hydrogen peroxide dipping
- Thread starter airedwin
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Corals vary widely in their tolerance to being dipped with H2O2 which explains part of why you're seeing such varied recommendations. Some acros can be some of the more sensitive so you might try a conservative 8:1 aquarium water to H2O2. I would wait a week or more before trying it again. You might also try an intank treatment but it takes a steady hand not to hurt the coral. Use a syrenge with a long large bore needle, hold the end of the needle agains the base of the algae and GENTLY squirt a small amount, ~1ml, on the algae. Initially I'd wait a few days to see how things play out befre retreatment.
Some things you can also do.
Take the frag of the plug. Remount it and bleach the old plug for reuse.
Squirt h2o2 on a toothbrush and scrub with that. You can control it a whole lot better that way.
SnownSky
Community Member
I've successfully used ReefStable.com's guidance. I set an iPhone timer to reduce my chances of getting distracted and forgetting about the coral.
How to Dip Coral with Hydrogen Peroxide
Make sure to ONLY use the 3% hydrogen peroxide. While this is the most common, just double check the container to prevent killing coral.- WEAR PROTECTIVE GEAR SUCH AS RUBBER GLOVES, MASK, GOGGLES, AND WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA. (General Care when working around any chemicals).
- Fill 2 containers with aquarium water. One container that you plan to dip in with aquarium water, and one for rinsing the coral off after. (1/4 gallon to 1/2 gallon is usually enough)
- Add hydrogen peroxide to the water in the dipping container. The amount to mix is a little tricky, but here is a quick reference for how much hydrogen peroxide to add depending on the coral type.
- Acropora (tolerance varies by species), Montipora, Astreopora, Duncanopsammia, Turbinaria, Galaxia, Cyhpastrea, Alveopora, Hydnophora, Echinophyllia, Mycedium, Oxypora, Tubastrea
- 20-40ml per 1/4 gallon
- Pocillopora, Seriatopora, Stylophora, Caulastrea, Clavularia, Pachyclavularia, Sympodium, Cespitularia, Yellow Leathers, Pachyceris, Echinpora, Leptoseris, Pectinia, Psammacora
- 50-70ml per 1/4 gallon
- Porites, Xenia, Brown Leathers, Pavona, Fungiids, Heliofungia
- 80-120ml per 1/4 gallon
- Goniopora, Favia, Favites, Goniastrea, Platygyra, Leptastrea, Blastomussa, Cynarina, Physogyra, Plerogyra, Symphyllia, Sinularia, Corallimorpharian
- 130-200ml per 1/4 gallon
- Zoanthids, Palythoa, Scolymia, Acansthstrea, Micromussa, Lobophyllia, Euphyllia, Catalaphyllia, Trachyphyllia
- 210-350ml per 1/4 gallon
- Amounts provided courtesy of the Humble.fish Forums and are not "my" formula
- Acropora (tolerance varies by species), Montipora, Astreopora, Duncanopsammia, Turbinaria, Galaxia, Cyhpastrea, Alveopora, Hydnophora, Echinophyllia, Mycedium, Oxypora, Tubastrea
- Once the peroxide is in the dipping water, you can add the coral!
- Let the coral sit in the hydrogen peroxide bath for no more than 5 minutes. You will notice fizzing. This is normal, but I was also really nervous watching that...
- After the 5 minutes, rinse the coral in the second container. You can use a light amount of water from a turkey baster to get the hydrogen peroxide bubbles off the coral.
- Dispose of the hydrogen peroxide bath. While likely not too harmful, you don't want to risk any unwanted bacteria hanging around.
- Your coral is now ready to be placed in a coral quarantine or tank. You may especially consider quarantining the coral if you notice any pests that fell off the coral. Keep in mind that your coral may need a day or two to recover from being dipped.
I’m about to try it on a small monti frag. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Like some have said it’s more or less your risk tolerance and the type of sps it is. If it was Acro I’d not risk a peroxide dip and just clip off the sections with algae and put on a new plug.
BryanM
7500 Club Member
I've done it, I cannot say I've had success, and I consider this more of a last ditch effort to try and save something right now.
Gone Reefin’
Active Member
I’ve tried this with success. My advice, only a few seconds tops. I prefer to submerge only the plug, barely getting to base of coral. The algae will die after only a few seconds of peroxide exposure (after 24-48 hours ), the coral will live to tell another day…
I might try it of I have a green algae issue at some point. The interesting thing I’ve noticed though is with any of the brown algaes that I can get on a new frag plug, given enough time the sps will encrust over the brown algaes like it was never there. For reference though I mostly keep Millies and tenuous. Historically if I’ve ever had green algae issue usually just snip the base with the algae and put on a new plug, it takes a week or two for it to start encrusting again, but once it does things go back to normal.
For reference though, are you doing 100% peroxide or a ratio of that and saltwater?
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