Finally Upgraded-Pics Included!!! - Page 10

Leviathan · 03/30/2005, 11:24 PM

Here is another new Acro frag, I am unsure of what it is, but in person it has a nice Teal coloration to it ( something I am having trouble capturing with the camera ) This is also the ONLY frag that I have seen what I believe to be bugs on it, yet its already encrusting on the back side, and SO FAR has very nice polyp extension during lights out.

Leviathan · 03/30/2005, 11:27 PM

Well here is yet another full shot ( taken tonight ) I am finally seeing the start of what I had intended for this tank from the beginning. I will try to get a few shots of the other two frags I got a couple weeks ago, and will also post pics with the new Seio 1100's in place once I get them next week 9 something I can hardly wait for )

Thanks everyone for paying attention.
Chris

melev · 03/31/2005, 10:22 AM

Is this what you are seeing?

http://melevsreef.com/id/redbugs.html

Be sure to click on the "superior image" link.

Smooth acros like the one you think may be infested are the kind that get red bugs.

maxxII · 03/31/2005, 12:05 PM

Chris, I've said it before.... but I LOVE YOUR AQUASCAPING!!!!

Nick

Leviathan · 03/31/2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
Is this what you are seeing?

http://melevsreef.com/id/redbugs.html

Be sure to click on the "superior image" link.

Smooth acros like the one you think may be infested are the kind that get red bugs.

Yep,
Thats the picture I saw posted a couple days ago that got me concerned. Another look last night and I am pretty certain I have them.

I got Dustin's formula the other day for the interceptor treatment, I guess the next step is to find a Vet who will understand the situation and give me some tablets. I want to take care of this before I start to have problems with it. It seems like a pretty easy treatment, and with no crabs/shrimp in the system, I can go ahead and treat the whole system without a problem.

Good thing I have 8 bags of IO in the closet!!

Quote:

Chris, I've said it before.... but I LOVE YOUR AQUASCAPING!!!!

And again, I think you!

Leviathan · 03/31/2005, 11:44 PM

Ordered my Seio 1100's today from custom aquatics, should be here next thru. I can hardly wait.

Also found a Vet that was willing to sell me 2 interceptor tablets. So things are good.

My only question is,,If you get the 50-100lbs dog dosage, is there more than one kind, any way to ID them? I dont want to dose the wrong kind.

Marc did you have to treat your system? If so any pictures of the tablets, or anything I should pay attention to to make sure I have the right kind? This is something I want to do by the book.

TIA

Chris

melev · 04/01/2005, 01:41 AM

Go check out the SPS forum, you can bet there is a documented thread as a sticky for red bug treatment. I bought the pills, but haven't dosed my tank.

Leviathan · 04/01/2005, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
Go check out the SPS forum, you can bet there is a documented thread as a sticky for red bug treatment. I bought the pills, but haven't dosed my tank.

Good point!

I have been so focused on the bugs themselves I wasnt even thinking.

Leviathan · 04/02/2005, 04:26 AM

Got my interceptor tablet today, I plan on starting the treatment either sun evening or monday afternoon. Still a bit nervous, but the more I read from people who have done it the better I feel.

Still I see only one frag being effected, but thats not to say, if I hold out the problem wont become bigger. I think its best to "nip it in the bud" seeing as how I finally have things growing and doing great now ( with the exception of the bugs )

Anyhow wish me luck!

MiddletonMark · 04/02/2005, 05:00 AM

Love the aquascaping, really great. Now to fill it in

On the red bugs ... Best of luck!

Probably good idea to treat - but future additions get tricky then. [I personally collected frags like a madman once I saw I had them - collected my `fill' of frags + then treated them all ... then didn't add Acros for quite a while].

Didn't want to suggest any `dip' in the SPS forum thread for new additions - as I'm unsure whether my practice is `good', works 100%, or should be recommended. But I'll share it here - so that you can be skeptical and hopefully this won't be quoted as mm's bug dip as I've personally done it twice so can't really speak to great experience.
Unsure whether to post this, but gotta help out a head

The frags I treated might not have had bugs, but as they were at the LFS [ORA didn't send them out with RB

]... I treated as they take frags from many folks and I hate being sorry. For all Acropora except from a couple friends who I know follow similar practices/are `clean' ... I now treat incoming Acropora - so I won't have to treat the tank again, ever.

