Reef dip help

[will?]

Hello,
I’ve never really dipped corals before, but recently Ive had some problems with bristle worms in my leather corals, and some other corals are looking a bit under the weather. One of the leathers I lost was due to a necrotic disease that I assume infected the coral through the bristle worm hole, and it coral had heaps of brown liquid when I cut it. Overall, Im looking for a dip that would get rid of bristle worms, flatworms, and bacterial infections like the one I mentioned before. It would need to be safe for LPS, leathers, and euphyllia. At the moment I’m looking at coral RX, but the one in the box seems much more affordable than the blue bottle. Is it still as effective? It doesn’t really talk about it treating bristle worms or flatworms on the site I looked at. This is the box:



Any help would be greatly appreciated, and apologies for the long post.
Thank you in advance!

 

[Subsea]

I use a 10% solution of 3% peroxide for 10 minute soak to get rid of those pest.

When I transfer ornamental seaweeds and sponges infected with Red Planaria, I use potassium chloride to eradicate flatworms.

 

[Fish Fan]

In my very humble opinion, bristle worms are not undesirable, they are a good part of a Clean Up Crew, though they can reach plague numbers and Goliath sizes that can sometimes unnerve people. I would suggest that you keep the bristle worms unless they are in those two categories. I'm unfamiliar with a brittle worm leading to coral necrosis, but anything is possible, I suppose

I'm also unfamiliar with the Reef Rx product, but I'm sure other members will be. Popular coral dip products include Two Little Fishies Revive and CoralRx. However, I'm not sure how effective these products are on bristle worms specifically.

If you want to try to eradicate all the spiny little worms, you'll need to bring larger guns to the fight. Bayer Insecticide found at some garden and landscape centers is said to be very effective at eliminating just about everything but the coral, though Bayer Insecticide sale is limited in many location out of some human health concerns (including for its intended gardening purpose).

I think many "in the know" are now using Potassium ChLoride (KCL) as a coral dip. If you're looking to get rid of those worms, do a search for potassium chloride as a coral dip

I hope that helps and good luck!

 

[Fish Fan]

I use a 10% solution of 3% peroxide for 10 minute soak to get rid of those pest.

When I transfer ornamental seaweeds and sponges infected with Red Planaria, I use potassium chloride to eradicate flatworms.

I think we posted on top of each other

 

[Subsea]

In my very humble opinion, bristle worms are not undesirable, they are a good part of a Clean Up Crew, though they can reach plague numbers and Goliath sizes that can sometimes unnerve people. I would suggest that you keep the bristle worms unless they are in those two categories. I'm unfamiliar with a brittle worm leading to coral necrosis, but anything is possible, I suppose

I'm also unfamiliar with the Reef Rx product, but I'm sure other members will be. Popular coral dip products include Two Little Fishies Revive and CoralRx. However, I'm not sure how effective these products are on bristle worms specifically.

If you want to try to eradicate all the spiny little worms, you'll need to bring larger guns to the fight. Bayer Insecticide found at some garden and landscape centers is said to be very effective at eliminating just about everything but the coral, though Bayer Insecticide sale is limited in many location out of some human health concerns (including for its intended gardening purpose).

I think many "in the know" are now using Potassium ChLoride (KCL) as a coral dip. If you're looking to get rid of those worms, do a search for potassium chloride as a coral dip

I hope that helps and good luck!

kudos to fish fan defense of bristle worms. I agree and consider them a very important detrivore that recycles nutrients and feeeds filter feeders when they spawn.

: : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

Indo-Pacific Sea Farms produces captive-bred marine life for healthier reef aquariums: invertebrates, detritivores, live sand, snail grazers, amphipods, beneficial worms, macro algae, plankton, corals, coral food and beneficial bacteria.

www.ipsf.com

Baby BristleWorms™
“Most experienced reefkeepers strongly believe in the beneficial effects of bristle worms on the sand bed. We hold the view that bristle worms and other sand bed scavengers are vitally important components of reef ecosystems, both captive and wild. Our Baby Bristle Worms package comes with 6 fine young specimens, all about 0.5 - 1.0 inches in length. Our clams and corals are grown in commercial mariculture tanks in close proximity with literally thousands of happily breeding bristleworms. Simply put, bristleworms are to reef tanks what earthworms are to gardens. Bristle worms constantly stir the reef tank sand bed and help keep it aerobic. They consume uneaten fish food and fish waste, preventing dead and decaying organic matter from accumulating on top of the sand bed. Baby Bristle Worms will mature rapidly and reproduce to levels that are consistent with the available resources (food and space) in your reef tank. 100% Captive-Bred.”

