red bugs

[Edmonton Eskimo]

I have only seen the bugs on 2 of my acros. I also have two millis and various monti caps. Are all of them affected and in need of treatment. I would like to hear others experiences with these as I would like to know who has treated in tank and out as well.

[KrazyKuch]

I believe they only affect Acropora...but I am not sure....I would treat all your Acros even if yo don't see the bugs on them!!!

[mark]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

I would treat all your Acros even if yo don't see the bugs on them!!!

wasting your time if you don't

[marie]

If anyone wants more info on red bugs

http://www.ericborneman.com/Tegastes...s%20index.html

[Reefer Rob]

I treated all my acros when I switched tanks a month ago. I took everything out of the old tank except the acros, and did a 24 hr treatment before adding carbon. I left the new tank without acros for 5 days as Borneman suggested. So far after 3 weeks I have no re-infestation. I would treat the whole tank only as a last resort, if you can't get your acros out easily.

Your really going to like the results after you treat. The effect on the acroporas is almost instantaneous.

This is a picture of a frag taken about 2 months before the treatment, which is how it still look just before treatment.


And 2 days after the treatment. I know it's hard to see with the white background, but if you look closely you can see increased polyp extension and color improvement.

[BCOrchidGuy]

Interesting, so he doesn't figure there is a larval stage so you shouldn't have to worry about re infection once you treat for them. The Luguls sounded a bit scarey, risky etc... To bad he didn't test some of the commercial coral dips available, mind you the boric acid sounded the least stressful but maybe that was just the way I read it.

Doug

[ClubReef]

In my opinion and experience, Interceptor is relatively safe and easy to use. You can go out of your way and pull out the colonies and treat them seperatly but..but to me this seems less effective because red bugs can still be alive on your substrate or floating in your water column wich can then lead to reinfestation.

I have ~100 net gal of water and I treated the tank with 1 crushed pill...and only did an 8% water change. I lost maybe couple of snails..but everything else survived and my acros were healthy again.

If you decide to treat your tank..make sure you buy extra pills for Acro quarintine dips for future use. Before I introduce a frag, I always take a salifert size amount of interceptor and treat the frag in a Super Big Gulp container for 3hrs prior to introducing into my display..always do this because red bugs is really rampant in this hobby.

I hope this helps.

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by ClubReef

.... Before I introduce a frag, I always take a salifert size amount of interceptor and treat the frag in a Super Big Gulp container for 3hrs prior to introducing into my display..always do this because red bugs is really rampant in this hobby. ...

How much is a "salifert size amount"?

Thanx much,

[ClubReef]

Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer

How much is a "salifert size amount"?

Thanx much,

Salifert test kits such as their P04 test come with a blue scooper..I use that to scoop in crushed Interceptor...if I was to guess it's about 1/10th of a teaspoon???

[Johnny Reefer]

Originally Posted by ClubReef

Salifert test kits such as their P04 test come with a blue scooper..I use that to scoop in crushed Interceptor...if I was to guess it's about 1/10th of a teaspoon???

I figured that's what you meant. Just wanted to be sure.

Thanx much,