I use a 5 gal rubbermaid w/ heater, powerhead, eggcrate shelf. I have the `small dog' sized pills [might be medium sized dog], have used half a pill to treat tub [pretty sure I calculated this as quite an OD of Interceptor]. Leave it in there the 6 hours of treatment - I think both I left to about 8 with heater/powerhead keeping things stable. I haven't seen any negative impact on the coral from the high dose - but should note that lack of evidence means I have zero real idea if this is safe or won't kill your precious new coral.

I `rinsed' the coral pretty vigorously before removing from treatment, and then actually put it in a small tupperware of tank-water just to have any little more Interceptor I could `get off' off. Then in the tank.

Don't quote me on it, but that's what I've done [twice now, in 9 months]. Interceptor ain't cheap, I'm wasting a couple bucks per treatment ...

Just a single treatment for frags - Eric B's recent statements suggest that without a larval stage one treatment might be enough. On my tank, I treated 3x and would again, as I can't inspect the large, encrusted corals like I can with a new 2" frag. Also, figure OD `should' work and while I may lose pods on the incoming coral - didn't expect many anyway.

Really it's not much more than a dosage OD on a tub of tank-water that's kept moving/warm for the 6 hour duration of treatment before you would normally waterchange. Probably a more elegant solution - this is mine until I hear of that solution.

If you find such a solution - let me know.

-- Do note: I've been adding bleach [1/4 cup?] to the treatment-tub before discarding the water [long after frag is removed]. Unsure if that will help lessen the impact of interceptor-water going down the drain, but is around the house and didn't think it would `hurt'. Something to consider, lmk if you know a better idea.

Leviathan · 04/02/2005, 02:04 PM

Thanks for all the personal info you gave me MM!

I have decided to start the treatment Sunday evening due to how badly one of my frags is doing ( its the one I first noticed them on ) a closer inspection last night revealed that they have now either spread to two other frags or I am just starting to notice them. The polyps on the other frags are unaffected as of yet, but I dont plan on waiting to see what happens.

I will post my results after the first treatment.

Chris

maxxII · 04/02/2005, 07:01 PM

Mark,
Forgive my ignorance, but why are you concerned with the interceptor treated salt water going down the drain?

Nick

MiddletonMark · 04/02/2005, 07:10 PM

Just seems like a lot of concentrated chemical, and as I live on a wetland in a city surrounded by lakes - I guess I'm fine with making the lakes salty but would rather not dump unknown medications down there. For some reason there seems a difference to me, maybe that's just my own idiosyncracy

Leviathan · 04/03/2005, 01:27 AM

Well I decidecd to NOT wait, and started the treatment at 11pm this evening. I am now 2 1/2 hours into it, and the only noticable thing is the reduction in pod movement. But everything I have read says its usually in the 4-5 hour range that the bugs start to die off.

I will update!

melev · 04/03/2005, 02:22 AM

Look who's suddenly motivated.

Leviathan · 04/03/2005, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
Look who's suddenly motivated.

Hmmmmm,,,,,

Im not exactly sure how to take that!

Anyhow, I am approaching the 5th hour now, and there is a dramatic decrease in bugs on the frags. In all honesty, I cant seem to find a one!

Still a full hour to go, and then I will do the water change, and restart my skimmer ( took it out, needed to be cleaned anyhow ) and put in some fresh carbon.

I made a little journal of the hour to hour, and will post it probally tommorow from my personal experience standpoint.

Gawain1974 · 04/03/2005, 04:10 AM

Been following your thread and luring in the shadows...I love your aquascaping. Good luck getting rid of those pesky red bugs!

Leviathan · 04/03/2005, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gawain1974
Been following your thread and luring in the shadows...I love your aquascaping. Good luck getting rid of those pesky red bugs!

