How Necessary is Dipping New Corals?

[livinlifeinBKK]

Depends on how long you plan on observing. It should receive enough ambient light if it’s in close proximity to your display. Otherwise a cheap led clamp on light from Amazon will do if you plan on keeping it in there for more than a couple days.

It's close to a window so I can keep the curtains open and I can keep the lights on if that might help...I was only going to observe for 24 hours or so to help it adjust to parameters closer to my tank's...it's actually a 5 gallon QT tank I have set up

 

[A Young Reefer]

I think instead of picking it up I might just have the guy send it to me since he just offered to put it in a styrofoam cooler for me when he sends it...(it actually isn't more than a 40 minute drive but it's hard for me to get there quickly without a car and a taxi would be pretty expensive)...btw, this is the acro I'm planning to get...do you know much about it right off? All it says in the title is "Bali"

Sick looking Acro!

 

[areefer01]

I understand that dipping new corals is a good practice to follow but just how necessary is it? I know the risk of hitchhikers is higher if you don't dip but what are the other benefits of dipping and how risky is it to skip?

Pest management. The risk increases as your display matures. By that I mean you could have a 10 year old display with equally number of years of coral growth. Large colonies. You take your short cut, introduce something unwanted or that can damage your coral or old fish, and poof. That 10 year old display is now in a reboot.

So the real question back to you is this. What is the vision of your display. Is it setup for long term success say of 10 to 20 years? Or is it short term between 1 and 5 or until something happens. That is what you should be asking yourself.

Personally speaking you should of had these protocols in place before stocking. Fill in the gaps that you may not want to take on say for example QT'ing fish or corals. There are vendors who will do that for you or offer products that are that are then safer to plop into your display.

Unrelated to you but this is why we do not have many displays that are over 5 and 10 years of age let alone 20.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Also wondering if I can use KCl to dip a monti...what do you guys think?

 

[ScottB]

Also wondering if I can use KCl to dip a monti...what do you guys think?

I dipped a few montis in KCl and they did not like it at all. I am a big fan of KCl for AEFW. I have tried it against monti eating nudis and shockingly it did not kill them.

For montis, I would stick with a tea tree oil based dip such as Revive or Melafix.

 

[Duncan62]

I understand that dipping new corals is a good practice to follow but just how necessary is it? I know the risk of hitchhikers is higher if you don't dip but what are the other benefits of dipping and how risky is it to skip?

I quit dipping corals years ago unless there is an obvious issue. For damage or tissue loss from a nem sting I'll use iodine to prevent infection. Otherwise if algea covered I'll paint the skeleton on lps with peroxide. Anything strong enough to kill many hitchhikers would also be bad for coral. Just my opinion.

 

[Duncan62]

I used to work doing maintenance around a well known aquarium shop (not gonna say which one) and I'd see how they do things so I can attest that it's pretty hard to keep every little pest out of those huge tanks they farm the corals in

I deal with a small nc based grower that dips upon arrival and keeps predators of hitchhikers in his frag system. From arrow crabs to nudibranchs. I buy from him every month and never dip. He sends current parameters with the corals. 30 min acclimation and in they go. Low risk.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I deal with a small nc based grower that dips upon arrival and keeps predators of hitchhikers in his frag system. From arrow crabs to nudibranchs. I buy from him every month and never dip. He sends current parameters with the corals. 30 min acclimation and in they go. Low risk.

That's awesome that you have a trusted grower that gives you all the parameters and everything!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I dipped a few montis in KCl and they did not like it at all. I am a big fan of KCl for AEFW. I have tried it against monti eating nudis and shockingly it did not kill them.

For montis, I would stick with a tea tree oil based dip such as Revive or Melafix.

Everyone's been really helpful in helping me make the decision to dip but I was also curious if KCl helped the coral acclimate to the new conditions of your tank as well...do people also use it for STN like they do iodine dips?

 

[ScottB]

Everyone's been really helpful in helping me make the decision to dip but I was also curious if KCl helped the coral acclimate to the new conditions of your tank as well...do people also use it for STN like they do iodine dips?

No, I would not use it for that purpose. Iodine would be more suitable.

 

[Duncan62]

That's awesome that you have a trusted grower that gives you all the parameters and everything!

Yeah. It makes it easier. It a 30 minute drive. He's got a great site and has great packaging. Best lps available.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Yeah. It makes it easier. It a 30 minute drive. He's got a great site and has great packaging. Best lps available.

These are the two corals I'm getting in the morning...an acro and a monti. Do you know much about either species in the pics?

 

[Dom]

I understand that dipping new corals is a good practice to follow but just how necessary is it? I know the risk of hitchhikers is higher if you don't dip but what are the other benefits of dipping and how risky is it to skip?

Almost 20 years in the hobby, never dipped a coral. Never had a problem.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

These are the two corals I'm getting in the morning...an acro and a monti. Do you know much about either species in the pics?

Looks like a cherry tree montipora or similar both CAN use intense light and flow. The acropora is covered in cyano algae , I would inspect the frag very good for pests and algae, look for growth on the plug over the glue or epoxy and some polyp extension would be nice it doesn't appear to have any, in that picture.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Looks like a cherry tree montipora or similar both CAN use intense light and flow. The acropora is covered in cyano algae , I would inspect the frag very good for pests and algae, look for growth on the plug over the glue or epoxy and some polyp extension would be nice it doesn't appear to have any, in that picture.

Judging from the algae growth on the plug compared to the other corals the guy has it appears he's had it for at least a little while which is why I chose it...I plan to dip in KCl...I'm really hoping it does ok (I've been wanting to try one for a while but have been so indecisive about for the longest while so I decided today to just go ahead and pull the trigger since there's gonna be a risk of failure no matter when I try)

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Judging from the algae growth on the plug compared to the other corals the guy has it appears he's had it for at least a little while which is why I chose it...I plan to dip in KCl...I'm really hoping it does ok (I've been wanting to try one for a while but have been so indecisive about for the longest while so I decided today to just go ahead and pull the trigger since there's gonna be a risk of failure no matter when I try)

If you are worried about dipping, can you put the frag(s) in a qt for observation and inspection?
Very pretty corals; I don't keep SPS myself, but I wish you the best of luck!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If you are worried about dipping, can you put the frag(s) in a qt for observation and inspection?
Very pretty corals; I don't keep SPS myself, but I wish you the best of luck!

I do plan on dipping in KCl but first I'm gonna observe for 12 hours or more in QT as someone recommended to try avoiding stressing the coral any more than necessary when adjusting to it's new parameters...this is my first acro so I'm just not sure how it'll do which is why I'm crossing my fingers...and thanks!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Judging from the algae growth on the plug compared to the other corals the guy has it appears he's had it for at least a little while which is why I chose it...I plan to dip in KCl...I'm really hoping it does ok (I've been wanting to try one for a while but have been so indecisive about for the longest while so I decided today to just go ahead and pull the trigger since there's gonna be a risk of failure no matter when I try)

That sounds great update this with some pictures when you get it home id love to see that orange and blue from another angle, great piece, good luck

 

[Duncan62]

These are the two corals I'm getting in the morning...an acro and a monti. Do you know much about either species in the pics?

To much light will burn that monti up. Good flow for both. High par for the acro. Good luck with them. Maybe dip the plugs for algea.

 

[Koh23]

Any advice for diping euphilias? Torch and frogspawn...

Tnx!