Fish, Coral and Medication

rockstarta78 · Feb 23, 2018

I can't figure out where should I post this question, it could go under fish medication forum or zoa forum. Moderator please move this as you see fit.

So here's my question. I got couple of fish in QT right now. One of our local reefer is selling all his zoas since he is adding few different butterfly and angels to his tank. So I picked up about 7-8 different frags from him last night. The issue is, some of his frags have bubble algae, and hair algae.

Since I don't have a frag tank setup, can I put these zoas (one acan frag) in the QT frag? The QT frag was medicated by API General Cure. I was also planning on doing copper treatment. Can the zoas survive the medication including cu? I think they should be fine .......no? My thought process is, the polyps would close up for the duration of the treatment but nothing would actually die. Please let me know what you think! I am little conflicted. I really don't want to put these frags in my DT in the condition they are currently in.

HotRocks · Feb 23, 2018

rockstarta78 said:
I can't figure out where should I post this question, it could go under fish medication forum or zoa forum. Moderator please move this as you see fit.

So here's my question. I got couple of fish in QT right now. One of our local reefer is selling all his zoas since he is adding few different butterfly and angels to his tank. So I picked up about 7-8 different frags from him last night. The issue is, some of his frags have bubble algae, and hair algae.

Since I don't have a frag tank setup, can I put these zoas (one acan frag) in the QT frag? The QT frag was medicated by API General Cure. I was also planning on doing copper treatment. Can the zoas survive the medication including cu? I think they should be fine .......no? My thought process is, the polyps would close up for the duration of the treatment but nothing would actually die. Please let me know what you think! I am little conflicted. I really don't want to put these frags in my DT in the condition they are currently in.

That's tough, I wouldn't recommend trying to see if they can handle the copper. Almost a guarantee it would kill them. I use a Rubbermaid bin on the floor for coral to go fallow for the 76 day QT period.

Idoc · Feb 23, 2018

Wow... you're definitely stuck between a rock and a hard place here! I think if you want to keep those corals, you better go get a small 5g tank, hob filter, and heater to make a quick coral QT. That bubble algae will be everywhere in your DT if you put the frags in there without eradicating it first. Put those corals in a fish QT tank with copper and you'll lose them.

Yep... best to bite the bullet and setup a small coral QT... or find someone to take the corals off your hands.

rockstarta78 · Feb 23, 2018

Thank you guys. I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

One more tank and the wife kills me.

Space is always an issue.

So let's say I go with no copper. I only keep API GC. Would that be ok? I think @Humblefish knows lot more about GC then I do. I just don't know if the content of the GC will kill the coral. I think that's where my fear is.

Pongo · Feb 23, 2018

If there is any way possible, set up a separate coral QT tank.

I would also remove any corals from plugs (if they are mounted on them) and mount on fresh new plugs.
You might also consider a dip in H202 before placing in QT to kill algae spores.

rockstarta78 · Feb 23, 2018

Pongo said:
If there is any way possible, set up a separate coral QT tank.

I would also remove any corals from plugs (if they are mounted on them) and mount on fresh new plugs.
You might also consider a dip in H202 before placing in QT to kill algae spores.

I used to dip all zoas in H2O2 until I melted my capt. america. Do you know if H2O2 kills bubble algae? How do you dip zoas in H2O2? I used to dip them in peroxide (3%) for a minute.

rockstarta78 · Feb 23, 2018

HotRockTarBaby said:
That's tough, I wouldn't recommend trying to see if they can handle the copper. Almost a guarantee it would kill them. I use a Rubbermaid bin on the floor for coral to go fallow for the 76 day QT period.

What type of light you use on the bin?

Pongo · Feb 23, 2018

rockstarta78 said:
I used to dip all zoas in H2O2 until I melted my capt. america. Do you know if H2O2 kills bubble algae? How do you dip zoas in H2O2? I used to dip them in peroxide (3%) for a minute.

I've never killed anything with a dip in peroxide (H202) including SPS.
I use straight 3% for about 5 minutes then rinse in salt water.

For the bubble algae I use a lighted loop and pick. I just inspect carefully and pick off what I see.
The worst is bryopsis. It can have "roots" on a plug that you may not see and a dip in H202 won't kill it.
Fluconazole kills bryopsis - the green hulk of algaes.

rockstarta78 · Feb 23, 2018

5 minutes? And still survived? Dude, I am impressed. Mine died after a minute dip. CVS 3% H2O2.

HotRocks · Feb 23, 2018

rockstarta78 said:
What type of light you use on the bin?

I keep them on basement floor in the unfinished portion of the basement (My fish room) So wife refrains from having to kill me... LOL. I have used an AI prime HD, and currently have one of these cheap lights from amazon suspended from ceiling. Works just fine. They make smaller versions as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Dim...04753&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=Coral+light&psc=1

rockstarta78 · Feb 23, 2018

I guess what I could do is, put them in a 5 gallon homedepot bucket with a big airstone, and a cheap LED light and leave them in the dark corner for a basement for next 4 to 6 weeks.

Idoc · Feb 23, 2018

rockstarta78 said:
I guess what I could do is, put them in a 5 gallon homedepot bucket with a big airstone, and a cheap LED light and leave them in the dark corner for a basement for next 4 to 6 weeks.

They will bed some decent flow... not sure the airstone will provide enough. You could pick up a cheap powerhead.