Thanks,

I have 45 minutes to go, before I get things back to "normal" All seems to have gone very well considering my ulcer from doing this treatment.

Gawain1974 · 04/03/2005, 04:25 AM

Well, I don't keep SPS, so I don't know your pain, fortunately. Making sure I have enough pods for my mandarin is the source of my ulcer. Shall I send you some Pepto?

Leviathan · 04/03/2005, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gawain1974
Well, I don't keep SPS, so I don't know your pain, fortunately. Making sure I have enough pods for my mandarin is the source of my ulcer. Shall I send you some Pepto?

LOL

Nah,
Im ok,,its just it was a nail-biter for a day or so. As of about 10 minutes ago, I am completely through with the treatment. All seems to have gone very well.

I will post a full journal'ish summary sometime tomm. evening.

melev · 04/03/2005, 01:05 PM

Congrats on the first treatment. I sure don't want to do it myself.

I've played with the idea of pulling my corals out and into a separate system for the treatment, then putting it back in my tank after treatment. I realize if the bugs are elsewhere, it won't help much as they'd just climb aboard, but I don't want to wipe out my pods with four mandarins, not to mention hermits and shrimp.

Leviathan · 04/03/2005, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
Congrats on the first treatment. I sure don't want to do it myself.

I've played with the idea of pulling my corals out and into a separate system for the treatment, then putting it back in my tank after treatment. I realize if the bugs are elsewhere, it won't help much as they'd just climb aboard, but I don't want to wipe out my pods with four mandarins, not to mention hermits and shrimp.

The decrease in pod movement was the first thing that I noticed. By the second hour I had no visible signs of pods at all.

I feel for you Marc.

I am off to work but will post a detailed summary of each Hour later this evening or tomm.

Leviathan · 04/04/2005, 05:28 AM

- 1/4 of a 23mg interceptor tablet was used to treat 100 total gallons

- Drug name is Milbemycin Oxime

-All filter media ( Micron filter bag/Carbon ) was removed prior to dosing

-Skimmer was removed from sump altogether ( needed to be cleaned )

-ALL lighting was turned off ( I had a concern that with the lights on the fish may see some small particles as food and injest them ) I was worried about the effects, possibly over-cautious

-All pumps & powerheads were left on during treatment

-I disolved the 1/4 tablet for aprox 8 hours in tank water prior to treatment, this seemed to help disolve even some of the harder small particles

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hour 1- After the first hour I noticed little if any change in ANYthing at all. There was NO milky appearence to the water at all, and there was no visible negative effects to either the snails/clams/fish/or corals. The ONLY thing I noticed was a bit of extra slime being produced by my slimer ( no more so than during a water change.)
Using a flashlight I examined each frag, the bugs seemed totally unaffected at all. Also the pods seemed to be completely unaffected also at this point.

Hour 2- After visually examining the corals, I still saw NO bug die off.
Everything else was still apparently unaffected by the treatment. There was even more slime around the slimer, and even the other frags seems to be producing extra mucus ( Keep in mind all I have is SPS with the exception of one Ric colony ). During this second hour there was a slight decrease in pod movement throughout the tank.

Hour 3- Dramatic/complete void of all pod movement, even so far as seeing dead ones floating around in the water.Fish/Clams/Snails/Frags seemed fine ( aside from the excessive mucus the frags were producing at this point ) This 3rd hour is when I noticed a slight decrease in bugs on several of the frags. There was still a good bit on them, but a slightly noticable decline. I even noticed a couple falling off one frag in particular.

Hour 4- After a VERY tedious examination of all the corals, I could not see 1 single bug on any of them. The slime had also seemed to reduce in amount around the frags, and I noticed a good deal of polyp extension on several frags. The worst bug infested frag had no polyp extension at all however ( this had been a problem for about 6 days now both during day & night time ) All else seemed fine,I noticed that the snails were still going about their business grazing. I shinned the flashlight into the caves the fish hide in to check on them and they were fine, not even the slightest increase in breathing.

