Preventing Pests

[digitalreefer]

Ok, so my tank is set back up now and I'm going to try to remain pest free. I was just wondering how everyone else prevents pests in their tanks. Dipping? Inspection?

I've seen a lot of MR member tanks and know that most of you don't QT corals, so don't give me the text book answer and tell me that all of you QT them for a month... I believe some people do, but it's the minority.

 

[Deanos]

Dip!

 

[digitalreefer]

Can you be specific... FW, iodine, Lugols? Different methods for different corals? Also, dipping won't kill aptasia, bubble algae, etc... any methods for other pests?

 

[Deanos]

LPS - flatworm exit/Lugol's dip
Zoanthids - flatworm exit/Lugol's dip & freshwater dip
Bubble algae - I already have bubble algae
Aiptasia/majanos - identification outside of a tank nearly impossible. Either view frag in seller's tank or QT at home

 

[DEEPWATER]

LPS - flatworm exit/Lugol's dip
Zoanthids - flatworm exit/Lugol's dip & freshwater dip
Bubble algae - I already have bubble algae
Aiptasia/majanos - identification outside of a tank nearly impossible. Either view frag in seller's tank or QT at home

I would say ,once the rock has aiptasia ,its nearly impossible to rid of them ,unless you bleach the rock .Unless you have a good CBB and or Peppermint shrimp that eats them

 

[marrone]

I don't think you can truly keep out all pests as some are hiding inside rocks or coral. Others are in eggs just waiting for the right conditions to be hatch and mayn't show up for months or even a year later.

The best you can do is to dip each coral and inspect them for pests and remove what you can see. Some times you'll need to look at a coral at the LFS or in a holding tank for a # of days to make sure you have all the pests. Even then things do slip though.

 

[PalmTree]

When I moved my tank about 2 years ago I really wanted to do it right and start all over from scratch. Basically I tore my system down and gave away all my fish and coral which wasn't that much. The only thing I kept was my LR which had a HUGE aptasia problem. Over the course of 6 weeks I would inject every aptasia I could find w/ joes juice or kalk and R/O. 5 water changes and constant through inspection of every rock I owned I was certain that I did not have a single aptasia. Not one!! Well 2 years later guess what... I have Aptasias! I guess soetimes you just can't win.

 

[fritz]

Leave all your rock outside in the snow. Bring it in and put it in your oven at 350 for 4 hours.

Then go to another reefers house and scrape a bunch of their coraline off to seed your tank.

 

[PalmTree]

:funnypost

 

[TimberTDI]

Well 2 years later guess what... I have Aptasias! I guess soetimes you just can't win

How do you know the Aptasia didn't hitchike on something?

I inherted some pieces with aptasia and kept them in QT for 6 weeks, kept hitting them with vinegar. Six months later no aptasia. Yet...

Steven

 

[ireefny]

Leave all your rock outside in the snow. Bring it in and put it in your oven at 350 for 4 hours.

Then go to another reefers house and scrape a bunch of their coraline off to seed your tank.

I did that, except for the oven part, thats where my wife drew the line. :lol_large