Reefs.org Forums

[brandonberry]

I have tryed a slight variation of the technique described in this thread, and after 3 months, I think it is safe to say that it worked. I will say that I did not do a controlled scientific experiment, but I hope my results will encourage someone to do just that. Personally, I don't have the time or the resources.

My objective was to modify this technique to be able to irradicate the bugs without adding medication directly to the tank. I did not want to loose my shrimp and other crustations, and did not feel confident that there would not be a possibility of some kind of residual effect from the medication.

Here is what I did:

First I filled a cooler with tank water and placed a powerhead and a heater in it. I then took all of my acroporas out of my tank and placed them in the cooler (luckily most were still small). I then dosed the cooler with slightly more than the recommended amount, due to some uncertainty about the drug store scales I used being accurate. I decided to leave the acros in overnight, just to be sure that all bugs were dead.

The next day, I took all of the acros out and placed them in a seperate tank that I had set up, which previously had no acros in it, hence no bugs. I left the acros in this tank for 12 days since there was some discussion that they could not live more than 10 days in a tank without a host.

I then placed them back into my main tank, which, as I said before, has been bug free for 3 months now.

I did not repeat the treatment after the initial 12 hour dip. That is not to say that some other factor could not have prevented them from returning.

Out of about 15 different acros, I lost none. Some browned out a little from the lower light in the temporary tank, but they bounced back within about a week of being put back in my main display.

Take this as a grain of salt. What worked for me may not work for you. Also, I realize that it may not be feasable for everyone to remove their entire colonies from their tank or to set up an additional tank. If anyone else does decide to try this or a similar method, I would be interested in hearing about your results.

[MelanieF]

I see there was a poll done two years ago asking people to vote on their success with this treatment. 5 responses all positive of success with no side effects other than the known die off of already listed organisms in this thread.

I would like to hear from more than 5 people that this worked without the bugs coming back and how long it has been since treatment...

Please?

[Thales]

Link us to the poll. I don't recall a poll.

[MelanieF]

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=45933&highlight=red+bug+treatment

Hope that worked...

[Thales]

I think that poll is a little weird. Its missing a vote for 'yes with known side effects'. So, I don't think you are going the get the information you are looking for in a neat poll, you are going to have to dig a little, or start a new poll.

I think there are way more than five people in this thread that have used the treatment successfully. I know that in the SF Bay Area, lots have people have used it with no ill effects. People always seem to be scrambling for interceptor.

I have used it with great success, and am treating again because I never did the full course. This time I am doing the full course.

[servo]

Anyone out there have problems killing their Urchins after treating for RB's. I have 2 tuxedo urchins and I realize that they are not crustaceans, but I am a little curious about possible effects on them.

None of the threads to my knowledge ever discuss this.


I can't believe how I can feel pity for a little amphipod. I guess that is a good thing, but as I treat my tank I watch this poor large amphipod squirm around on the bottom of the tank hunched over dying. Makes me feel kind of miserable.

This time, I'm going to do the proper 3 treatment. Last time, I just treated the tank and did a small H2o change and ran a little carbon. They came back about 4-6 months later. I didn't add anything into my tank to account for a new introduction.

[servo]

[servo]

dp

[victor708]

Hi All,

I need your help it seems that Interceptor is impossible to get here in Costa Rica and i found another product that is really similar to Interceptor called Cardomec, the main chemical in this product is Ivermectin

According to this document http://www.awca.net/drug.htm Ivermectin (Cardomec) and milbemycin oxime (Interceptor) are really alike. Has somedody heard of this product or someone with a better scientific background can give me some guidance.


Thank you very much for all your help and support.

Regards.