WBD Treatment Recommendations Needed

[FishDad2]

I'm not at all sure how the outbreak started, but it appears that a number of my acros are under attack from White Band Disease...or some approximation of it.

I've checked the water parameters and they're consistent with what I typically see in the tank ... pH ~8.15, dkh 9.5, temp 78.0 (+/- .2), ORP ~400, nitrate < 5ppm, and phosphate nearly undetectable. I've been running with these parameters for years and have maintained my diligence in tank maintenance. Carbon and PhosBan are changed every other week.

As well, it has been quite some time since I've introduced anything new to the tank and the corals showing signs of the disease are all ones that have been in the tank for a long time...most for several years.

In any event, I'm not sure what my options are and am seeking opinions.

At the moment, my plans are as follows:

1. Large water change....several more as time permits
2. Remove the troubled corals and subject them to a 15-20 minute dip in Lugol's Solution.
3. Any bits of these corals left behind on the rocks will be attacked with the business end of a screwdriver to eliminate future infection sites. Hopefully I can reach all of it.
4. Install a UV sterilizer ... while it won't help treat the affected corals, it may help prevent future outbreaks. I already own one, so why not install it ... at least until things are under control.

It's going to kill me to detach some of these corals from their homes, but I don't know what my options are. If I leave things as they are now, it's only a matter of time before my entire acro population is eradicated.

Advice please.

 

[volcom69]

I say take ur corals out and start to frag them and dip them good before u put them back in. Make sure all ur water conditions and lighting and flow are perfect. There really isnt much u can do with this disease so i would try to frag what u can and dip them.

 

[dots]

A possible accumulation perhaps. What are you NOT testing for? Have you changed anything recently? New salt batch? TDS?

 

[FishDad2]

Same critters, same routine...no new equipment, nothing has changed that I can think of.

The bucket of salt that was in use when this began is exhausted and I'm more than half way through the next bucket...same brand I've been using for years.

My sources of carbon and PhosBan haven't changed for a while...nearing exhaustion of both current supplies.

My RO membrane was a bit overdue to be changed and I did swap that out recently, along with all the other media in the system. But that swap was made after the problem started. The TDS meter reads 000 for all the water being produced.

I have the primary bases of pH, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, salinity, temp and ORP covered. What else should I be testing for that might contribute to the problem?

Thanks for you help.