Dipping smooth skinned corals

[duke62]

Since im having all this trouble lately i have been taking corals out and dipping them to look for pests and i was told if it was bacterial a bath in a dip may help ailing corals. Well i havent seen any pests so now i want to dip my karls candlelight and hawkins enchinada colonies since they are showing signs of STN now as well. What dip can i use for these guys if any?

 

[Mattl22]

Good question I've lost every lokani I've ever dipped !! Following for answer

 

[piranhapat]

I think you will be in better shape if you cut them. The longer you wait the more you got to cut. Sometimes looking for the answer that you might not find. Correct what you know.

 

[mshur]

If you dont see any bite marks, dont dip them. They will get more stress and more likely RTN.

 

[ducati335i]

i would def cut them.. I had a beautiful colony that started rtning, only one in the tank aftrer lower temp from sandy storm.... I kept an eye on it and it got worse,, i chopped it all up..

 

[duke62]

When i cut the ones STNing it seems after a few days it starts all over again like if it still had the piece i cut was still there. It STNs the same speed. I read that lugols Iodine was safe to use on smooth skinned acros

 

[JonnyJ]

I've noticed that some healthy smooth skin acros can handle a 3 minute revive dip, however EVERY single time i have done it to something that was fresh cut or stressed it would immediately RTN and die.

 

[MIKE NY]

When i cut the ones STNing it seems after a few days it starts all over again like if it still had the piece i cut was still there. It STNs the same speed. I read that lugols Iodine was safe to use on smooth skinned acros

NO..don't do it unless you dilute it...just my experience with them...deepwater smooth skins don't produce a slime coating like other acros and do more harm then good by dipping them in something strong like iodine based dips.
I had good luck by just cutting them down into the good tissue and glueing around the base over the tissue.

 

[TheSherm]

I am curious why this happens in the first place. The STN when your parameters are stable and it otherwise appears evrything is fine. I understand any change at all could be the culprit, its just maddening when something like this happens. My two cents, dont dip them, those two corals hate dip, even revive.

 

[duke62]

SHERM i am 1 more coral death away from just throwing in the towel. between the worms i got rid of and red bugs and buying all this equipment to make the corals happy i jst dont feel its worth it anymore. Started this hobby to feel good and it hasnt been feeling that way in a while

 

[mbg75]

I dipped my Ora Hawkins in diluted iodine when i got it. Had no color loss.

However, i also noticed that dipping doesn't stop the stn. I just chopped my maricultured colonies that STN'd.

 

[ducati335i]

I have to be honest, I've dipped smooth skin corals in revive abs rx and did not have any issues at all. But I only dipped them for two minutes and shook them pretty well..
This was on new entries.. I'm not saying to Dip them now though..

 

[charliethetuna88]

Mixed reef buddy

 

[ducati335i]

Mixed reef buddy

Meaning that's why corals can rtn? I'm hoping my mixed reef can be long term

 

[watchguy123]

Frustrating when long term inhabitants start necrosing. The only choice is to evaluate probable causes: 1.) parameters 2.) pests 3.) stinging by neighbors 4.) changes to tank like lighting, new carbon, new gfo, new anything. It may be hard to figure out but it's gotta be one of the above ( unless I forgot something--but that's ok cause someone will correct me then)

I think mixed tanks can complicate things because some inhabitants like different sets of parameters. And certainly chemotactic factors can play a role but usually good skimmer and carbon manage that successfully. I happen to have an sps dominant tank but love my lps but I don't have much in softies except for a handful of ricordeas.