Baby Bristle Worms™ $19.95. Order today!

Bristle Worms

<p>Bristle worms are soft, segmented worms found along shorelines, mud flats and shallow waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.</p>

www.chesapeakebay.net

Reproduction and life cycle​

Most bristle worms reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water, though some bristle worms reproduce asexually by budding. Larvae morph from a free-swimming stage to a segmented stage before maturing. A few bristle worm species take care of their young.

 

[petcellar]

I usually dip with bayer

 

[Marco_99]

Coral Rx for most things. For higher end acros or more sensitive coral I like Reef Primer. If I had to pick only one Reef Primer which is all I’ve been using lately

 

[will?]

In my very humble opinion, bristle worms are not undesirable, they are a good part of a Clean Up Crew, though they can reach plague numbers and Goliath sizes that can sometimes unnerve people. I would suggest that you keep the bristle worms unless they are in those two categories. I'm unfamiliar with a brittle worm leading to coral necrosis, but anything is possible, I suppose

I'm also unfamiliar with the Reef Rx product, but I'm sure other members will be. Popular coral dip products include Two Little Fishies Revive and CoralRx. However, I'm not sure how effective these products are on bristle worms specifically.

If you want to try to eradicate all the spiny little worms, you'll need to bring larger guns to the fight. Bayer Insecticide found at some garden and landscape centers is said to be very effective at eliminating just about everything but the coral, though Bayer Insecticide sale is limited in many location out of some human health concerns (including for its intended gardening purpose).

I think many "in the know" are now using Potassium ChLoride (KCL) as a coral dip. If you're looking to get rid of those worms, do a search for potassium chloride as a coral dip

I hope that helps and good luck!

I absolutely get what you mean, and I’m actually really happy with bristle worms in the sand bed, they keep it really clean and every now and again the crabs and shrimp eat them as a bit of a food source. However, I’m mostly concerned about them burrowing into corals, like my euphyllia or leathers. Overall I just want to target them on corals, instead of water treatment like Bayer, because I’m fine with them in the sand bed but I want them out of the corals. I have been looking for pure potassium chloride in health shops but I haven’t had much luck, however I have found it online. It just seems more affordable than diluted aquarium marketed dips, since you can get a lot more from a pure powder and I can adjust my own ratios. My main target is anything directly damaging the corals, and I think there might be flatworms in the euphyllia since they haven’t grown their flesh band back and two of the heads retracted, whilst another two seperate ones were unbothered. I’ll have a look at the two little fishes one you recommended too, and I’ll do some more research in the meantime.
Thank you for the advice and I’ll do some more research now too.

 

[Fish Fan]

@will? I'm not sure that bristle worms will cause coral damage as you're describing, but let's call in a few actual experts:

@Reefer Matt
@tbrown
#reefsquad

 

[will?]

In my very humble opinion, bristle worms are not undesirable, they are a good part of a Clean Up Crew, though they can reach plague numbers and Goliath sizes that can sometimes unnerve people. I would suggest that you keep the bristle worms unless they are in those two categories. I'm unfamiliar with a brittle worm leading to coral necrosis, but anything is possible, I suppose

I'm also unfamiliar with the Reef Rx product, but I'm sure other members will be. Popular coral dip products include Two Little Fishies Revive and CoralRx. However, I'm not sure how effective these products are on bristle worms specifically.

If you want to try to eradicate all the spiny little worms, you'll need to bring larger guns to the fight. Bayer Insecticide found at some garden and landscape centers is said to be very effective at eliminating just about everything but the coral, though Bayer Insecticide sale is limited in many location out of some human health concerns (including for its intended gardening purpose).

I think many "in the know" are now using Potassium ChLoride (KCL) as a coral dip. If you're looking to get rid of those worms, do a search for potassium chloride as a coral dip

I hope that helps and good luck!

kudos to fish fan defense of bristle worms. I agree and consider them a very important detrivore that recycles nutrients and feeeds filter feeders when they spawn.

