Dipping SPS

[michika]

Do you just dip in a bucket or do you have to have a separate system running for a few days like Interceptor?

[Ruth]

Just in a bucket or tupperware type container. You only dip for 10-15 minutes. I like to have 2 tupperware containers - one with the solution and one of just tank water so after I dip the coral I put it into the container of just tank water for about 5 minutes and swish it around a bit and then put it in the tank.

Edit - It is supposed to kill flatworms but I have never recieved a coral with flatworms nor (knock furiously on wooden head) had them in any of my systems so cannot vouch for this.

[michika]

Ruth,

Does it affect coral coloration or anything physical that you can see? Does it incite the coral to produce extra "slime"?

[Ruth]

As far as I can see it does not effect color at all.
It's a bit harder to say on the slime though because I have noticed that some corals seem to slime and some don't. Living where I do just about all of my SPS have been shipped so they are somewhat stressed already. If I had to hazard a guess I would say that the dip does not seem to cause the corals to slime more than they would have anyway just given the stress of shipping and being introduced to a new system. I have been using the dip on all my new corals that I have introduced in the last 6 months or so. I will try and post a picture in the next couple of days of my SPS tank so that you can see the colors. Most, if not all, have colored up nicely in about a month or less. HTH

[michika]

That definitely does help.

I think I'm going to change my regiment for adding new coral to my tank. Obviously Interceptor isn't a catch-all and my vet is starting to get annoyed with my regular requests to replenish my supply. I am leaning mostly towards Tropic Marin Pro-Coral Cure, but I also want to research Greg's suggestion of Warner Research's Reefpure further until I am sure I can make an informed decision.

Just for the sake of knowing, does anyone freshwater dip? Benefits? Drawbacks?

[Ruth]

Catherine - as promised here is a (rather bad) picture of my SPS tank taken today. Just about all of these corals have been "dipped" using the Tropic Marin dip.

[michika]

Wow!

I did just pick up some Tropic Marine Coral Cure from Reefwerkz tonight, and will be trying it out shortly!