Red Bug Treatment Journal

[Myka]

It has now been 9 1/2 hours, and I still see a few red bugs on the Acros. I also see one of my Emeralds and even though he is not acting normal (he isn't picking at the rocks like normal, he is just kinda hanging out) he is still reactive enough to pinch my tongs pretty hard.

I would figure the Emerald crab(s) would be dead by now, and I wouldn't be able to see any red bugs on the Acros???

I dosed what should have been enough for ~150 gallons based on the whole tablet from the blue package being enough for 380 gallons.

[Dez]

I did 2 doses on my tank a few months back. Lost a couple of emerald crabs and my acro crabs (that's what ticked me off the most - I love the acro crabs). But boy does it make a difference after the treatment. My most infected coral just perked up immediately and now it's one of my wife's favourite coral - the colour is great. There is light at the end of the tunnel Mindy.

[Aquattro]

Even after they die, some will hang on. Swoosh them with a turkey baster and they should fall off..

[Myka]

Thanks Dez. All the corals and inhabitants look good right now. I didn't do a water change, I just put 250 mL carbon in. I will do a water change tomorrow morning. I saw the black brittle starfish, and he looks ok. The one Emerald crab that I can see still looks ok. The Seahare is oblivious (thank god). I do still see some red bugs, but they don't appear to be moving. I guess I will have to wait patiently for the lights to come on tomorrow morning to assess.

Ok, thanks Brad. I was wondering if that was the case. I will blast them tomorrow. My eyes are tired from staring at the tank with a flashlight all day.

[saltynuts]

how goes the battle

[Myka]

Thanks for asking. There isn't a red bug in sight this morning. The one Emerald Crab I can see is upside down and dead. I feel bad about that. I will check into the pod population. Corals, fish, and the rest of the inverts seem completely oblivious.

[saltynuts]

Originally Posted by Myka

Thanks for asking. There isn't a red bug in sight this morning. The one Emerald Crab I can see is upside down and dead. I feel bad about that. I will check into the pod population. Corals, fish, and the rest of the inverts seem completely oblivious.

good to here.

[Myka]

Just an update

The red bugs were nowhere to be seen for 8 weeks. Last Thursday I noticed my Alien Freckles Acro (the one most affected in the first infestation) was lightly covered in red bugs again.

Of course this is a week after I added 8 Emerald crabs to my tank. I managed to catch 6 of the Emeralds and move them to a QT. I treated the tank with the same dose (4 Salifert scoops) of Interceptor. 12 hours later I did a 25% water change, and added 1/4 liter of fresh carbon to the reactor. The next day I put the Emeralds back. The next day I lost 2 Emeralds, and one got stuck moulting his shell and also died.

Last night one more Emerald died - a week later. Weird. So now I'm down to 4. Interestingly enough the 4 I lost were the small ones, and the 4 big monsters that are banned to my sump seem fine. Last night I noticed a few red bugs on that dang Alien Freckles Acro again.

So I'm going to break off as much of the AF Acro I can (it is short growing and very encrusted), give it a 2 hour strong Interceptor bath, and put it in my Zoa tank. I will use a pipette with boiling water to kill the remaining part of that coral. I'm hoping I can get away without treating the tank again.