Who Gives A Fish Forums

Noticed black band disease on my Acropora today. Water params are stable, 78F, 1.025 salinity, 8.2 pH. Anyone had success treating this without pulling the whole colony? Running a Red Sea Reefer 350 with T5 hybrid lighting.

Black band's nasty stuff. I've had luck with targeted peroxide dips, 3% for 2 minutes, then blasting the dead tissue off with a baster. Keep an eye on your alkalinity, it tends to swing during treatment. What's your nitrate sitting at?

Nitrates are around 5 ppm. Thanks for the tip, gonna try the peroxide dip tonight. Should I isolate the colony or treat it in the display?

Always isolate if possible. Black band spreads fast, and you don't want it jumping to other SPS. I lost a whole Montipora capricornis colony last year from cross contamination. Use a separate frag tank if you've got one.

Dude, that's rough. I'd chuck it in a QT with some carbon to soak up any toxins. Also, crank up the flow in that area, black band hates high oxygen. What kinda wave maker you running?

Agree with isolation. I've seen success with iodine dips too, but peroxide is less harsh. Monitor for tissue recession post dip. How's the coral's polyp extension been?

tortuga wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 12:13 pm Always isolate if possible. Black band spreads fast, and you don't want it jumping to other SPS. I lost a whole Montipora capricornis colony last year from cross contamination. Use a separate frag tank if you've got one.

Yep, learned that the hard way with my Pocillopora. Now I keep a hospital tank on standby. Dynamox, you got a backup system?

Sketchy situation, man. I'd hit it with Revive after the peroxide, just to be safe. Also, check your magnesium levels, low Mg can stress them out. What salt mix you using?

My tank's too small for isolation. Anyone tried erythromycin? Read it works on some bacterial infections but not sure about black band.

Erythromycin's hit or miss. Better to focus on improving water quality and flow. Dynamox, what's your phosphate level? High PO4 can weaken their defenses.