Caution using Bio Advanced on SPS

reef_daddy · Jul 8, 2019

As most of you know, the Bayer brand is no longer available and has been rebranded as Bio Advanced. I’ve been using the Bio Advance on all of the corals I’ve stocked my tank with over the past 6 months and I’ve had some casualties. Basically what I’ve found is that pretty much all of my LPS were fine being dipped. But generally all of my SPS showed signs of stress after dipping. Best case, for things like montipora and chalices, they brown out in color. But all of my branching coral have both browned out, and lost tissue. Here are some pictures to show as proof of my most recent purchase. It was a pink lemonade frag.

For reference, this is it in the LFS. (Sorry for the quality)

This is about an hour after the Bio Advance dip.

This is 24 hours after the dip.

It has lost 99% of its tissue since, but I was able to salvage one small branch tip so I’m hoping that will eventually grow.

Either way, I wanted to at least document my experience. Chime in if you’re experiencing anything different.

LARedstickreefer · Jul 8, 2019

Formula must have changed. New ingredients? Higher concentration?

rkpetersen · Jul 8, 2019

That's worrisome if true.
How are you using it? Concentration and duration?
Also does your bottle's ingredient list last match this from my bottle of Bayer?

Reef_A_Lot · Jul 8, 2019

What ratio are you using and how long do you keep them in dip? I dipped everything in Bayer (new formula) and haven’t any problems (fingers crossed).

reef_daddy · Jul 9, 2019

So went to take a picture of the ingredients list and I noticed that they were in fact different. I double checked the type of Bio Advance that I bought and it turns out that I bought the Complete Insect Killer for SOIL & TURF.

The Soil & Turf version is different.

Lesson learned: pay attention to the details. The bottles are very similar looking.

I’ll pick up the regular Complete Insect Killer and try it on a new SPS and I will report back.

For reference, here is the bottle I was using:

Reef_A_Lot · Jul 10, 2019

That’ll definitely explain it. I honestly almost did the same thing but lucky I recognized it at check out at Lowe’s. Hopefully you won’t lose anymore coral now. Good luck!

Lapras · Dec 6, 2019

In case anyone else comes across this thread: I called BioAdvanced and they told me NOTHING changed except the labels. The rep also mentioned they slapped a "Kills Mosquitos" sticker as part of marketing... I think the rep mentioned the old Bayer label on the back has mosquitos listed on the list of bugs - can anyone confirm this?

Big E · Dec 7, 2019

I would just move on to other dips. I use Expel and Melafix as they are clear a perform well.

Graffiti Spot · Dec 7, 2019

I agree with bige. Anyways the main reason people were using this dip was because it was supposed to kill all acropora eating bugs like red bugs. But lots of people have had all sorts of bugs slip through their dips using this stuff. I have seen nudis stay alive for hours in this stuff. Melafix is strong and clean so you can see what’s on the corals or falling off with no worries of killing tank inhabitants with Bayer residue.

Reefahholic · Jan 8, 2020

For the record...I’ve dipped several Acro’s with this new bottle without issue.

Reefahholic · Jan 9, 2020

Reefahholic · Jan 9, 2020

New Bayer Dip: Anyone Using It? | Marine and Reef General Discussion

So I was doing some research today, and it appears that bayer sold off the product we were using to help them merge with another large company, so as not to create a monopoly. The new brand seems to be exactly the same, right down to the ingredients. A handful of folks on another forum are...

marsh-reef.org

SeaDweller · Jan 9, 2020

Reefahholic said:

That’s because it’s the original formula. The one in question doesn’t have the same ingredients as the label you show. Maybe they changed it to what you have.

Reefahholic · Jan 9, 2020

SeaDweller said:
That’s because it’s the original formula. The one in question doesn’t have the same ingredients as the label you show. Maybe they changed it to what you have.

Yeah, don’t get the “soil and turf.”

huckjai · Jan 9, 2020

Hey guys, sorry to go a bit off topic. Just wanted to ask if you guys use this to dip all coral? Why not used one made specifically for reefing, like Coral-rx?

Thank you.

SeaDweller · Jan 9, 2020

Reefahholic said:
Yeah, don’t get the “soil and turf.”

But yours does say soil and turf! Haha

SeaDweller · Jan 9, 2020

huckjai said:
Hey guys, sorry to go a bit off topic. Just wanted to ask if you guys use this to dip all coral? Why not used one made specifically for reefing, like Coral-rx?

Thank you.

Mainly sps like acros