what kind of dip for zoa's. Getting first coral.

[odie]

I am hoping to get my first real corals on Friday. I have some mushrooms and kenya tree (that came with rock). I am getting first dibs on some zoa that is coming in and wheat should I look for as they will be freshly shipped in. Also what kind of dip??

Should I avoid any color morphs considering I just have 64watts of pc lights over 20 gallons?

[crvz]

I don't think there are any difference really in colors vs. lighting needs, though with your lighting you may see some color shift from the store to your tank (or from someone elses tank to yours). I usually just do a fresh water dip to test zoanthids, but I'd recommend QT to be honest. Lately I've noticed too many zoa pests.

[Hop]

+1 with CRVZ... I use Tropic Marine Pro Coral Care, TMPCC dip, double strength for 15 minutes. During which I shake the colony vigorously... But even doing this I recently wound up with Zoa eating nudis and may need to treat the whole tank. I recently st up a q-tank for my corals and will not add any new corals directly to the display very soon.

[odie]

Originally Posted by crvz

I don't think there are any difference really in colors vs. lighting needs, though with your lighting you may see some color shift from the store to your tank (or from someone elses tank to yours). I usually just do a fresh water dip to test zoanthids, but I'd recommend QT to be honest. Lately I've noticed too many zoa pests.

I thought freshawater dips are a no no for coral? Or is that just invertabrae?

[crvz]

Originally Posted by odie

I thought freshawater dips are a no no for coral? Or is that just invertabrae?

for most corals that's true, but zoanthids can be dipped freshwater. I did 6 rounds of freshwater dips on every zoa I had in my tank, and I didnt lose any from doing so. Some feel that doing FW dips may increase the chance of infection, but I didnt notice it to be true.

[odie]

How long do you do the freshwater dip for? How many times? I assume same temp and ph etc?

[Jadinop]

I have been really impressed with the effectiveness of this dip. I use it at the recomended strength and only for 5 to 10 mins depending on what type of coral I'm dipping.
http://revivecoralcleaner.com/

However, no currently available dips work against eggs so quarantine and multiple dips over the course of the QT period are the safest option.

[nemmy]

I've always freshwater dipped zoas for about 5 minutes.Recently been overrun by zoa spiders so dipping obviously doesn't kill them although it may kill other bugs.
Corals cannot be freshwater dipped as the osmotic change will kill them.Zoas and mushrooms aren't corals although they are refered to as such.They are actually invertabrates.