My Reefing Journey/Build (Plenty of Pics)

[will16]

I then took the coral out and rinsed thouroghly with tank water and transferred to a new container with fresh tank water. Left it there for another hour and rinsed again and transferred to another fresh container. Then I dropped the acro crab back in. So far so good with the crab...

This is what was left in the original container... ewww...

[will16]

This was a few minutes after reintroduction into the tank. PE already

[will16]

You can see the damage from the rb's mostly on the front 2 branches. No color and no PE.

[will16]

So far so good. No signs of any red bugs. Will just have to wait and see. Since seeing how many were left in the bucket, I think it may have been wishful thinking that there are no more in the tank Will keep an eye out. Ony time will tell.

[OwNeD162]

Originally posted by will16
So far so good. No signs of any red bugs. Will just have to wait and see. Since seeing how many were left in the bucket, I think it may have been wishful thinking that there are no more in the tank Will keep an eye out. Ony time will tell.

I really hope that's wiped them all out for you Will. I've got my fingers crossed for you

[will16]

Originally posted by OwNeD162
I really hope that's wiped them all out for you Will. I've got my fingers crossed for you

Thanks!

[timschmidt]

Thanks for the pictorial. Very nice to see the steps in action.

[marino420td]

Nice documentary of your treatment. Why the color change in the pictures? Just curious.

I fought red bugs too and had to treat the entire tank to get rid of them. That looks like a pretty bad infestation on one coral so you will be a lucky guy if there are no others in your tank.

Good luck. It is a pain to work so hard to get your tank to this stage then have to go through something like this.

[will16]

Thank you. I meant to make a comment on the color change but forgot. Thanks for bringing it up. It was nothing more than changing the white balance on the camera. The first shots were with only overhead incandescent lighting. I then brought in a fluorescent light and forgot to change the white balance. The color of the coral did not change.

What kind of die off did you have when you treated your tank? Were you able to get your inverts out? Did you have a significant pod die off? Did that trigger any kind of cycle in your tank? Just preparing for what I think will be the inevitable.

Thanks.

[eme]

TOTALLY dumb observation. From my previous experience , I thought 'red bugs' did no harm to any coral including their host .. can someone correct me ?

[will16]

Originally posted by eme
TOTALLY dumb observation. From my previous experience , I thought 'red bugs' did no harm to any coral including their host .. can someone correct me ?

I know that little is known about these things but it's generally accepted that they are detrimental to acros. There is a thread on the sps forum where one poster was making that argument that they are harmless but the experience of just about everyone else was otherwise. In my case, the coral that was infested was definitely suffering and slowly dying. Whether or not the cause was directly because of the red bugs... couldn't say for sure. Could very well be a coincidence. The verification would be to see how it does now. If it continues to decline, then it could be something else. If it starts recovering, I would tend to think the red bugs were the cause.

[marino420td]

In my experience, they irritate the coral and almost eliminated polyp extension.

I was able to remove most of my hermits but I could not capture the peppermint shrimp and emerald crabs. They perished. I also saw a large portion of my pod population dissappear. It is slowly recovering.

But NO redbugs any longer.

[stevedola]

IME, they do little to no harm at all. MY PE and color is great with RBs. I think people over react to these little pods.

[OwNeD162]

Originally posted by stevedola
IME, they do little to no harm at all. MY PE and color is great with RBs. I think people over react to these little pods.

Wow, thats pretty interesting, I've never heard of someone having a good experience with RB's... Have any pics?

[aww_419]

awesome setup

[will16]

Originally posted by aww_420
awesome setup

Thank you.

[will16]

Just thought this was funny. Encrusting Monti that was a hitch hiker on a zoa colony. It's been spreading, so much that it encrusted 2 vermitd snail tubes as well. Looks like a martian with antennaes.

[Tswifty]

too funny... and nice hitchiker btw.

How goes it with the red bugs... I found out there other day that I have them on a few of my corals.

I'm gonna treat the whole system over the next few weeks.

[will16]

Originally posted by Tswifty8
too funny... and nice hitchiker btw.

How goes it with the red bugs... I found out there other day that I have them on a few of my corals.