Hour 5- Still no bugs visible at all. Frags had shed their excessive mucus. I noticed a lot of dead pods all over the bottom of the tank and floating around, in the hundreds.

Hour 6- As it had been for the previous two hours all frags were visibly bug free, all fish/corals/clams/snails were in apparently perfect condition. I did however notice that the polyp extension had decreased somewhat by this point.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 20 gallon water change was then done, and 2 fresh cups of Black Diamond carbon were added into a filter bag installed onto the sump drain. The skimmer was hooked back up, and for several hours had to be turned all the way down due to excessive overflowing. My nightly ( even though it was moring) dose of b-ionic was added at this point, and I left the system alone till Sun. afternoon.

A examination of the system at that point showed normal ( actinic only ) polyp extension, and still a complete void of any pods at all. EVERYTHING else was seemingly unharmed during the treatment.

*Now here is the promising part*

Of all the frags in the system, one was noticably more infested than the rest. It had for several days had absoultly no polyp extension at all, and some slight bleaching along the base. When I got home from work this evening, the halides were on, the water was next to crystal clear ( only slightly cloudy, due to the water change IMHO more than anything else ) And there was for the first time in at least a week maybe a dozen polyps halfway opened on the worst frag of them all. This evening after lights out, there was even better polyp extension on the same frag. Not 100% better, but much better than previously. I also noticed that ALL the other frags had more extension than I actually thought possible.

It was interesting that once the bugs finally started to die off, thats when I noticed them more on frags I had until that point thought were unaffected at all.

The skimmer is now running at regular strength producing a nice wet skimmate, and as of now ( 24 hours later ) I have replaced the 2cups of carbon with 2 fresh cups, inside a clean filter bag.

I was thinking of maybe leaving it as is, and seeing if one treatment was enough, but I have decided that I WILL do a second treatment next SUN. exactly one week from the first as prescribed. I am however not entirely sure I will do a 3rd as I am not convinced that more than two are nessesary. I do think that 2 treatments is required at the very least at this point.

Anyhow,

There it is,
To all of you concerned about this treatment ( as I was, to the point of an ulcer ) I feel confident now that I made the right decission. And believe that this was absoultly worth doing. Especially now seeing polyps on an otherwise dying frag, and seeing how healthy and vibrant the others looks not even 24 hours later.

Chris

MiddletonMark · 04/04/2005, 05:37 AM

I'm glad it went well for you - and that your experience is similar to mine [a good one].

melev · 04/04/2005, 12:20 PM

That was a very good review. You know, ReefCentral has a review page and anyone can submit a review. You might do one about "Interceptor" in case it hasn't been done yet.

Keep in mind that the editor is plain jane, and I strongly recommend you use the Preview button before submitting, so you can add < br > commands where necessary to make it look good.

Btw, you didn't mention a refugium. I was thinking if I were to dose my tank, I'd lose the four kinds of pods I've discovered in my reef, but if the refugium was offline, perhaps they would produce enough live to restore what was lost. That, or I would need to buy $100 worth of SeaPods to replace those lost critters!

03/30/2005, 11:24 PM	#226
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Here is another new Acro frag, I am unsure of what it is, but in person it has a nice Teal coloration to it ( something I am having trouble capturing with the camera ) This is also the ONLY frag that I have seen what I believe to be bugs on it, yet its already encrusting on the back side, and SO FAR has very nice polyp extension during lights out. __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer

03/30/2005, 11:27 PM	#227
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Thinsg FINALLY shaping up! Well here is yet another full shot ( taken tonight ) I am finally seeing the start of what I had intended for this tank from the beginning. I will try to get a few shots of the other two frags I got a couple weeks ago, and will also post pics with the new Seio 1100's in place once I get them next week 9 something I can hardly wait for ) Thanks everyone for paying attention. Chris __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer

03/31/2005, 12:05 PM	#229
maxxII Super Housemonkey! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 4,442	Chris, I've said it before.... but I LOVE YOUR AQUASCAPING!!!! Nick __________________ A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn, that was fun!"

