A simple 15-minute dip in DipX before adding a new coral to the aquarium will drive away unwanted hitchhikers and maintain the safety of your reef.
Characteristics
- Safe for all types of corals: SPS, LPS, soft corals, encrusting anemones, disc anemones (Discosoma and Ricordea) and live rock.
- Effectively repels Acropora-feeding flatworms, Montipora-feeding nudibranchs, Acropora red bugs and other coral hitchhikers.
- Slows down slow and rapid tissue necrosis (external bath only).
- Free from inorganic elements such as potassium iodide or bromide.
- Easy to use, reliable and cost-effective
Why do corals have hitchhikers?
In nature, numerous species of coral-related invertebrates live on corals and reef rocks and are collectively referred to as "opportunistic inhabitants." The most common groups of these opportunistic inhabitants include crustaceans, helminths (worms), echinoderms, nudibranchs, and snails.
In most cases, the inhabitants benefit the host without harming it; in other cases (such as Trapeziidae crabs in Acropora), both host and inhabitants benefit from the relationship. However, there are some inhabitants that harm their host by feeding on it. In their natural habitat, all of these opportunistic inhabitants are relatively rare due to the lack of nutrients and natural enemies.
When corals are moved from one environment to another, these opportunistic inhabitants remain with their coral hosts and become random hitchhikers.
Why do corals need to be bathed
“There are no practical methods to remove opportunistic inhabitants from an established reef aquarium.
While not all random hitchhikers are necessarily bad for an artificial reef, some can quickly become "uninvited guests." Therefore, it's strongly recommended to adopt a "better safe than sorry" policy and try to prevent them from entering. However, once they're in the system, affected corals and live rock must be removed and treated one by one.
Why do corals need to be bathed
Careful examination of corals should be part of a reef aquarium's regular maintenance checkup so that signs of soft tissue damage or discoloration can be detected and investigated as quickly as possible. Early detection of hitchhikers is the most effective way to prevent an uncontrolled outbreak that can potentially damage the entire reef.
Instructions for use
- Pour DipX into an empty container. Make sure the container is clean and dry.
- Use 10 ml of DipX (diluted 1:100 with aquarium water) to prepare 1/0.26 gallon of bath mix.
- Do not leave your new coral or live rock in the container for longer than 15 minutes.
- The bathing solution can be used for up to four coral/stone applications, but should be disposed of within 2 hours of preparation.
