Re: AEFW Question

[denverjon]

So I just discovered yesterday that my tank has AEFW's. I don't believe they've been in their long because I just started having issues with my sps, which led to the discovery. I know what everyone says about pulling the sps out of the tank and treating them, but I'd rather try a less evasive way first.

I blasted every acro with a turkey baster last night and probably pulled 40-50 off. I did it again today and found less than 10. My hope is that maybe the tank's not infested with large numbers yet. I work from home, so I can use a turkey baster every day if need be. Plus, I have 10 wrasses that are loving them.

What are the chances that I could keep them in check by doing it this way? Thanks

 

[Eternal]

I think that it would be a never ending battle if you dont take out and dip the corals.

With what you are planning it might keep the numbers down but the corals will really never thrive.

 

[gar732]

I don't think that you will ever totally get rid of them that way. There are reefers that live with them and have great tanks. Check out reefbum's tank, one of the most amazing tanks I've ever seen and the pics do it no justice. I have them but most of my sps are small colonies and frags so the AEFWs have been hard on them. I finally decided to remove them all and dip them weekly in hopes to be rid of them once and for all. I'm planning on losing some corals but it's better than losing them all. My wrasses will eat them also but only when the are in the water column, they won't pick them off the corals. Good luck and be sure to post your progress.

 

[ronnie]

Your chances are pretty good keeping them in check like that. I do less than that - I might baste once a month in my 120G. With that said, I've only seen a handful blow off of a couple acros every time I do baste. I've knowingly had them for almost six months.

If you are seeing 40-50, then I'd say you've had them for a while, and are just now noticing the damage.

I'm working towards treating them in a 40B - just trying to get my timing right with all the dipping I'll have to do.

I have 30+ frags to dip, plus colonies that have been growing for a few years now.

Here is what my AEFW infested tank looks like after six months of knowing:

FTS:

Damage -

 

[denverjon]

Thanks for the advice. Those pictures look familiar.

I'm really bummed. I just spent six weeks upgrading to a bigger tank and was finally happy with the way things looked.

If I do decide to take them out and dip them...the only tank I have large enough is my 150 sump. If I do use that, should I just stop running it as a sump and disconnect it from the system for 6-8 weeks?

 

[ronnie]

Yes.

The display needs to run fallow of acros for two-four months (I'm planning on a 3 month treatment plan).

 

[denverjon]

This might be a dumb question, but why can't I just treat the display tank? Will the medication kill the lps and fish?

 

[ronnie]

What medication are you going to use? Revive? TMPCC? Levimasole?

There are no in-tank treatments.

 

[maharsreef]

I would say more people, inluding venders on
This board have them, than they care to admit. I
Have been living with them and basting for over a year.
I dont trade or sell coral. Are my colonies growing and colorful? Yes.
Are they thriving at their greatest potential? Probably not.
Any coral I buy now is not in the SPS catagory.

 

[denverjon]

I thought I would treat them with revive. I'm probably going to try the turkey baster method for awhile just to see how it works. Plus, with the heat of the summer ahead, I really need to run my chiller in the sump.

Maharsreef - Have you seen a big decrease in their numbers since you've been turkey basting?

This hobby is unbelievable - if it's not one thing it's another...

 

[gar732]

I agree with you although I don't think most people know they have them. I had them for a couple of months I think before I figured it out.

 

[gar732]

I thought I would treat them with revive. I'm probably going to try the turkey baster method for awhile just to see how it works. Plus, with the heat of the summer ahead, I really need to run my chiller in the sump.

Maharsreef - Have you seen a big decrease in their numbers since you've been turkey basting?

This hobby is unbelievable - if it's not one thing it's another...

I've bought all my corals from reputable venders, dipped everything that went into my tank, and still ended up with red bugs, AEFW, and monti eating nudis. The only way to keep them out is to quarantine before putting in your tank. I now have a display with almost nothing left in it. I had to toss most of my montis a few being large colonies.

 

[MitchReef]

I just discovered them a couple weeks ago. I took down my 20L FWLR and set the 29 up with a 175MH and a 24W T5HO Blue Plus. I took all my acroporae out and dipped in CoralRx, inspecting with 10X magnification. I can say there are probably thousands of eggs in your tanks. I had a bunch.

The display tank is now Acropora free and the 29 looks like this

I'm obviously into the pretty sticks, so I decided to take big action.

 

[denverjon]

Yeah, I'm sure I have a tank full of eggs. It looks like I'll be heading in the same direction as you at some point. At least I'm keeping my wrasses well fed. It's actually kind of entertaining having 10 wrasses follow the turkey baster around the tank. My mexican rock wrasse and hawaiian flames eat them like candy. Suprisingly, my melanarus isn't into them yet.

 

[maharsreef]

I havnt seen a decrease or increase. Sometimes I see them blow off, sometimes not. I know their favorite corals. The purps and the tricolors. I can spot an unhappy coral from aefws. I dont care much anymore. I dont have the time or energy to go through the eradication process.

I thought I would treat them with revive. I'm probably going to try the turkey baster method for awhile just to see how it works. Plus, with the heat of the summer ahead, I really need to run my chiller in the sump.

Maharsreef - Have you seen a big decrease in their numbers since you've been turkey basting?

This hobby is unbelievable - if it's not one thing it's another...