03/31/2005, 11:44 PM	#231
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Ordered my Seio 1100's today from custom aquatics, should be here next thru. I can hardly wait. Also found a Vet that was willing to sell me 2 interceptor tablets. So things are good. My only question is,,If you get the 50-100lbs dog dosage, is there more than one kind, any way to ID them? I dont want to dose the wrong kind. Marc did you have to treat your system? If so any pictures of the tablets, or anything I should pay attention to to make sure I have the right kind? This is something I want to do by the book. TIA Chris __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer

04/02/2005, 04:26 AM	#234
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Got my interceptor tablet today, I plan on starting the treatment either sun evening or monday afternoon. Still a bit nervous, but the more I read from people who have done it the better I feel. Still I see only one frag being effected, but thats not to say, if I hold out the problem wont become bigger. I think its best to "nip it in the bud" seeing as how I finally have things growing and doing great now ( with the exception of the bugs ) Anyhow wish me luck! __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer

03/31/2005, 10:22 AM	#228
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Is this what you are seeing? http://melevsreef.com/id/redbugs.html Be sure to click on the "superior image" link. Smooth acros like the one you think may be infested are the kind that get red bugs.

04/01/2005, 01:41 AM	#232
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Go check out the SPS forum, you can bet there is a documented thread as a sticky for red bug treatment. I bought the pills, but haven't dosed my tank.

04/02/2005, 05:00 AM	#235
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	Love the aquascaping, really great. Now to fill it in On the red bugs ... Best of luck! Probably good idea to treat - but future additions get tricky then. [I personally collected frags like a madman once I saw I had them - collected my `fill' of frags + then treated them all ... then didn't add Acros for quite a while]. Didn't want to suggest any `dip' in the SPS forum thread for new additions - as I'm unsure whether my practice is `good', works 100%, or should be recommended. But I'll share it here - so that you can be skeptical and hopefully this won't be quoted as mm's bug dip as I've personally done it twice so can't really speak to great experience. Unsure whether to post this, but gotta help out a head The frags I treated might not have had bugs, but as they were at the LFS [ORA didn't send them out with RB ]... I treated as they take frags from many folks and I hate being sorry. For all Acropora except from a couple friends who I know follow similar practices/are `clean' ... I now treat incoming Acropora - so I won't have to treat the tank again, ever. I use a 5 gal rubbermaid w/ heater, powerhead, eggcrate shelf. I have the `small dog' sized pills [might be medium sized dog], have used half a pill to treat tub [pretty sure I calculated this as quite an OD of Interceptor]. Leave it in there the 6 hours of treatment - I think both I left to about 8 with heater/powerhead keeping things stable. I haven't seen any negative impact on the coral from the high dose - but should note that lack of evidence means I have zero real idea if this is safe or won't kill your precious new coral. I `rinsed' the coral pretty vigorously before removing from treatment, and then actually put it in a small tupperware of tank-water just to have any little more Interceptor I could `get off' off. Then in the tank. Don't quote me on it, but that's what I've done [twice now, in 9 months]. Interceptor ain't cheap, I'm wasting a couple bucks per treatment ... Just a single treatment for frags - Eric B's recent statements suggest that without a larval stage one treatment might be enough. On my tank, I treated 3x and would again, as I can't inspect the large, encrusted corals like I can with a new 2" frag. Also, figure OD `should' work and while I may lose pods on the incoming coral - didn't expect many anyway. Really it's not much more than a dosage OD on a tub of tank-water that's kept moving/warm for the 6 hour duration of treatment before you would normally waterchange. Probably a more elegant solution - this is mine until I hear of that solution. If you find such a solution - let me know. -- Do note: I've been adding bleach [1/4 cup?] to the treatment-tub before discarding the water [long after frag is removed]. Unsure if that will help lessen the impact of interceptor-water going down the drain, but is around the house and didn't think it would `hurt'. Something to consider, lmk if you know a better idea. __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

04/02/2005, 02:04 PM	#236
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Thanks for all the personal info you gave me MM! I have decided to start the treatment Sunday evening due to how badly one of my frags is doing ( its the one I first noticed them on ) a closer inspection last night revealed that they have now either spread to two other frags or I am just starting to notice them. The polyps on the other frags are unaffected as of yet, but I dont plan on waiting to see what happens. I will post my results after the first treatment. Chris __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer

04/02/2005, 07:01 PM	#237
maxxII Super Housemonkey! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 4,442	Mark, Forgive my ignorance, but why are you concerned with the interceptor treated salt water going down the drain? Nick __________________ A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn, that was fun!"

