Step-by-step account of my first reef (with lots of pics)

[techreef]

I agree that you should reduce the potential variables in your bleaching problem by eliminating the red bugs first. I'm a little confused about the xoanthellae topic though. I thought I remembered reading that corals expel their xoanthellae when they are not given sufficient light, thereby losing whatever colors the xoanthellae gave the coral. Am I backwards with that?

 

[Dudester]

You've got it right, I don't think I suggested that too much light caused them to expel their xanthellae, but too much light can certainly bleach corals, especially if they're not acclimated to that light. Many people place new corals at the bottom of their tanks, then move them up higher very slowly until they reach their final destination. Others place the corals where they want them, and just cover the tank (or a portion of the tank) with several layers of screen to filter the light. Over a determined interval, each layer of screen is removed until none is left. HTH, or did I confuse the issue even further?

 

[RobsReefs]

nice setup

 

[techreef]

nope, that is much clearer. Thanks. The only corals I have are the ones that came w/ my LR, so this side of reefing is still new to me. I felt all grow'd up last weekend when I used epoxy to attach my two gorgonians! Thanks for the tips on acclimating corals to the light.

 

[Dudester]

Robs26reef - Thanks!

techreef - No problem, bro


I just got home, and I'm going to set up my 20L tank (the one shown way back in this thread as my QT) as a "rescue" tank for my crabs and, hopefully, for my peppermint shrimp. I'm only going to fill it with 10 gallons of water, which should be plenty. Over the next 3 days I'm going to try to transplant the hermit crabs, the 2 emerald crabs, and the lone peppermint shrimp so that they won't be harmed by the Interceptor. Anyone have any tricks as to how to get them out without toppling the aquascape? I'll probably have to hunt at night, when they're the most conspicuous.

Here's a thought - what do you think about this? If I can't get them out while they're all spunky, maybe after adding the Interceptor they'll become lethargic and easier to catch. Instead of putting them directly into the rescue tank, which would probably place the healthy crabs at risk, I could place the crabs that were exposed to Interceptor into an interim holding tank (like a bucket) and keep them there for a couple of water changes before putting them into the rescue tank. Sounds like a lot of work for a few inverts, but I'd hate to kill them without giving them a fighting chance. The only downside to this would be that there would be a chance of them carrying Interceptor into the rescue tank and harming all of the other healthy animals, but I figure with a couple of water changes that risk would be negligible. What do you think?

 

[jnarowe]

you might also try to "rescue" some rock that has pods and fan worms on it.

 

[Dudester]

I considered that for sure, especially since it would provide some grazing substance for the hermits, but instead I'll probably just get some chaeto from a friend's tank, and that should contain enough pods to kick-start my system back up. I didn't think the fan worms were susceptible to Interceptor??

I just did something that was nasty. While making up more salt water to prepare for the upcoming water changes, I emptied one of my salt water mixing trash cans, and actually touched the inside of it. There was a thick layer of slime covering the entire inner lining, as well as a layer of precipitated calcium and other elements along the bottom. I saw a picture on-line of one of the RC Mod's salt mixing container, which was caked with this precipitate, and I thought that would be cool, so I hadn't washed my salt mixing containers ... ever ... until now. I thought it would be like having real muddy trail running shoes (which I do, and that's definitely cool!), but this was disgusting. So I cleaned out the trash can with a vinegar solution, and now it's as good as new. And now, back to setting up my rescue tank.

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah I think Randy Holmes describes what that residue actually is in an RK article . Not sure about the fan worms. Just a suspicion that if invertabrates have a problem with interceptor, they may too.

 

[fishypets]

Mike,

Good luck with the treatment bud. If you need my assistance just say when.

I don't think it will be a problem if you pull the lethargic crabs out and add directly to your holding tank. To be on the safe side though you should run carbon.

Also after six hours after every treatment you should run fresh carbon on your main tank. If you need some I have a ton.

Keep us posted.

Clint

 

[Dudester]

jnarowe,
Thanks for the heads-up, I'll have to look for that article. I'd actually like to know what that funk is comprised of.

Clint,
Preparations for "the treatment" are underway, and thanks for your offer to help. I think I'll be able to handle it just fine. Compared to fighting flatworms, this will be a breeze. I have the Interceptor in hand, and my rescue tank is up and running. I put 2 hermit crabs in there so far, just to make sure I didn't screw anything up. If they're alive tomorrow when I get home from work, I'll begin transferring all of the crabs possible. I made up extra salt water, and I'm making plenty of RO/DI to have in case extra is needed. I've planned on carrying out the treatment on Saturday, and I'll update the thread with its progress. I'll hold off on running carbon in the rescue tank until I place a partially-poisoned crab or shrimp in there, since carbon seems to lose its efficacy after a few days (right?). I've got plenty of carbon myself, and just to be sure, today I ordered another 4L container of the Two Little Fishies Hydrocarbon2 GAC. That's good stuff!

