SPS Quarantining Procedures

[Braves Fan]

I would like to hear all about the Quarantining procedures for a SPS coral from the time it comes in your front door till the time it makes it into your display tank. Are you dipping this frag, if so how often, when do you determine the frag is pest free and is safe to go into the display tank.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

This should be good!

 

[Murfman]

I first inspect the coral for any baddies, using a lighted hobby magnifier (it is my wife's) This thing is the kind that bolts down to a work station and has 6" lens with a fluorescent ring bulb. Then I will dip it in tank water, Coral Cure and I shave some interceptor off of a pill and let it sit for about 20 minutes. I have done this with corals that come from a red bug system and had no issues.

 

[MattL22]

I have so little space in my 1 bedroom that unfortunatly I can't quarantine my sps so I only buy frags from guys tanks that do ! Or vendors that do! Not the best way to do it but it's all I can do right now I have added 3 or. 4 frags from lfs after dipping in coral rx and been really lucky so far !!!
When I own a home and larger tank I will defintly have a separate quarantine just for sps !!!

 

[miyags]

bump !!! looking for info also, what dips wont hurt or kill sps corals before quarantine????

 

[returnofsid]

I don't QT, in a separate QT system. However, I do dip all additions. If it's an SPS, I add CoralRx to the bag that the coral is in, close the bag up and shake it up really well. Then I let it sit for about 10 minutes. While doing this, I mix up a small amount of water, from the display tank, and add Interceptor. Once the 10 minute CoralRx bath is done, I move the coral to the Interceptor bath, for about 25 minutes. During these treatments, I also inspect the coral, very closely, with a magnifying glass. After both treatments, I place the coral in the display tank, on a frag rack, near the glass. THEN, I take a clear Macro photo of the coral, from different angles, making sure I can inspect all of the photos well. I upload the photos to my computer, zoom in on the photos and inspect the photos very well, for any possible problems.

 

[Braves Fan]

Thats some good info there Returnofsid, thatnks for posting. Oh LOL I new there had to be a good argument as to why my wife should let me get a Macro lens LOL

 

[returnofsid]

LOL There ya go. Explain to her that it's for the health of your corals!!

Seriously though, Macro Photography has been the main way I've found out, the couple times I've ended up with Redbugs. I now treat my tanks, with Interceptor, every 6 months, just as a precaution. I don't wanna take any chances...lol. Every month, I make a point of taking macro shots of all of my Acropora corals and exam the images, zoomed in.