newyorkerx
New member
What is the current consensus with regard to dipping newly acquired acros? How many people do it religiously? Or, do some people just dip full grown colonies and leave frags alone?
To dip or not to dip?
- Thread starter newyorkerx
- Start date
sweet ride
New member
dip everything!!!!!!
jdhuyvetter
SWFMAS Event Coordinator
Well, I'm the world's worst about not dipping. In the past 5 years, spread out over 4 tanks, I have had red bugs (3x), Monti eating nudis, flatworms (2 types on 3-4 occasions). I just dosed my system for the last time!!!!
DIP!, DIP!, DIP!
DIP!, DIP!, DIP!
RynosReef
New member
You should dip everything no matter what. A bottle of revive isn't much at all compared to the cost and time and frustration of ridding an entire tank of a pest. And dip isn't enough to prevent a pest anyway. Everything should be quarantined and dipped before going into your display tank. Not quarantining or using any form of dip is like playing Russian roulette. No one really wins. But some get to play longer than others.
rtbm
Member
Well said. A good qt regimen is essential for long term success with sps.
Otherwise it really is just a matter of time before you learn the hard way.
If you don't even dip at the very least, you are guaranteed to get every pest eventually.
chessmanmark
New member
[/quote][quote author=chessmanmark link=topic=10168.msg105219#msg105219 date=1226843174]
preventative dips
you've read about the benefits of quarantining your corals but you haven't made the commitment because of space or time considerations. The next best thing is to use preventative dips to protect your precious investment (financial and emotional) in your reef tank.
I use a 5 ½ gallon tank to dip all new arrivals that will go into my display. I mix up some new salt water when i know i'm going to receive new corals. I take about 3 gallons of water out of the display and fill the 5 ½ gallon tank, then replace this water volume with fresh sw in the display. I have a heater and a low flow powerhead for this temporary quarantine tank.
first i temperature acclimate the new corals. Once they are acclimated to the temperature the next step is to treat with salifert flatworm exit. This product treats any incoming corals for planaria flatworms. It's relatively easy to treat your entire tank for these pests, however if you treat your corals before placing them in your tank you will avoid infecting the entire display. Flatworm exit is not harsh on your corals so you can leave it in the water for as long as you treat your corals.
The next step for acropora corals is to treat for red bugs with interceptor. Interceptor is beef flavored heartworm medicine for dogs. It kills microscopic red bugs from your acropora corals. Red bugs irritate acros and you will not see good polyp extension if you have them. I found the best way to know if you have them or not is to take lots of macro photos of your corals. Then enlarge the image for better inspection. Interceptor is a prescription drug that must be prescribed by a veterinarian. Find someone who has a large dog to get this product for you. It is important to crush up the pill. I use a razor blade to cut it into a fine powder. (i use a 1/4 of a pill each time) i like to let acroporas sit in an interceptor dip for 2-6 hours. Don't worry if you go longer with this step as interceptor is mild on your corals. This is another treatment option that is easy enough to utilize for your entire tank, however the idea of the dip is to prevent red bugs from infesting your display.
Step three for acropora is to dip for acro eating flatworms (aefw.) many products will kill off the flatworms but they will not kill the eggs that may linger on a coral. That's why a visual inspection is a good idea. Pick up a magnifying glass to get a good close look. To treat for aefw i use fluke tabs. These are sold over the counter and can be found on most online e-tailers. I crush up two tablets and let the coral soak for 1½ hours. (recently i have been having a difficult time finding fluke tabs)
at this point you may want to use a product like tropic marin pro coral cure (tm pcc) or coral revive. I have used tm pcc and it is very harsh on corals so i decide to use, or not use this step depending on how healthy the coral looks. I dip them for no more than 5 minutes and often double the recommended dosage.
When you finish your preventative dips it is a good idea to give your corals a good rinse with water taken out of your tank in a separate container. Use a turkey baster to blow off anything that may be on your coral and give it a good rinse.
If you search the web you will find lots of information on these products and how to work with them. I wrote this post to share what i do from the point of view of an average hobbyist who has been keeping a reef for five years and learned a thing or two along the way. Good luck with your reef and i hope you are able to keep it pest free so you can enjoy the growth of your corals.
SaguaroSteve
Moved On
Dip!
ReefJunkieOK
New member
Were you writing my biography?
I've learned the hard way...on many occasions! Dip and QT for me from now on.
fishguy597
Member
I wouldn't do it on a smooth skin coral like a Hawkins. other then that dip away.
BuckeyeTodd
New member
I lost an entire tank due to AEFW, and I dipped 75% of the time. It only takes one AEFW you know. 25-30 acros from frags to ten inch colonies, it sucked very badly....please dip
stevedola
Master of my domain
I just toasted a Pearlberry mini colony with revive dip. I wouldnt have dipped for so long but the coral couldnt be clipped from the plug it was on due to encrust and growth was straight up from the disk. I was unsure what to do with the smooth skin corals like enchinates, lokanis, coralinas ect...AEFW will infest on them too? right? so by no dipping theres a greater chance on contaimination.
fishguy597
Member
I killed a new Hawkins after dipping revive. after I dipped it watched the skin peal off and die. I am in no way saying not to dip your corals but there are acceptions to the rules. I have had aefw. and dip everything except those kind of corals. you are better of to qt. them if possible .
