A coral dip knocks off pests before they reach your display, but it only works if you repeat it and inspect carefully.
Dipping means briefly bathing a coral in a treatment solution that kills or dislodges pests. It is one of the simplest ways to protect a tank. Every new zoanthid frag should be dipped before it goes into your display, whether it came from a store, a farm, or a friend.
What you need
- Nitrile gloves and eye protection
- Two or three clean plastic containers used only for dipping
- Tank water at display temperature
- A commercial coral dip product
- A turkey baster
- A magnifier and a bright white flashlight
- Tweezers
Basic dip routine
- Prepare. Put on gloves and eye protection. Fill one container with tank water and mix in the dip at the strength on the label. Fill a second container with clean tank water for rinsing.
- Match temperature. Both containers should be close to display temperature.
- Dip. Place the frag in the dip for the time the label gives. Don't guess or extend the time.
- Baste. During the dip, puff the solution firmly over the polyps and around the base. This knocks loose pests that are clinging on.
- Inspect. Look in the bottom of the container with the flashlight. Nudibranchs, sea spiders, flatworms, and tiny snails often drop out here.
- Rinse. Move the frag to the clean water and baste again to remove leftover dip.
- Return. Place the frag in quarantine or, if you don't use one, low in the display with gentle flow.
- Dispose. Dispose of used dip as the product label directs, never into the tank. Rinse the containers and let them dry.
Repeat dips
Many pests lay eggs that a single dip doesn't kill. A practical schedule is to dip again about one week later, and once more a week after that. This catches eggs that hatched in between. Keeping the frag in quarantine during that time makes the process easier.
Removing the plug
If the frag sits on a plug or rubble, check the underside closely. Nudibranch eggs and sundial snails often hide there. When practical, cut the coral off the plug and glue it onto a new, clean one. Then throw away the original plug, or soak it in the 1:9 bleach solution described in the Palytoxin Safety guide before reuse.
Hydrogen peroxide dips
Some keepers use short hydrogen peroxide dips, especially for colonies showing signs of zoa pox. Peroxide can burn tissue if the dose or time is wrong, so start conservative, follow a tested recipe, and never use it as your only defense against pests.
Signs of stress after a dip
It's normal for polyps to stay closed for a day or two. Watch for:
- Polyps that stay shut longer than three or four days
- Tissue peeling or melting
- Discoloration that gets worse rather than better
If these appear, move the frag to calmer flow and lower light, and keep water quality high. Skip further dips until it recovers.
Safety while dipping
Dipping involves handling zoanthids, so palytoxin precautions apply. Wear gloves and eye protection, keep your hands away from your face, and wash up afterward. Never dip corals in hot water or near a heat source.