Calling all AEFW rip and dip experts - logistics?

jd-woodlands · Feb 27, 2022

Ok, so finally going the rip and dip route, been reading the other threads on this so I have a general game plan of what I am doing. Struggling with the actual logistics of it though.

plan in progress:
Buy temp tank setup - done
Move over all non acros (montis, stylos, birds nest, etc) - in progress
Break off acro colonies - in progress
dip with KCl for 2 months - not started
Rescape and keep my favorites - not started

I have a lot of acros to rip off and dip, and a ton of rockwork to kill bases off of. What’s the best way to get started and where am I going to place all these corals in the tank?

rip everything off, place In a holding bin while I break apart the rock scape and deal with the bases? Then just throw the base rock back in as a rubble pile? Where am I going to place all these corals? I don’t think I have enough linear space for them in one level.

Build an egg crate rack so they aren’t on the rocks?

just need some advice on how to get started from any veterans who have actually done it.

blaxsun · Mar 5, 2022

Bump.

Graffiti Spot · Mar 6, 2022

Your overthinking it. Just take it day by day and once you have all the corals in the tank off of the rocks, then you can start your weekly dips and just keep them in the main display the whole time. Use the time making sure the corals are free of eggs as well, once all the eggs are gone the weekly dips should go well. Moving everything over to a newly setup tank is where I have always seen issues and coral death. Stability is key to keeping the corals happy enough to fight off the worms without too much damage. Just baste the corals flesh off as often as you can to help keep the worms from eating all day and keep them traveling. Fish will pick up on the act and start eating them hopefully. Use melafix or revive for a dip so you can see the worms falling off the corals when your dipping and once they are off use a bucket of tank water to wash them around in the make sure stragglers are loosened off the coral as well.

jd-woodlands · Mar 9, 2022

looking to move forward this weekend with breaking corals off and killing bases. Only corals I have moved over to a new tank are easy SPS non-acros that I am selling off, leaving the temperamental Acros in the main display where it is more controlled and stable.. I am running an apex+trident+dos setup there so it can stay rock solid through the dips.

Plenty of montiporas, birdsnest, and other corals that I need to de-clutter and take out and make it so I can rebuild the rockwork in to a more minimal setup.

Logistically there was no way to break all the corals off and place them in the display, there are over 100+ mini colonies + large colonies. Not enough horizontal space without getting rid of some.

Also fighting dinos at the same time in the main display, so super fun there. Plan on scrubbing and hydrogen peroxiding the live rock during this as well.

I'll try and take pictures to document this fun work.

Chrisv. · Mar 9, 2022

jd-woodlands said:
looking to move forward this weekend with breaking corals off and killing bases. Only corals I have moved over to a new tank are easy SPS non-acros that I am selling off, leaving the temperamental Acros in the main display where it is more controlled and stable.. I am running an apex+trident+dos setup there so it can stay rock solid through the dips.

Plenty of montiporas, birdsnest, and other corals that I need to de-clutter and take out and make it so I can rebuild the rockwork in to a more minimal setup.

Logistically there was no way to break all the corals off and place them in the display, there are over 100+ mini colonies + large colonies. Not enough horizontal space without getting rid of some.

Also fighting dinos at the same time in the main display, so super fun there. Plan on scrubbing and hydrogen peroxiding the live rock during this as well.

I'll try and take pictures to document this fun work.

Good luck. This sounds like a blast.

jd-woodlands · Mar 12, 2022

Ripped off the bandaid yesterday and got to work. Took from 10:00am to 8:00pm.

tank post deep clean, live rock scrubbed and H202 dipped, corals broke off. The egg crate rack idea didn’t work, too many corals.

banished my lightning maroon clown to the sump until I can re home her, she is entirely too aggressive with hands in the tank. Finally got out this giant gorilla crab out as well!

so far no Dinos over night, keeping fingers crossed.

will begin dips today using potassium chloride to kill off AEFW.

jd-woodlands · Mar 14, 2022

First losses after the dip…. I thought potassium chloride was a safe dip? Or these might have been too stressed already?

1 tablespoon per gallon is what I did based on other threads.

i expect some losses, just thought it would be weeks in and not day 2. Luckily these were just common stags, but a nice Aussie rainbow acro doesn’t look like it’s going to make it.

jd-woodlands · Mar 16, 2022

Another casualty, ASD rainbow milli

jd-woodlands · Mar 16, 2022

Also Alkalinity consumption is dropping like a rock, down to 30 mls a day from 100+. Hard to keep it balanced but my apex trident is a life saver here.

Graffiti Spot · Mar 17, 2022

Try using melafix, it’s really my go to for dipping stressed acros. With any dip, only dip them only long enough to get the worms to fall off the coral then pull it, swish it around in a second bucket of clean water to make sure the worms are all off. Revive is another good option but is a little harsher on smooth skinned acros.
But honestly that’s not too bad if you dipped everything. Those were probably just the weakest ones, thanks for documenting this for everyone!

jd-woodlands · Mar 17, 2022

Todays carnage: large colony of wwc yellow tip, frag of Walt Disney, misc stag pieces.

didn’t think I would lose the yellow tips, was a very healthy piece.

