FarmerTy

My money is on GSP.

Always an extrapolated observation! I don't have the time to run a separate control tank on any of my experiments.

Sorry, I realized I never answered your question. Actually, when my fish are back in the tank and my nitrate level returns to its usual 5-10 ppm, I was planning to run a potassium experiment.I think with the dip, it's too short of an exposure to really have a difference on coloration. I'm still curious if an elevated potassium level in the DT would have any positive results on coloration. I was planning on increasing mine 420 ppm to 600 ppm and see if I notice any difference in the corals. I don't want to do this experiment however until all my coloration returns to normal first so I have a controlled starting point regarding what best color I can achieve with just the standard 400 ppm of potassium, so it'll be a bit before I get to do this one but I'll post my results once it's time.

Both are kind of kill-alls so I use them interchangeably. If the results stay the same for me, I may transition off Bayer entirely just so I don't have to deal with a pesticide anymore. What are these things called LPS or zoas? [emoji12] I really don't know Sascha to be honest, I just use them for acros.

Thanks Tim!

Glad it was helpful!

Agreed on the UV, run it on its own pump and according to Timfish, he's had better success actually running the feed pump in the DT pulling water in the lower portions of the water column. My CaRX runs at 10 ml/min currently.

You're welcome sir. My favorite part is the freeze-frame of the YouTube video. It's either I'm telling someone not to shoot or I'm trying to hold off a hoarde of zombies.

Here's the video of my talk on SPS dips during the February meeting.

Hello ARC, Just to follow up with my talk, here are the three different types of dips you can do on acros and the methods I employ for each: BAYER INSECTICIDE DIP: You can find Bayer Insecticide at either Home Depot or Lowe's. Please be careful using his dip as it is a pesticide. Please note the safety precautions listed on the back of the bottle. I would highly suggest using gloves while doing this dip and possibly even do it outside. This is my "go to" dip for any acros entering my tank. Just a note, the only coral I've seen sensitive to this dip is acropora surhasoni. Others have reported the same as well on some of the national forums. Directions: 1) Use a disposable container and put the coral in it with enough tank water to cover the coral. I tend to use the plastic containers that you get when you take food to go from a restaurant. Just make sure to clean them well first. Ideally, you want one that is more wide than deep to allow you room to swirl and shake the coral in the water to dislodge pests. 2) Pour Bayer until its milky white in container of tankwater. I've never been able to overdose it so I wouldn't fret it but if you want an actual ratio, how about 1 oz of Bayer to every cup of water. 3) Leave for 10 mins in the Bayer solution 4) Shake each coral really hard in solution to dislodge any pests. I mean really give it a good shake as the Bayer will usually only stun the AEFWs so shaking the corals in the water is a critical step in my opinion. Use gloves! 5) Replace the coral in another container with fresh tankwater. This will be rinse #1. Leave it in there for 10 mins and then shake it again and move to the next rinse station. I generally have 3 rinse stations after the initial dip station as you don't want any of Bayer to make it to your tank or it'll nuke your pods and could possible kill all your crabs and shrimps. 6) Dispose of the dip water. I usually end up pouring my Bayer dip water and resulting rinses along the edging of my fences and along the bases of my foundation of the house. It is a pesticide and that's it's original intent so I figure why not get two uses out of it and keep some bugs off my property. 7) Place coral in tank POTASSIUM DIP: The 2nd dip is a potassium dip. The principle behind it is increasing the potassium level from current (which is usually around 400 ppm in most tanks) to 1600 ppm. The increased level of potassium kills most things off your corals but leaves your acros alive and well. This is the harshest to the acros of all 3 dips but I feel is just as effective as the Bayer dip but you don't have to deal with pesticides. It can be found again at Home Depot or Lowe's. The actual brand I bought is Sodium Shield but basically, you're looking for potassium chloride. It is commonly used for water softeners. 1) Use a container to place the acro in with about 1 gallon of tank water. 2) Separately, mix 2 teaspoons of the potassium chloride with about a cup of additional tank water. Stir until fully dissolved. 3) Pour the potassium chloride mix into the container with the acro and mix the water. 4) Leave the dip for about an hour. Be sure to monitor the coral during this time. Most will typically slime a lot but if you notice excessive sliming and the coral doesn't look so good, remove it from the dip immediately and maybe just do the Bayer dip instead. 5) Give the coral a good shake to dislodge any critters that may have died on the coral 6) Place coral in tank. 7) I usually just pour this dip outside as well or down the drain. INTERCEPTOR DIP: Interceptor is a heartworm medication for dogs. It is very effective at removing red bugs from your acros. Red bugs are tiny little flea looking creatures that can get on your acros. They generally don't kill an acro but you can definitely see it affecting polyp extension. They are tiny so hard to spot sometimes without some sort of magnification. Interceptor can also be used as a full tank treatment but it'll knock out your pods and potentially kill your crabs and shrimp. For the purpose of the thread, I will just be discussing how I use it as a dip and not as a full tank treatment. 1) Obtain Interceptor for large dogs (51-100 lbs). It is a prescription drug for dogs so you can potentially let your vet know what you're using it for and hopefully they will write you a prescription for it. Otherwise, you may be able to find it online. Please don't ask me from who and where but you can Google it and find something pretty easily. 2) Crush 1/3 of a large dog tablet (exact dosage not important for dip, can be up to 100x recommended dose with ill effect as some have reported). 3) Combine with a cup of hot RO/DI water to mix and dissolve thoroughly 4) Place coral in a container with tank water 5) Add interceptor mix to coral container. Please make sure you dilute the interceptor with enough tank water so that the water itself isn't hot to the coral. If possible, allow the heated RO water with interceptor to cool before adding to coral for the dip. 6) Dip acros for 30-60 mins. 7) Give the coral a good shake in the dip water 8) Place coral in tank As a general rule, besides the 3 dips I employ, I generally cut off the bases from any mariculture coral colonies or remove the frag plug the coral came with. I just want to transfer parts of the coral that have live flesh covering it, and not any rock, plugs, or even dead sections of the colony or frag. I also inspect the colony/frag for signs of pests such as bite marks, AEFW eggs, or red bugs. Any inspection that comes up with any signs, the coral will either be tossed (sorry, pretty dramatic but not worth it to infect my whole collection of acros) or the frag/colony will be held in a separate tank and weekly dips will ensue for the next 6-8 weeks until I feel safe that there are no more pests. Hope the information is useful for those planning to keep acros. Feel free to add any additional observations, tips, or tricks that others have come across while employing these dips. I will also post the video of my talk during the February meeting on this exact subject though the post is much more in-depth then I went into during the talk. Happy reefing! -Ty

