Dipping

[cccharliecc]

I am preparing for some first corals to a new tank and want to take all the necessary precautions now and try to eliminate any issues later on.

My question is ....Should I go with Coral Rx or Bayer Complete Insect Killer for the corals?
If Bayer is recommended...does anyone have instructions on the dipping procedure?

I was also thinking of cutting the corals off the plugs they come on and using my own new ones....would you recommend this as well?

Thank you!

 

[redfishbluefish]

Regardless of the dip you use, remove the frag from the plug (unless they are plastic). The reason is that the porous plugs absorb dip and then doesn't completely rinse off and now leaches dip into your tank.

As far as the dip, whatever dip you feel comfortable with. I use Bayer....1 ml per 100 mls of tank water...for 15 minutes. This is followed by two separate rinses.

 

[cccharliecc]

And do you use the same method for soft, lps, and sps?

 

[redfishbluefish]

And do you use the same method for soft, lps, and sps?

Yep!

 

[Coronus]

I use Bayer and it works. I use it at the rate of 10ml per cup of tank water.
Inspect the corals for pest first before adding the dip. Then remove the plug. I remove the plug because eggs hide in the crevisis and you can’t always see them. Dip does not work on encased eggs. Removing the plug is an important part. Then toss the plug.

 

[cccharliecc]

Excellent...I’m going to use Bayer...just ordered some so I have it in hand.

What if the coral is encrusted, where do you cut it then?

 

[Coronus]

If its encrusted you will need to cut or remove it off the plug. Remove it as close the plug as possible. I actually just did this a minute ago with a Rouge Milli. It was encrusted. I tightened the cutters then gently pulled it of with out cutting it. So just the original Frag is what’s left. Toss the plug after. I didn’t enjoy doing that as it was a nice green rim but I would rather not risk my entire tank on 1 Frag plug.

 

[cccharliecc]

Good point....why risk it.
Do you suggest dipping first with Coral rx to see if any bugs fall off then doing the Bayer? Only because with the Bayer you can't see anything?

 

[Coronus]

I dont have experience with coral RX. I have always used bayer. This is the reason you inspect the coral first before adding the dip. I use a turkey bastor and blow the coral pretty aggressively to see if any pest come off before adding the dip. I also use a magnifying lamp with a light to inspect. Then a jewelry loupe. Remove from the plug. Inspect the bottom for eggs. Then add the dip. I do it for 20 min using the bastor a few times to see if a pest was hiding. Blasting the coral. After 20 I move to a container of tank water and inpsect again. And still basting. 15 min move to another container. This will rinse all the dip off.
Then I replug.

 

[cccharliecc]

Sounds good, I will probably do those methods as well. I have a jewelry loupe and an Eschenback magnifier with light so I will use those to inspect.
When you say you blow it first, do you mean with the baster in tank water initially, then go to the dip steps?

 

[Coronus]

Yes

 

[Graffiti Spot]

Other good dips

Melafix Marine
Revive
Coral rx pro
Iodine, freshwater and peroxide are a few dips that can be helpful with certain things but this is for specific things you normally don't encounter and normally for zoanthids. Except iodine is good to put a drop in any dip container where damaged or peeling/necrosis acropora are being cleaned, as long as it's a half gallon or so normally won't hurt acropora.

 

[HolisticBear]

I like this video. 14minutes covers his entire approach.

 

[BangedUp]

I am preparing for some first corals to a new tank and want to take all the necessary precautions now and try to eliminate any issues later on.

My question is ....Should I go with Coral Rx or Bayer Complete Insect Killer for the corals?
If Bayer is recommended...does anyone have instructions on the dipping procedure?

I was also thinking of cutting the corals off the plugs they come on and using my own new ones....would you recommend this as well?

Thank you!

Be careful, Bayer will kill any shrimp you have in the tank no matter how many times you rinse

 

[cccharliecc]

So if I have 5 new corals...do you use the same dip bowl with bayer for all of them, or do you change it for each one each time? Also can you dip 5 at a time?

 

[markalot]

Be careful, Bayer will kill any shrimp you have in the tank no matter how many times you rinse

All my shrimp are still alive, you must have made some mistake.

Bayer is gentler on corals than the other dips, no kidding. I only use Bayer, triple rinse in tank water in 3 separate containers. Peppermint and cleaner shrimps never effected.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Be careful, Bayer will kill any shrimp you have in the tank no matter how many times you rinse

I have to agree with @markalot. I use Bayer, and I've got peppermint shrimp that have been with me a long time.

 

[C-Reefer]

I use Bayer. First time I used it was nerve wracking... but the corals opened up and had full PE after an hour. Now I dip every coral and everythings fine and happy. No pests. Cheap too. I use this recipe https://boroaquatics.com/blogs/articles/17033867-proper-dipping-of-corals-the-bayer-method . I just mix it up in Dixie cups.

 

[cccharliecc]

Question on snails.....can you dip them also?
How do we know pests are not on their shells?
What do you do in this case?

 

[Idoc]

@cccharliecc Snails have a central nervous, so Bayer Insecticide would damage them.

It's recommended to quarantine invertebrates for 76 days as well, like corals, due to possible encysted stages of ich and velvet that could potentially be on their shells. I know that's not always practical... when you need your snails, you need your snails now! But, putting them in the DT earlier does carry some risk.