this does it. Havent seen any dead black bugs yet but then again havent been looking that closely. Since they bore in the corals it is sometimes harder to see them actually die.
I will need to get in some pod packages to build that back up in the tank though. I can see some of my limited pods dead in the tank...
Then repeat each Friday for the next 2 weeks. Hopefully this does it. Havent seen any dead black bugs yet but then again havent been looking that closely. Since they bore in the corals it is sometimes harder to see them actually die.
I will need to get in some pod packages to build that back up in the tank though. I can see some of my limited pods dead in the tank...