I'm gonna treat the whole system over the next few weeks.

Hey Tswifty,

Sorry to hear about your bugs. The colony that I treated is showing remarkable improvement. The branches that were 'withering' now have full pe and color. Night and day difference. I am convinced that the rb's were responsible. I was too late on a few branches that are completely dead though. Been watching everything like a hawk and unfortunately possibly have another rb sighting on my blue tort. Looked like a single bug (probably no such thing as a 'single' bug). Not 100% sure, was difficult to see for sure. No symptoms anywhere though. Will just keep watching before treating the tank.

Also, the acro crab that I tried so hard to save actually did die. Guess that interceptor is pretty strong. After treatment, I rinsed the coral thoroughly, then let it sit in a new container of tank water for an hour. I then rinsed it again thoroughly and put in yet another new container. I then put the acro crab back in and moved it to the display. Next day found it dead on the bottom of the tank.

Good luck with your treatment. Oh and btw, congrats on your new tank

- Will

[puttyman]

Updates? How goes the battle with the bugs? I'm almost finished with my stand. How much larger than the opening did you get your doors? Or how much should they overlap?

thanks

[will16]

Originally posted by puttyman
Updates? How goes the battle with the bugs? I'm almost finished with my stand. How much larger than the opening did you get your doors? Or how much should they overlap?

thanks

Hey puttyman,

So far so good with the red bugs. Thought I had 1 sighting but may have been my eyes playing tricks on me. The original infested colony is doing great. Color is back and pe like never before. Will remain vigilant.

As for the doors, I could only get 1/4" overlay due to the columns. I would have liked a 1/2" to help contain the light spill but that would hit the columns when opening the front (note: this is specific to the type of hinge you use. Make sure you check the clearance your hinge requires). Since the front doors butt directly against each other (no center support), you have to take off another 1/8" (1/16" on each door) so that they do not hit each other when they swing. Just add a fill strip on the back of one of the doors to block the light.

So my front doors are:

Length per door:
(opening size length+ 1/4" + 1/4" - 1/8") / 2

Height per door:
opening size height + 1/4" + 1/4"

Side doors would just be the opening plus 1/2" in both directions.

The other thing I did was line the doors with black weather stripping. That way, it blocks any light that may get through as well as cut down on noise. Made a big difference.

My next steps are:

- Figuring out an ATO (basically where to put the reservoir). Think I have decided to go with the Tunze system for the optical sensor and float switch backup. Seems the most reliable.

- Set up an ro/di - saltwater mixing and storage system. Right now I am lugging water every week. Getting real tired of it. Trying to figure out the most convenient way. My goal is to never see a bucket again for water changes

- Add on to electrical back up system. Right now all I have is the vortech back up battery. I would love to be able to run my return pump and a heater as well. I think running those elements would be sufficient in a power outage. Looking into an auto sensing charger/line inverter connected to a marine battery or two. Think that should work ok. Again, biggest problem is where to put it. May need to build a cabinet that looks like furniture to get wife approval

Why does it seem there is always something to add in this hobby?

[marino420td]

NO buckets! I'm with you on that. Here is my mixing station that is plumbed into my sump room. No buckets for me.

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by marino420td
NO buckets! I'm with you on that. Here is my mixing station that is plumbed into my sump room. No buckets for me.

That is hilarious... I have almost that exact same setup planned for my 220.

[timschmidt]

Nice! I just can't wait to get my town house sold so I can get a basement. LOL.

Will, just a suggestion as I know you don't like the idea of batteries in you living room. Just run a power receptacle to your fish tank and have the battery backup where every you want. I plan on having a power receptacle in my garage with the other end being a power receptacle behind my fish tank to keep potentially hazardous situations from occurring. I'm not sure of the draw on the system for running 15 some odd feet, but it's worth a try.

[will16]

Originally posted by marino420td
NO buckets! I'm with you on that. Here is my mixing station that is plumbed into my sump room. No buckets for me.

SWEET! I saw your set up before and that is exactly what I would love to do. The problem for me is plumbing to the tank. The way the house is set up, not easy to do. Still trying to figure out a way but this is my goal.

Thanks!