SCK1027 · Mar 17, 2022

Thanks for the updates.

I also have AEFW and am thinking of doing something similar as you did, but contemplating if I should dip or just baste for now.

Hope the other acros do better!

jd-woodlands · Apr 1, 2022

Another piece I thought would be safe… large colony of Walt Disney. Second one this size that’s gonna RTN.

this sucks!

CryptoNautical · Apr 1, 2022

Please tell me you have some back up frags. I'm sorry to hear what you're going through

Macdaddynick1 · Apr 1, 2022

jd-woodlands said:
Another piece I thought would be safe… large colony of Walt Disney. Second one this size that’s gonna RTN.

this sucks!

Hey bud, sorry to hear that you're having issues. I wish I saw your post sooner. When I had AEFW I converted my rockwork to have rods i/e essentially frag plugs. It made it extremely easy to take out the coral, and dip it. Most importantly it lets me put the coral back exactly where it was, including the flow and the light. This what causes most of the issues with these rip and dip methods. I also used Melafix to dip, it is super gentle and I haven't had a single loss while dipping, and I dipped about 20+ colonies at a time in a large vat. I would stop what you're doing for now, put your corals back in their original spot and let them recover for a bit. Make sure you have no3 and po4 for as well as stable alkalinity. Once they are better, I would put them on the plugs or whatever anchors you choose then resume dipping with something more gentle like melafix.

Hairyteeth · Apr 1, 2022

Macdaddynick1 said:
Hey bud, sorry to hear that you're having issues. I wish I saw your post sooner. When I had AEFW I converted my rockwork to have rods i/e essentially frag plugs. It made it extremely easy to take out the coral, and dip it. Most importantly it lets me put the coral back exactly where it was, including the flow and the light. This what causes most of the issues with these rip and dip methods. I also used Melafix to dip, it is super gentle and I haven't had a single loss while dipping, and I dipped about 20+ colonies at a time in a large vat. I would stop what you're doing for now, put your corals back in their original spot and let them recover for a bit. Make sure you have no3 and po4 for as well as stable alkalinity. Once they are better, I would put them on the plugs or whatever anchors you choose then resume dipping with something more gentle like melafix.

This exactly

jd-woodlands · Apr 1, 2022

I had over 100+ colonies to deal with, had to setup another tank to hold non acros. No way to get started without doing that. No easy way to deal with lighting either, but I’m not short on par. If anything colonies are getting more appropriate PAR. Some where 800+, now they are on 500 range - 300 range for most.

jd-woodlands · Apr 1, 2022

And from other threads seemed like the most safest dip was potassium chloride…

Guess I’ll grab some melafix but it’s probably too late, almost all the sensitive corals are on their way out.

Bali green slimer going strong of course… lol.

Graffiti Spot · Apr 1, 2022

That’s painful to hear sorry about that. I have also had to stop dosing completely once this type of thing happens. Melafix is a rockstar for dipping aefw. Potassium c. makes it’s comebacks every now and then but melafix and even revive at strict dosages are much better. I think I remember when a guy in the dc club (who passed a few years ago) was experimenting with it pc and figured out it was effective at certain dosages. But only really good for new arrivals that were very healthy from what I gathered talking with him.
Anyone that has worms in their tank please consider an active approach with daily coral basting. You will see things get better in a month or so even with larger colonies. I have talked to friends who have broke the aefw cycle by just basting corals in the tank and fish eating floaters. Even if that’s not the goal it really helps strengthen the flesh and health before any treatments are started.

sdreef · Apr 1, 2022

jd-woodlands said:
And from other threads seemed like the most safest dip was potassium chloride…

Guess I’ll grab some melafix but it’s probably too late, almost all the sensitive corals are on their way out.

Bali green slimer going strong of course… lol.

Here was my experience with AEFW. This happened about 6 months or so into the build so I didn't had many more frags and fewer large colonies which was fortunate I used melafix marine and was successful with eradication.

Large Build - SDReef's 330G CDA Acropora Dominant Mixed Reef

What kind of trap do you use? I have been trying to remove a mean dottyback from a mixed reef tank that bites several others. It has been months. He is smart and very fast It's a bubble magus acrylic fish trap. I attached fishing line to the a piece that holds up the trap door. My fish...

www.reef2reef.com

Initially I planned to go for 8 weeks, but after completing the pain of the 8 weeks extended and did one final dip at 12 weeks before getting things back on the rock work.

Everything survived the dipping process. I also observed consumption of alkalinity and calcium go down for about 24 hours after the dipping by 20% I would estimate.