04/02/2005, 07:10 PM	#238
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	Just seems like a lot of concentrated chemical, and as I live on a wetland in a city surrounded by lakes - I guess I'm fine with making the lakes salty but would rather not dump unknown medications down there. For some reason there seems a difference to me, maybe that's just my own idiosyncracy __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

04/03/2005, 01:27 AM	#239
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Well I decidecd to NOT wait, and started the treatment at 11pm this evening. I am now 2 1/2 hours into it, and the only noticable thing is the reduction in pod movement. But everything I have read says its usually in the 4-5 hour range that the bugs start to die off. I will update! __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer

04/03/2005, 02:22 AM	#240
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Look who's suddenly motivated.

04/03/2005, 04:10 AM	#242
Gawain1974 dc fanboy Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Annick's flaps Posts: 1,212	Been following your thread and luring in the shadows...I love your aquascaping. Good luck getting rid of those pesky red bugs! __________________ Honey badger don't care!

04/03/2005, 04:25 AM	#244
Gawain1974 dc fanboy Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Annick's flaps Posts: 1,212	Well, I don't keep SPS, so I don't know your pain, fortunately. Making sure I have enough pods for my mandarin is the source of my ulcer. Shall I send you some Pepto? __________________ Honey badger don't care!

04/03/2005, 01:05 PM	#246
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Congrats on the first treatment. I sure don't want to do it myself. I've played with the idea of pulling my corals out and into a separate system for the treatment, then putting it back in my tank after treatment. I realize if the bugs are elsewhere, it won't help much as they'd just climb aboard, but I don't want to wipe out my pods with four mandarins, not to mention hermits and shrimp.

