Ok so I have been around a few years in the reefing game and I recently saw a post that lead me to do some research and found that some people have been using Bayer Advanced complete insect killer as a way to dip corals for pest. At first I didn't think that would be good for the coral but then I read more about it and it appeared to be safe due to the fact that corals do not have the same central nervous system as insects do thus this will not harm them. Since this effect the nervous system it can kill bugs that you would find in your yard as well as bugs you would find in your tank and the coral doesn't even know it happened.
I read posts of others who tried it and they had great success. I have recently seen a few red bugs on a frag of garff bonsai I have and figured that I should give it a try since it appears the little bugs were multiplying on the frag. They started off with just one or 2 and then after a while i could seen little groups of them all over it. the coral did fine even though they were there but then it started to dull out. I do not have a lot of acros right now so i figured i better treat this coral before I add more acros and have it spread. There are no near by corals and nothing else shows signs of the pests so good time to take action.
went to store and bought this for 12 bucks:
Here is the coral with the red bugs, The bugs didn't show up so good in the pic but they are on it for sure,
Some people suggested using 10ml of Bayer in 4oz of saltwater. I went with 12 ml of Bayer in 8oz of saltwater. I mixed up the solution and dipped the coral in it for about 15 minutes and gave the cup a swirl now and then. Here it is in all its milky glory.
After about 15 minutes I took it out and washed it off in clean tank water in a cup then moved it to a second cup of clean tank water to rest for a little while before going back to the tank. Kinda like a decon station so I didn't bring chemicals into the main tank. while it was resting I could see that all the red bugs where dead and most had fallen off already. the very few still on the coral were super dead and not moving. i picked them off with a tooth pick to be sure they were dead. Coral looks like it has no idea what happened. Even the zoa's on the rock looked fine. Here it is about 3 minutes out of the dip.
I put the coral back in the tank in a new location so it would not be near the rock that it was on incase some red bugs were waiting for it come back lol. If any red bugs were left on the rocks they will not last long as there is no acroporas near that spot, and to be honest I don't think i have any other types of corals that they are known to eat right now. The next day the dipped coral showed much better PE and looked happy again. its been about 4 days now and its getting better each day. I use a magnifying glass to inspect the coral and there are no red bugs on it now. I am convinced that this is my new go to coral dip. I hear it kills flat worms too.
I know some of you have heard about it already but it was news to me and though I would share. I hope someone else can learn from my experience and give it a try feeling sure that it will not hurt your corals. It will kill your bugs. Here is the frag tonight looking happy:
JUST DO NOT PUT IT INTO YOUR DISPLAY TANK!!! IT WILL KILL FISH AND CRABS. AND IT WOULD JUST BE A PAIN IN THE *** TO GET OUT OF YOUR TANK. ONLY USE THE BAYER ADVANCED COMPLETE INSECET KILLER LIKE SHOWN IN THE PIC. 12ML IN ONE CUP OF SALTWATER X 15 MINUTES IS A GOOD DIP. SAFE OF SPS AND ZOANTIDS I AS TRIED FIRST HAND. Im sure LPS and softies would be fine too.
Look it up and read about it... people that get freaked out about it just have not read about it.
I read posts of others who tried it and they had great success. I have recently seen a few red bugs on a frag of garff bonsai I have and figured that I should give it a try since it appears the little bugs were multiplying on the frag. They started off with just one or 2 and then after a while i could seen little groups of them all over it. the coral did fine even though they were there but then it started to dull out. I do not have a lot of acros right now so i figured i better treat this coral before I add more acros and have it spread. There are no near by corals and nothing else shows signs of the pests so good time to take action.
went to store and bought this for 12 bucks:
Here is the coral with the red bugs, The bugs didn't show up so good in the pic but they are on it for sure,
Some people suggested using 10ml of Bayer in 4oz of saltwater. I went with 12 ml of Bayer in 8oz of saltwater. I mixed up the solution and dipped the coral in it for about 15 minutes and gave the cup a swirl now and then. Here it is in all its milky glory.
After about 15 minutes I took it out and washed it off in clean tank water in a cup then moved it to a second cup of clean tank water to rest for a little while before going back to the tank. Kinda like a decon station so I didn't bring chemicals into the main tank. while it was resting I could see that all the red bugs where dead and most had fallen off already. the very few still on the coral were super dead and not moving. i picked them off with a tooth pick to be sure they were dead. Coral looks like it has no idea what happened. Even the zoa's on the rock looked fine. Here it is about 3 minutes out of the dip.
I put the coral back in the tank in a new location so it would not be near the rock that it was on incase some red bugs were waiting for it come back lol. If any red bugs were left on the rocks they will not last long as there is no acroporas near that spot, and to be honest I don't think i have any other types of corals that they are known to eat right now. The next day the dipped coral showed much better PE and looked happy again. its been about 4 days now and its getting better each day. I use a magnifying glass to inspect the coral and there are no red bugs on it now. I am convinced that this is my new go to coral dip. I hear it kills flat worms too.
I know some of you have heard about it already but it was news to me and though I would share. I hope someone else can learn from my experience and give it a try feeling sure that it will not hurt your corals. It will kill your bugs. Here is the frag tonight looking happy:
JUST DO NOT PUT IT INTO YOUR DISPLAY TANK!!! IT WILL KILL FISH AND CRABS. AND IT WOULD JUST BE A PAIN IN THE *** TO GET OUT OF YOUR TANK. ONLY USE THE BAYER ADVANCED COMPLETE INSECET KILLER LIKE SHOWN IN THE PIC. 12ML IN ONE CUP OF SALTWATER X 15 MINUTES IS A GOOD DIP. SAFE OF SPS AND ZOANTIDS I AS TRIED FIRST HAND. Im sure LPS and softies would be fine too.
Look it up and read about it... people that get freaked out about it just have not read about it.
