SPS STN bugs?

[SuncrestReef]

My WWC Yellow Tips colony has been slowly losing tissue for several months. Today I used my macro lens to get a better view of the border between healthy and dead tissue and discovered tons of tiny pods moving around. They are too small to see with the naked eye. I don't know if these are the cause of the problem, or opportunistic pods feeding on dead tissue.

Any ideas? #reefsquad

 

[fishguy242]

bump,recommend this for dipping if needed ;)

 

[rkpetersen]

They're also crawling on the live coral tissue; I can see several of them in just that short clip.
I don't know if these qualify as 'red bugs', but they might well be coral predators. At the very least I'm suspicious.
Bayer dip will be highly effective, but won't kill the eggs, and won't kill any elsewhere in the tank.
Dipping all of your acros might get rid of them, or maybe not. It's very disheartening to find potential coral pests.
If you use Bayer, be super careful. I'm about 99% sure that it is what killed many nice shrimp in 2 display tanks.
Even though I rinsed each coral twice after the dip, I think enough insecticide got through to off the crustaceans.
I've actually stopped using Bayer to prophylactically dip new frags, and gone back to CoralRx plus brushing/inspection.

 

[Daveobrien]

Bayer is the FIRST of my "Every new Coral frag get dipped" regime. And I've taken to heart not getting it into the tank. After Bayer is two other dips with dual stage rinses between each. (six total clean salt water dips)

Regime:
- 15mins dip in Bayer
- two separate clean saltwater rinse, with separate tweezers between each
- 15mins dip in MEcoral Dip
- two separate clean saltwater rinse, with separate tweezers between each
- 15mins dip in Revive
- two separate clean saltwater rinse, with separate tweezers between each

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Bayer is the FIRST of my "Every new Coral frag get dipped" regime. And I've taken to heart not getting it into the tank. After Bayer is two other dips with dual stage rinses between each. (six total clean salt water dips)

Regime:
- 15mins dip in Bayer
- two separate clean saltwater rinse, with separate tweezers between each
- 15mins dip in MEcoral Dip
- two separate clean saltwater rinse, with separate tweezers between each
- 15mins dip in Revive
- two separate clean saltwater rinse, with separate tweezers between each

Dang
What dosages are you using with those long dip times?

 

[Daveobrien]

Dang
What dosages are you using with those long dip times?

Bayer, STRONG. 2-4 TBS / cup of water
ME coral dip, full dipper squirt / cup of water
Revive, 1-2 caps / cup of water

I'm usually dipping 1-8 frags, so I'm usually using 2cup containers to dip and rinse in. I like white porcelain, I think it's easier to see stuff that falls off. Except the Bayer - water is soo milky I can't even see the corals. Until I dump most water out, then can see anything that fell off.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Bayer, STRONG. 2-4 TBS / cup of water
ME coral dip, full dipper squirt / cup of water
Revive, 1-2 caps / cup of water

I'm usually dipping 1-8 frags, so I'm usually using 2cup containers to dip and rinse in. I like white porcelain, I think it's easier to see stuff that falls off. Except the Bayer - water is soo milky I can't even see the corals. Until I dump most water out, then can see anything that fell off.

You don’t lose corals dipping that aggressive with revive? I had acros go in fine and come out with tissue falling off with revives normal instructions

 

[vetteguy53081]

I cant bring myself to bayer although im convinced it works.
I use Revive or CoralRX and it will knock them down instantly. Then rinse coral in container with tank water and return to tank

 

[Daveobrien]

You don’t lose corals dipping that aggressive with revive? I had acros go in fine and come out with tissue falling off with revives normal instructions

I haven't yet. I'll watch for it.

I cant bring myself to bayer although im convinced it works.
I use Revive or CoralRX and it will knock them down instantly. Then rinse coral in container with tank water and return to tank

I take Bayer Seriously. Keep it in its own plastic bag. Always wear rubber gloves, which get changed after pouring, after dipping, and everytime I take a pause. All utensils used get super hot water (and a touch of soap) wash, between each usage in the dipping process. I don't re-use the Bayer dipping container for the other two dipping steps.

So I agree with you, had to convince myself with some sacrificial corals - And then had to get some real bugs that needed killing, to convince myself it's okay. I'm over it now.

 

[SuncrestReef]

They're also crawling on the live coral tissue; I can see several of them in just that short clip.
I don't know if these qualify as 'red bugs', but they might well be coral predators. At the very least I'm suspicious.
Bayer dip will be highly effective, but won't kill the eggs, and won't kill any elsewhere in the tank.
Dipping all of your acros might get rid of them, or maybe not. It's very disheartening to find potential coral pests.
If you use Bayer, be super careful. I'm about 99% sure that it is what killed many nice shrimp in 2 display tanks.
Even though I rinsed each coral twice after the dip, I think enough insecticide got through to off the crustaceans.
I've actually stopped using Bayer to prophylactically dip new frags, and gone back to CoralRx plus brushing/inspection.

I appreciate your feedback. However, I should have mentioned in my original post that I already knew I have red bugs and have had them for about 2 years. During that time, none of my corals have shown any problems. The small white bugs in my video above are about 1/10 the size of the red bugs, in much larger quantities, and move way faster than the red bugs. I think these are very different.

Here’s a video I posted of my red bugs from over a year ago. In fact, the colony from this video is healthier than ever, yet still infested with red bugs.


I had a couple dragonface pipefish last year, but they never touched the red bugs. I can’t use Interceptor because it will kill my pistol shrimp and it’s impossible to trap my pistol shrimp without tearing apart my entire aquascape, so I’ve just accepted living with the bugs. But again, they don’t seem to be harming anything.

 

[fishguy242]

Bayer, STRONG. 2-4 TBS / cup of water
ME coral dip, full dipper squirt / cup of water
Revive, 1-2 caps / cup of water

I'm usually dipping 1-8 frags, so I'm usually using 2cup containers to dip and rinse in. I like white porcelain, I think it's easier to see stuff that falls off. Except the Bayer - water is soo milky I can't even see the corals. Until I dump most water out, then can see anything that fell off.

wow, i use exactly half of your dose of bayer!! do double dip and swish also.1TBS per cup