Dip, New Plugs, and QT everything!

[hatfielj]

Just got my order from WWC's recent live sale (11th Anniversary). I took everything out of the bags and dipped them in Polyp Lab Reef Primer. I was astonished at all the critters that came off these corals. I'm pretty certain there were red bugs, black bugs, and flatworms (though I don't know if they were the AEFW type). I then cut everything off the plugs and remounted them, which was a real pain because some of the acros broke and I now have two smaller pieces. They are now sitting in my dedicated QT system where they will remain for the next month or longer as I carefully watch them. I will do at least one more dip to check for remaining pests before considering transfer to my display.

I just wanted to warn everyone that these big vendors are not pest free as we would all hope. It's also a shame that they don't warn people of the fact that they have every pest known to the hobby lurking in their frag systems. This is not the first time this has happened either.

It's a frustrating process spending $700 on frags only to find pests galore and then have to cut them off the frag plug and remount. But, absolutely necessary. If you're not doing this, you most likely already have pests and may not even know it.

 

[Diesel]

That sucks bro!

 

[cancun]

Yea no kidding! That's terrible that you had to remount the frags too! Did you contact the vendor to let them know just in case?

Just got my order from WWC's recent live sale (11th Anniversary). I took everything out of the bags and dipped them in Polyp Lab Reef Primer. I was astonished at all the critters that came off these corals. I'm pretty certain there were red bugs, black bugs, and flatworms (though I don't know if they were the AEFW type). I then cut everything off the plugs and remounted them, which was a real pain because some of the acros broke and I now have two smaller pieces. They are now sitting in my dedicated QT system where they will remain for the next month or longer as I carefully watch them. I will do at least one more dip to check for remaining pests before considering transfer to my display.

I just wanted to warn everyone that these big vendors are not pest free as we would all hope. It's also a shame that they don't warn people of the fact that they have every pest known to the hobby lurking in their frag systems. This is not the first time this has happened either.

It's a frustrating process spending $700 on frags only to find pests galore and then have to cut them off the frag plug and remount. But, absolutely necessary. If you're not doing this, you most likely already have pests and may not even know it.

 

[jolt]

I have learned to accept the cons of immediately replugging and dipping everything I accquire. Even from friends. Only newly dipped coral flesh on brand new plugs makes it into my QT and then after a long QT it gets snipped and dipped AGAIN before going into the DT. I have some losses from this harsh process but I think it's a good precaution. So far it seems to be working.

 

[BestMomEver]

Dipped mine too. They’re currently in a QT. Later I will remount or just remove the plugs and glue them directly. Every coral I get, no matter who I get it from, gets the same treatment. No one is immune and I promise if you dipped one of my current corals you’d find something. Stuff lives in live rock that you will never see.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I trust no one. All new sps frags get dipped and from now on will be removed from the plug if possible if not the plug will be covered in putty. I have had red and black bug and aefw in the past and it sucks. Lps and softies get a dip and visual inspection for eggs and pests. I try to buy all my corals locally this lets me see the coral in person. 1 I can see the coral color first hand. 2 I can inspect for health and pests. 3 I can see the system they most recently came out of, is it clean, are they pests on other corals, flatworms on the glass or bottom, aptasia everywhere, pest algae, unhealthy corals. I have seen LFS with plagues of flatworms, bubble algae, aptasia and even red bugs in there coral systems. I have been thinking about a QT tank a lot since setting up a reef again, but the thought of a small 5-10g nano QT tank to deal with water changes and manual top off is keeping me away.

 

[shred5]

There is no way a vendor can get everything plus there are pest we know nothing about. When a vendor is as big as them it is hard too when so many corals pass through. Eventually something will get through..

Everyone should dip and quarantine corals without a doubt.

I do not think any vendor can guarantee no pest and I believe WWC also recommends everyone dips and quarantines because of what I posted.

I also understand why some places have closed doors someone could dump something into their tanks.

 

[jolt]

I have been thinking about a QT tank a lot since setting up a reef again, but the thought of a small 5-10g nano QT tank to deal with water changes and manual top off is keeping me away.

I run a 4'x2' frag tank as QT, I would hate to do it with anything smaller!