I got your back if you need it bud. [emoji4]

Glad they are doing well! They are quick growers like I said so be ready to have a colony in a short amount of time!

Ugh I'm thinking the same thing too. Maybe I'll start with the two isolated pillars and find some rock that I can build a bridge with eventually?Mine used to change every 6 months so you're probably not going to get much solid advice from me. [emoji12]

I kind of like the separate islands better. Though I do like the thought of adding more height to both as you mentioned.

It's called a pump and a hose man! One man job! Maybe +1 wife.

Sometimes you can find it a Petco or Petsmart. I don't think any of the local fish stores carry it though.

Pretty awesome!

Hey, I have time to lift the tank now if you want. Oh wait, what, you already did it? Darn! I missed out! [emoji16] Looking good on the plumbing! Let's get this thing wet already! [emoji4]

I'd skip the garlic, use a rubberband and attach red or brown algae to a piece of live rock and drop it in the tank. I'm pretty sure it'll start eating it. I had to do the same for mine too. Something about nasos... They just love grazing and it takes them awhile to eat food out of the water column. They also go nuts for brown or red algaes, more brown if you can find it. Mine absolutely loved dictyota. I think I still have some small branches in the tank if you want to steal some and try it.

Thanks all for coming out to the meeting today. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did and I'm very happy to have seen so many new faces. If I could host every month, I would! What a blast! Hope everybody left with bellies full of eggrolls and springrolls!

I saw this tank in person. It's a stunner!

Thank you sir! You missed out on a heck of a good time at the meeting today!

Meeting day bump! See everyone at 2pm! If you didn't RSVP but your schedule opened up and you can make it, please come by!

Meeting day bump! Come eat free food, possibly win a stocked nano tank, listen to a talk on dipping SPS, and browse the frag tank all at the same time!

It's no plywood, but it'll do. [emoji6] Looks good man.