04/04/2005, 05:28 AM	#248
Leviathan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street Posts: 2,466	Treatment #1 - 1/4 of a 23mg interceptor tablet was used to treat 100 total gallons - Drug name is Milbemycin Oxime -All filter media ( Micron filter bag/Carbon ) was removed prior to dosing -Skimmer was removed from sump altogether ( needed to be cleaned ) -ALL lighting was turned off ( I had a concern that with the lights on the fish may see some small particles as food and injest them ) I was worried about the effects, possibly over-cautious -All pumps & powerheads were left on during treatment -I disolved the 1/4 tablet for aprox 8 hours in tank water prior to treatment, this seemed to help disolve even some of the harder small particles ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hour 1- After the first hour I noticed little if any change in ANYthing at all. There was NO milky appearence to the water at all, and there was no visible negative effects to either the snails/clams/fish/or corals. The ONLY thing I noticed was a bit of extra slime being produced by my slimer ( no more so than during a water change.) Using a flashlight I examined each frag, the bugs seemed totally unaffected at all. Also the pods seemed to be completely unaffected also at this point. Hour 2- After visually examining the corals, I still saw NO bug die off. Everything else was still apparently unaffected by the treatment. There was even more slime around the slimer, and even the other frags seems to be producing extra mucus ( Keep in mind all I have is SPS with the exception of one Ric colony ). During this second hour there was a slight decrease in pod movement throughout the tank. Hour 3- Dramatic/complete void of all pod movement, even so far as seeing dead ones floating around in the water.Fish/Clams/Snails/Frags seemed fine ( aside from the excessive mucus the frags were producing at this point ) This 3rd hour is when I noticed a slight decrease in bugs on several of the frags. There was still a good bit on them, but a slightly noticable decline. I even noticed a couple falling off one frag in particular. Hour 4- After a VERY tedious examination of all the corals, I could not see 1 single bug on any of them. The slime had also seemed to reduce in amount around the frags, and I noticed a good deal of polyp extension on several frags. The worst bug infested frag had no polyp extension at all however ( this had been a problem for about 6 days now both during day & night time ) All else seemed fine,I noticed that the snails were still going about their business grazing. I shinned the flashlight into the caves the fish hide in to check on them and they were fine, not even the slightest increase in breathing. Hour 5- Still no bugs visible at all. Frags had shed their excessive mucus. I noticed a lot of dead pods all over the bottom of the tank and floating around, in the hundreds. Hour 6- As it had been for the previous two hours all frags were visibly bug free, all fish/corals/clams/snails were in apparently perfect condition. I did however notice that the polyp extension had decreased somewhat by this point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A 20 gallon water change was then done, and 2 fresh cups of Black Diamond carbon were added into a filter bag installed onto the sump drain. The skimmer was hooked back up, and for several hours had to be turned all the way down due to excessive overflowing. My nightly ( even though it was moring) dose of b-ionic was added at this point, and I left the system alone till Sun. afternoon. A examination of the system at that point showed normal ( actinic only ) polyp extension, and still a complete void of any pods at all. EVERYTHING else was seemingly unharmed during the treatment. Now here is the promising part Of all the frags in the system, one was noticably more infested than the rest. It had for several days had absoultly no polyp extension at all, and some slight bleaching along the base. When I got home from work this evening, the halides were on, the water was next to crystal clear ( only slightly cloudy, due to the water change IMHO more than anything else ) And there was for the first time in at least a week maybe a dozen polyps halfway opened on the worst frag of them all. This evening after lights out, there was even better polyp extension on the same frag. Not 100% better, but much better than previously. I also noticed that ALL the other frags had more extension than I actually thought possible. It was interesting that once the bugs finally started to die off, thats when I noticed them more on frags I had until that point thought were unaffected at all. The skimmer is now running at regular strength producing a nice wet skimmate, and as of now ( 24 hours later ) I have replaced the 2cups of carbon with 2 fresh cups, inside a clean filter bag. I was thinking of maybe leaving it as is, and seeing if one treatment was enough, but I have decided that I WILL do a second treatment next SUN. exactly one week from the first as prescribed. I am however not entirely sure I will do a 3rd as I am not convinced that more than two are nessesary. I do think that 2 treatments is required at the very least at this point. Anyhow, There it is, To all of you concerned about this treatment ( as I was, to the point of an ulcer ) I feel confident now that I made the right decission. And believe that this was absoultly worth doing. Especially now seeing polyps on an otherwise dying frag, and seeing how healthy and vibrant the others looks not even 24 hours later. Chris __________________ We are Legion,,,,,for we are many....... Current Tank Info: 25Gallon AGA-Mixed reef system, 25lbs LR Mix-Kalieni & Carib., Hydor 2 Pump, 175watt ARO Pro Series M57 ballast-20KXM, 1" SSB, CSS65 Skimmer Last edited by Leviathan; 04/04/2005 at 05:40 AM.

04/04/2005, 05:37 AM	#249
MiddletonMark Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 14,441	I'm glad it went well for you - and that your experience is similar to mine [a good one]. __________________ read a lot, think for yourself Current Tank Info: 58g stony reef [250w10k, 250w 20k MH, 2x vho act, Octopus150, 6060 + 6000] ; 60g mixed tub

04/04/2005, 12:20 PM	#250
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	That was a very good review. You know, ReefCentral has a review page and anyone can submit a review. You might do one about "Interceptor" in case it hasn't been done yet. Keep in mind that the editor is plain jane, and I strongly recommend you use the Preview button before submitting, so you can add < br > commands where necessary to make it look good. Btw, you didn't mention a refugium. I was thinking if I were to dose my tank, I'd lose the four kinds of pods I've discovered in my reef, but if the refugium was offline, perhaps they would produce enough live to restore what was lost. That, or I would need to buy $100 worth of SeaPods to replace those lost critters!