Dipping Corals And Quarantine

[Aquatic Dreams]

There seems to be several threads going regarding dipping corals, which dip to use, quarantine procedures etc. So what's one more thread going to hurt. LOL I've been doing some research online and have noticed that there are many methods being used and what works for some doesn't necessarily work well for others.

While searching around I found this impressive video of how LiveAquaria treats their new corals. It doesn't talk much about individual products used for dipping but focuses more on the procedure. I'd love to have the amount of time, money and space to do this. But realistically perhaps we can all get some ideas for good dipping/quarantine practices on a smaller scale from this video.

 

[reef keeper]

For a dip - melafix marine. I will say this until I'm blue in the face.

Coral qt just needs a light similar to the DT, and a powerhead. You want to dip sps every 5-6 days for 5 -6 weeks to ensure the aefw etc are DEAD.

I don't know squat about pests on softies, zoos etc. My angels would eat em up.

You need advice on killing sps pest? I'm your guy. I've beat em all lol

Know what I used? Yes. MELAFIX MARINE.

 

[reef keeper]

And Live aquaria has been having an issue with uronema on their fish shipments. They can say they qt etc etc. Seriously. Nothing beats just doing it yourself. Read about the parasites coming in. I lost a whole tank to velvet. Then I had flukes. Then I left my tank fallow AND Qt new fish. And..... Flukes again.

I treated my whole reef with prazi pro right in the DT I used multiple air pumps. Guess what? Dust storm of fluke carcasses. Fish happy.

This hobby isn't for the faint of heart, that's for sure!

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Yes I've been looking into the Melafix Marine and was planning to get some. Just thought the video was very cool really.

The thread that I got this from mentioned something about LiveAquaria also having fish/corals shipped from somewhere else and those don't get the same quarantine. The stuff from the Diver's Den section of LiveAquaria is apparently better quality, better quarantined and also more expensive. I have no experience with LiveAquaria that's just what I read.

I use my Biocube as a frag/quarantine tank for the most part. However I now have quite a few frags in it and after reading some threads here am getting a bit worried about adding new corals. I do have a 10 gal. half moon tank that I never set up since I got the Biocube 29. So I was thinking of setting up the 10 gal. as a quarantine and using the BIocube as my frag tank. I generally only dip my corals once in Coral RX and then in the frag tank they go. I've been lucky so far but am getting concerned that this luck will run out soon. So my short term plan is to get some of the Melafix and the longer term plan is to set up the 10 gal. as a quarantine.

 

[Pipes]

Would there be any benefit to having 2 different chemicals? So the process would be... Dip #1 for 15 min, rinse, soak 15 min, dip #2 for 15 min, rinse, Qt...

 

[Aquatic Dreams]

Would there be any benefit to having 2 different chemicals? So the process would be... Dip #1 for 15 min, rinse, soak 15 min, dip #2 for 15 min, rinse, Qt...

I have read that some people do exactly that. Apparently certain dips are better at getting rid of certain pests. Although I've also read that some dips are more harsh on your corals than others. I only use Coral RX at the moment but am looking into getting some of the Melafix. Not sure if I'll use both dips or just one of them. I would think that the more times you dip the coral in a row the more stressed it would be though.

 

[reef keeper]

Honestly - I've tried them all. And melafix marine HANDS DOWN is the best. You could use the 10 as a qt tank for your frag tank, but it will need to be lit with good flow. You will need to dip the corals in your qt every 5 days for 8 weeks to ensure they are pest free.

To be honest, it sounds like a bit of pain. I'd just dip for 20 mins in melafix and keep watch on the frag tank. You can spot pests, aefw eggs, nudibranchs etc pretty easily. The dip will show you if you have adults.

I binned my coral RX and revive. Too harsh.

 

[Pipes]

Honestly - I've tried them all. And melafix marine HANDS DOWN is the best. You could use the 10 as a qt tank for your frag tank, but it will need to be lit with good flow. You will need to dip the corals in your qt every 5 days for 8 weeks to ensure they are pest free.

To be honest, it sounds like a bit of pain. I'd just dip for 20 mins in melafix and keep watch on the frag tank. You can spot pests, aefw eggs, nudibranchs etc pretty easily. The dip will show you if you have adults.

I binned my coral RX and revive. Too harsh.

You mentioned every 5 days for 8 weeks. Is this the hatch cycle for pests?

 

[heath]

I've been lucky so far but am getting concerned

totally agree with that statement, I think that our luck could be running out too...

 

[heath]

Would there be any benefit to having 2 different chemicals? So the process would be... Dip #1 for 15 min, rinse, soak 15 min, dip #2 for 15 min, rinse, Qt...

my only concern with that method would that the 2 different chemicals would react against each other...but it does sound like a good plan..

 

[Pipes]

my only concern with that method would that the 2 different chemicals would react against each other...but it does sound like a good plan..

If there is a rinse and 15 min soak between chemicals, would they react? Or what about switching the chemicals at the 5 day mark?

 

[reef keeper]

Aefw has to feed every 7 days or they die. They disperse in the tank, but come to the coral every 7 days. I believe the life cycle is 7-10 days. By hitting it every 5 days, you get to kill em before they can lay eggs.