 

[techreef]

Good luck Dudester. I would try and move as many critters as possible before dosing the Interceptor. I had success getting one of my two pep shrimp to jump onto my hand by just moving very slowly in the tank. Perhaps you could lure yours out by holding a bit of squid or the like? The emerald crabs could be next to impossible to catch, if they're like my porcelain crabs. (and my darned 3" gorilla crab that evades my chopstick of death like Flash Gordon.)

I envy you house-living reefers! I had to clean out my Brute SW mixing can after a month because it starts to generate this ammonia/chlorine smell that is very perceptible in an apartment, but I guess not bad at all in a garage. My can had that slime in it too. Crazy that it grows even in the dark.

 

[jnarowe]

Here is a link to Randy's article.

 

[Dudester]

techreef - Great point about the pepps crawling on your hand - mine do that frequently when I put my hand in the tank. They're cleaners, you know, and it's natural for them to pick at your hand. I'll do just what you mentioned, and I'll have a net close by. Great suggestion. The emerald crabs do come out at night, so I'm actually pretty hopeful that I'll be able to catch them in the open.

jnarowe - I remember that article now, that's the trash can I referred to above. Thanks :thumbsup:

 

[Dudester]

Just got home and both hermits are alive and kicking in the rescue tank.

Operation transfer will begin ...

...

...

...

NOW!

 

[woodstock '69]

Very new to reefing. I have been following this thread for a while and just wanted to say very nice. The tank, the thread, and a your well developed plan - hats off!

Michael

(The big lebowski - one of my top 10 of all time!)

 

[fishypets]

Mike,

So how is the treatment going? Notice better P.E. yet?

 

[Dudester]

woodstock '69 - Thanks, man. Yeah, how can you NOT like the Big Lebowski. Another favorite of mine is Raising Arizona. I was watching it last night for about the 1000'th time while extracting crabs out of my tank.

fishypets - Haven't started the treatment yet. I gave myself 2 days to try and remove all of the crabs and hopefully the peppermint shrimp from the tank prior to giving the drug. As of this morning I got out all of the hermits (which is only 8, I think, out of my original addition of 24), and 1 of the emerald crabs. I had the other emerald crab in my grasp no less than 4 times, but it evaded my grip and withdrew into the aquascape each time. I could have grabbed it more forcefully but I didn't want to tear off an extremity (even though it would probably grow back). The pep was impossible - it must have known I wanted to catch it because it didn't go near my hand when it was in the tank, and it usually does. Today I'll try to get the last emerald out for a short time but if unsuccessful, I'll just go ahead and proceed with the treatment and try to rescue the last 2 stragglers when they're a little slower.

I placed a piece of LR from the sump into the rescue tank and all of the hermits, as well as the emerald crab, are hanging out there. I'm not worried about red bugs hitching a ride on the LR. The rock has no corals on it, so any potential bugs would die after 5 days without a food source (acros). The crabs seem happy enough - certainly happier than they would be if they were exposed to Interceptor. I'll update later today after I add the Interceptor.

 

[Dudester]

Here's what I've done so far for my Interceptor treatment to kill the red bugs. First of all, I thought out every step along the way, calculated how much salt water I'd need for the entire 3 week treatment (had to buy more salt today), made up salt water, ensured I'd have enough carbon for the entire treatment (ordered some), then prepared and stocked my rescue tank.

I based my treatment on this article provided to me by Clint (fishypets - Thanks Clint!), although I modified the protocol slightly based on more recent experience by those who have treated their tanks for red bugs.

I turned off my skimmer, removed the carbon, and removed the Purigen pad from the sump. Next, I crushed a 23mg tablet of Interceptor between 2 spoons, and dissolved approximately 1/3 of the tablet into tank water, which was then poured into the tank under high flow. This is approximately 2-3x the dosage recommended in the linked article. The treatment will last for 6 hours, at which time I'll do a 40% (~15 gallon) water change and add new carbon to the sump.

It's now just over 1 hour into the treatment (Florida is leading LSU 23-7, Marland is beating Georgia Tech 23-14, and Texas is up over Oklahoma 21-10 :dance: ). The emerald crab that was left in the tank was not at all lethargic, but it was eating out in the open and I was able to snag it and place it in the rescue tank. The peppermint shrimp is the only other animal left in the tank that I'd like to save, since I can't possibly rescue all of the amphipods and copepods.

The red bugs are still alive and adherent to the acros. I see no difference in their polyp extension. As expected, the fish, snails, clams and all other corals appear unchanged.

 

[Dudester]

2 hours into the treatment, and I'm clearly seeing less red bugs than before, although the corals appear unchanged. Still haven't gotten the peppermint shrimp out of there; I can see its tentacles from behind the aquascape. Overall the tank appears no worse for the wear.

UT 28, OU 10
FL 23, LSU 10
MD 23, GT 27

 

[Dudester]

3 hours, and I can only find a few red bugs total. Polyp extension and overall tank appearance are unchanged. Peppermint shrimp still in harm's way - I may feed soon to see if I can get it to come out.

Texas and Florida win
Maryland blows it in the 4th quarter