Removing inverts for black bug treatment

Sand.man · 09/29/2016, 01:59 AM

Hi all,

Quick question, I have discovered black bugs eating my LPS, and doing a lot of research, I've decided to treat the tank with Sentinel.

My issue is, that if I were to remove the snails + hermits + shrimp, isn't there a chance (albeit small) that a bug could also be hiding on one of the shells?

I see them running around on small patches of coraline algae, and since the invertebrate shells also grow coraline on it... is there a small risk that despite treating the whole tank, if I remove the inverts, the black bugs (if any) on their shells would just repopulate in the display after treatment?

Any thoughts?

Would giving their shells a quick scrub/rub down with a toothbrush before removing them from the display help in any way?

I want to treat the aquarium right the first time around, so that I don't have to deal with this issue again, so I wanted to confirm this one detail with everyone before I began.

I hate these buggers, have cost me a lot of money.

Thanks for all inputs, enjoy your day.

Sand.man · 09/29/2016, 10:07 PM

Any thoughts? lol.

On a second note, does anyone know if sentinel would be safe for berghia nudibranch?

Thanks!

soulpatch · 09/30/2016, 09:25 AM

I dosed inteceptor last year (It is available again) and had taken as many snails and hermits out as I could. I couldnt get my shrimp so he passed and I am sure I had other critters die as well that I couldn't find in the rock.

That said when replacing the CUC I had caught I took a toothbrush to their shells first as a precaution. I didnt have further issues afterwards with the black bugs...

ReefCowboy · 09/30/2016, 09:34 PM

Im also on the fence as Ive noticed bugs on a monti yesterday...thankfully have Milbemax at hand and might take the plunge and get rid of it all

Sand.man · 10/01/2016, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulpatch

I dosed inteceptor last year (It is available again) and had taken as many snails and hermits out as I could. I couldnt get my shrimp so he passed and I am sure I had other critters die as well that I couldn't find in the rock.

That said when replacing the CUC I had caught I took a toothbrush to their shells first as a precaution. I didnt have further issues afterwards with the black bugs...

Hmm, I might opt with the toothbrush method... Still stuck on this problem haha.

Some people are recommending to leave them in for the first 4 hours and then take them out. Others are suggesting to just leave them in, and not risk it, while others think the risk is too small to care about.

Others had no ill effects on their invertebrates when treating with Sentinel.

soulpatch · 10/01/2016, 08:07 AM

Inteceptor is back on the market and I would try to get that instead. The results of people having inverts still live would tell me that they changed the formula too much with sentinel for it to be effective. But that is just me.

I know I have my box of interceptor I got end of last year and I hold onto it like gold. Though my local vet now knows I have a reef tank and after taking in a coral for her last time to see she doesn't even ask if I should need something for the tank...

Sand.man · 10/01/2016, 04:31 PM

Yeah, I would have preferred to get a hold of Interceptor, but I tried many places and they turned me down.

It was a local hobbyist who helped me out and I finally got a hold of some Sentinel.

I don't think the formula should matter, as long as the active ingredient is there? At least according to the packaging, the ingredients have remained the same (for Sentinel).

In the long run, knowing my luck, even if it is a very slight chance that a bug can escape on the shell of a crab/snail, it might not be worth the risk.

At the same time, I'm not comfortable with killing those inverts on purpose as well... tough call.

FarmerTy · 10/01/2016, 04:37 PM

I ordered Interceptor Spectrum from Australia without a prescription. It worked well for these gray bugs I found on about 5 of my acros. I did have to use 3x the recommended amount for it to work though. Tough buggers.

Not sure if they were the same gray/black bugs that have been shutting people's tanks down but I was able to take care of mine with that method.

I wish I had taken pictures of the bugs but it may have been a moot point as I only have a phone camera so the pictures probably would have been terrible.

09/29/2016, 01:59 AM	#1
Sand.man Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 92	Removing inverts for black bug treatment Hi all, Quick question, I have discovered black bugs eating my LPS, and doing a lot of research, I've decided to treat the tank with Sentinel. My issue is, that if I were to remove the snails + hermits + shrimp, isn't there a chance (albeit small) that a bug could also be hiding on one of the shells? I see them running around on small patches of coraline algae, and since the invertebrate shells also grow coraline on it... is there a small risk that despite treating the whole tank, if I remove the inverts, the black bugs (if any) on their shells would just repopulate in the display after treatment? Any thoughts? Would giving their shells a quick scrub/rub down with a toothbrush before removing them from the display help in any way? I want to treat the aquarium right the first time around, so that I don't have to deal with this issue again, so I wanted to confirm this one detail with everyone before I began. I hate these buggers, have cost me a lot of money. Thanks for all inputs, enjoy your day.

09/30/2016, 09:25 AM	#3
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	I dosed inteceptor last year (It is available again) and had taken as many snails and hermits out as I could. I couldnt get my shrimp so he passed and I am sure I had other critters die as well that I couldn't find in the rock. That said when replacing the CUC I had caught I took a toothbrush to their shells first as a precaution. I didnt have further issues afterwards with the black bugs... __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

09/30/2016, 09:34 PM	#4
ReefCowboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,742	Im also on the fence as Ive noticed bugs on a monti yesterday...thankfully have Milbemax at hand and might take the plunge and get rid of it all __________________ Rimless 150 Gal Sps System: Giesemann Spectra/New Apex/2x MP40qd's+ 2x Gyre XF250's/Cor20/Custom Stand, Sump and Algae Scrubber/2x DOS dosing/Skimz Octa 205i Skimmer

10/01/2016, 08:07 AM	#6
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	Inteceptor is back on the market and I would try to get that instead. The results of people having inverts still live would tell me that they changed the formula too much with sentinel for it to be effective. But that is just me. I know I have my box of interceptor I got end of last year and I hold onto it like gold. Though my local vet now knows I have a reef tank and after taking in a coral for her last time to see she doesn't even ask if I should need something for the tank... __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

09/29/2016, 10:07 PM	#2
Sand.man Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 92	Any thoughts? lol. On a second note, does anyone know if sentinel would be safe for berghia nudibranch? Thanks!

10/01/2016, 04:31 PM	#7
Sand.man Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 92	Yeah, I would have preferred to get a hold of Interceptor, but I tried many places and they turned me down. It was a local hobbyist who helped me out and I finally got a hold of some Sentinel. I don't think the formula should matter, as long as the active ingredient is there? At least according to the packaging, the ingredients have remained the same (for Sentinel). In the long run, knowing my luck, even if it is a very slight chance that a bug can escape on the shell of a crab/snail, it might not be worth the risk. At the same time, I'm not comfortable with killing those inverts on purpose as well... tough call.

10/01/2016, 04:37 PM	#8
FarmerTy Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 871	I ordered Interceptor Spectrum from Australia without a prescription. It worked well for these gray bugs I found on about 5 of my acros. I did have to use 3x the recommended amount for it to work though. Tough buggers. Not sure if they were the same gray/black bugs that have been shutting people's tanks down but I was able to take care of mine with that method. I wish I had taken pictures of the bugs but it may have been a moot point as I only have a phone camera so the pictures probably would have been terrible.