Cherry Corals new acro reculturing program

[Acro76 Verified Sponsor]

Todd and I were discussing how it would be interesting to revisit this thread after so many years! We still use this process and no rock is allowed to enter our SPS systems. Here is our treatment protocol for any incoming SPS from any source:

• Corals are dipped in Bayer for 15-20 minutes, then given a vigorous "turkey basting" to dislodge any pests. We typically eyeball the Bayer concentration, so that is looks a bit like skim milk. I've accidentally left a few frags for hours in this dip with no ill results.
• All mariculture or wild live rock is removed with a band saw.
• Frags and colonies are immediately mounted to ceramic plugs.
• Corals are then added to our quarantine system for observation and repeated dipping. Corals usually remain in quarantine for 2 weeks, sometimes longer if any problems are suspected.
• Corals are redipped, inspected then added to our SPS systems.

We also use Two Little Fishies Revive, Prazipro, and Levamisole in addition to Bayer.

 

[jbsmurf]

its good to see companies take such extreme caution to protect themselves because it ultimately protects me the end user. For your efforts I commend you guys and say thank you!

 

[CherryCorals Verified Sponsor]

its good to see companies take such extreme caution to protect themselves because it ultimately protects me the end user. For your efforts I commend you guys and say thank you!

Its alot of extra work but we feel its worth it. I have noticed at least one other vendor taking our cue and doing the same thing, its a good practice and if you have ever had flat worms you will know its worth it.

I have cooked up a protocol for LPS too as many have evil worms living within the old skeletons causing slow painful decline of certain corals. Don't get me started on parasitic copepods…

We are doing everything we can to eliminate pests before they can get to our prized collections of ocean jewels.

 

[Reefer831]

These awesome extra precautions you take will ultimately save your system and your bigger investment… You're not going to see many vendors do this because they like to sell their stock before it dies in their system and taking these extra precautions and quarantine stages means extra deaths and cost to the vendor… In the end you guys will only be selling healthy quality products which is something rare these days... Can you tell us more about your quarantine procedure and what you have notice works and what doesn't...and what dips have you noticed worked best and what was more harsh...also what do you guys do when you do find worms...do they go into a special separate tank? Do you guys dip right when they come in or do they go to a separate new stock holding system? I have always hated dipping stuff that is fresh and still finicky... I've always wished I had another system to stick things in to let heal up from the trip before dipping...also can you send me a link to any good info on the LPS pods?

 

[skinz78]

Very nice procedure!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Very cool!! This is great information and could be practiced by hobbyists as well! Thanks!

 

[CastAway]

For a newbie, could someone give the specifics on the Bayer product?

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

For a newbie, could someone give the specifics on the Bayer product?

There's lots of threads here on R2R regarding the use of Bayer (use Search option). Here's one of them

 

[Eienna]

I thought I didn't really like acros. Then I saw the ones in the first post XD

 

[eg8r210]

Todd and I were discussing how it would be interesting to revisit this thread after so many years! We still use this process and no rock is allowed to enter our SPS systems. Here is our treatment protocol for any incoming SPS from any source:

• Corals are dipped in Bayer for 15-20 minutes, then given a vigorous "turkey basting" to dislodge any pests. We typically eyeball the Bayer concentration, so that is looks a bit like skim milk. I've accidentally left a few frags for hours in this dip with no ill results.

What concentration of Bayer are you using?

 

[feh]

You guys have a new way of shipping or are you referring to the cups with "coral safes"?

 

[aquariumclown]

This was a pain in the butt to do but I will do it again, not with 30 but more like 15.

So how would this procedure affect your prices? Will the recaptured corals cost more than if you didn't reculture them at all? If so, by how much percentage approximately?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

So how would this procedure affect your prices? Will the recaptured corals cost more than if you didn't reculture them at all? If so, by how much percentage approximately?

They've been doing it for a while now. This thread (and the post you quoted) are from 2011, so I wouldn't expect to see prices affected at this point. Were you wondering how it might have affected them in the past as they made these changes maybe?

 

[watchguy123]

Nice protocol, really impressive in your care and handling and preventative procedures. Congrats on your discipline and thank you for your commitment to all of us.

 

[CherryCorals Verified Sponsor]

So how would this procedure affect your prices? Will the recaptured corals cost more than if you didn't reculture them at all? If so, by how much percentage approximately?

We are doing this as much for ourselves as for our loyal customers. Doing this keeps pests out of our systems(and yours) and allows us to ship them "Cherry style" which dramatically reduces shipping stress and damage.

 

[dss190]

What is the second Acro on the first page? That thing is awesome.

 

[lockus]

Can you post some pictures of what has been removed, eradicated, destroyed from these colonies during quarantine. Interested in how many parasites/hitchhikers you are removing during this process.