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- Mar 20, 2018
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Last night I came across red bugs while looking at my tank with my flashlight. I was looking for polyp extension on my SPS because some of them seem to be irritated, and my hawkins echinata has been having some tissue recession. This all make sense now based on what I saw last night. So I need some advice based on my tank and the ramifications of using interceptor as a treatment.
Based on my research, the only effective way to rid yourself of redbugs is to treat with milbemycin oxime (interceptor). I have reached out to my vet in the hopes to get a prescription. Assuming that happens, it appears that 23mg of the active ingredient can treat 400 gal, I have a 20gal tank so I would only need to add 1.15mg (scaled to the overall pill weight). I have access to very precise balances so this isn't an issue.
My plan would be to remove all of my carbon, remove my skimmer collection cup, and dose this at night after the lights go off. My tank is an AIO, so I am not sure what to do with all of my clean up crew? I have snails and hermits, I know my hermits will die if I leave them, so I am thinking to put them into a ziplock and just float them while the treatment is going on, is this viable? Do I I also need to do the same with my snails?
After the overnight treatment, I will do a ~35% WC, run carbon heavy, and skim wet to remove the remaining medicine. After several hours of running like that I will reintroduce my hermits (and snails if necessary) to my tank. Am I missing anything, or do you have any recommendations for me? I have never treated for red bugs before, and I am not sure the best course of action for my CUC. Thank you!
Based on my research, the only effective way to rid yourself of redbugs is to treat with milbemycin oxime (interceptor). I have reached out to my vet in the hopes to get a prescription. Assuming that happens, it appears that 23mg of the active ingredient can treat 400 gal, I have a 20gal tank so I would only need to add 1.15mg (scaled to the overall pill weight). I have access to very precise balances so this isn't an issue.
My plan would be to remove all of my carbon, remove my skimmer collection cup, and dose this at night after the lights go off. My tank is an AIO, so I am not sure what to do with all of my clean up crew? I have snails and hermits, I know my hermits will die if I leave them, so I am thinking to put them into a ziplock and just float them while the treatment is going on, is this viable? Do I I also need to do the same with my snails?
After the overnight treatment, I will do a ~35% WC, run carbon heavy, and skim wet to remove the remaining medicine. After several hours of running like that I will reintroduce my hermits (and snails if necessary) to my tank. Am I missing anything, or do you have any recommendations for me? I have never treated for red bugs before, and I am not sure the best course of action for my CUC. Thank you!