: : : : Indo-Pacific Sea Farms : : : :

Indo-Pacific Sea Farms produces captive-bred marine life for healthier reef aquariums: invertebrates, detritivores, live sand, snail grazers, amphipods, beneficial worms, macro algae, plankton, corals, coral food and beneficial bacteria.

www.ipsf.com

Baby BristleWorms™
“Most experienced reefkeepers strongly believe in the beneficial effects of bristle worms on the sand bed. We hold the view that bristle worms and other sand bed scavengers are vitally important components of reef ecosystems, both captive and wild. Our Baby Bristle Worms package comes with 6 fine young specimens, all about 0.5 - 1.0 inches in length. Our clams and corals are grown in commercial mariculture tanks in close proximity with literally thousands of happily breeding bristleworms. Simply put, bristleworms are to reef tanks what earthworms are to gardens. Bristle worms constantly stir the reef tank sand bed and help keep it aerobic. They consume uneaten fish food and fish waste, preventing dead and decaying organic matter from accumulating on top of the sand bed. Baby Bristle Worms will mature rapidly and reproduce to levels that are consistent with the available resources (food and space) in your reef tank. 100% Captive-Bred.”

Baby Bristle Worms™ $19.95. Order today!

Bristle Worms

<p>Bristle worms are soft, segmented worms found along shorelines, mud flats and shallow waters throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.</p>

www.chesapeakebay.net

Reproduction and life cycle​

Most bristle worms reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water, though some bristle worms reproduce asexually by budding. Larvae morph from a free-swimming stage to a segmented stage before maturing. A few bristle worm species take care of their young.

Really interesting, thank you!

 

[petcellar]

I absolutely get what you mean, and I’m actually really happy with bristle worms in the sand bed, they keep it really clean and every now and again the crabs and shrimp eat them as a bit of a food source. However, I’m mostly concerned about them burrowing into corals, like my euphyllia or leathers. Overall I just want to target them on corals, instead of water treatment like Bayer, because I’m fine with them in the sand bed but I want them out of the corals. I have been looking for pure potassium chloride in health shops but I haven’t had much luck, however I have found it online. It just seems more affordable than diluted aquarium marketed dips, since you can get a lot more from a pure powder and I can adjust my own ratios. My main target is anything directly damaging the corals, and I think there might be flatworms in the euphyllia since they haven’t grown their flesh band back and two of the heads retracted, whilst another two seperate ones were unbothered. I’ll have a look at the two little fishes one you recommended too, and I’ll do some more research in the meantime.
Thank you for the advice and I’ll do some more research now too.

Bayer is a dip I wouldn’t treat the tank

 

[will?]

I absolutely get what you mean, and I’m actually really happy with bristle worms in the sand bed, they keep it really clean and every now and again the crabs and shrimp eat them as a bit of a food source. However, I’m mostly concerned about them burrowing into corals, like my euphyllia or leathers. Overall I just want to target them on corals, instead of water treatment like Bayer, because I’m fine with them in the sand bed but I want them out of the corals. I have been looking for pure potassium chloride in health shops but I haven’t had much luck, however I have found it online. It just seems more affordable than diluted aquarium marketed dips, since you can get a lot more from a pure powder and I can adjust my own ratios. My main target is anything directly damaging the corals, and I think there might be flatworms in the euphyllia since they haven’t grown their flesh band back and two of the heads retracted, whilst another two seperate ones were unbothered. I’ll have a look at the two little fishes one you recommended too, and I’ll do some more research in the meantime.
Thank you for the advice and I’ll do some more research now too.

Bayer is a dip I wouldn’t treat the tank

Oh okay, thank you. It seemed a little excessive treating the tank with insecticide

 

[will?]

@will? I'm not sure that bristle worms will cause coral damage as you're describing, but let's call in a few actual experts:

@Reefer Matt
@tbrown
#reefsquad

I’m not entirely sure if the problem is flatworms or bristle worms for the euphyllia since they have a skeleton, but I did find bristle worms in my leather corals and possibly flatworms (microscope photo underneath) in one of the bristle worms burrows in a leather. There’s also some holes in the euphyllia skeleton which are a bit worrying, and I know they can be prone to flatworms that target the heads.

View attachment 20251201_141516_781A4C05-34EB-449C-B14B-597094A4F877.mov

 

[tbrown]

In my experience, bristleworms don't cause the necrosis but will feed on the decaying tissue so sometimes it looks like they're the predator when they're actually being somewhat helpful.

As far as @Fish Fan recommending potassium chloride, I believe that's what Reef Primer (as mentioned by another member above) has as the main "active ingredient". 'm not positive but it's highly likely that KCl is also the main ingredient in the Reef Rx you posted the picture of.

I'm definitely not an expert and I have limited experience with most dips and with leather corals but I am in the pro-bristleworm camp. I seeded both my sump and display with a few when I set this tank up. Definitely decent detrivores.