Dipping Corals: Why and How to Quarantine New Frags

Dip Every Coral. Every Single Time.

Regardless of how reputable the seller is or how clean the coral looks — dip it.

Why Dipping Matters

Coral pests are tiny, often invisible to the naked eye, and they hitchhike on frags constantly.

Common hitchhikers:

• Acropora eating flatworms (AEFW) — devastating to SPS, nearly invisible
• Red bugs — tiny mites on acropora causing stress and colour loss
• Montipora eating nudibranchs — small, camouflaged, destructive
• Zoanthid eating nudibranchs — can wipe out a colony
• Sundial snails — target zoanthids specifically
• Aiptasia — the classic pest anemone, hitchhikes on frag plugs

The Basic Dipping Process

1. Mix the dip — follow the product instructions using tank water (not tap or RO)
2. Place the coral in the dip for 5–15 minutes depending on the product
3. Gently agitate — use a turkey baster to blow water over the coral
4. Inspect the dip water — hold it up to a light and look for anything that fell off
5. Rinse in clean saltwater
6. Place in the tank or quarantine system

Quarantine — The Extra Step Most Skip

A proper quarantine tank catches anything that survives the dip, especially eggs.

• Simple setup: 20–40 litre tank, a heater, a small pump, and basic lighting
• Keep new corals isolated for 2–4 weeks
• Dip again at the one-week mark to catch anything that hatched

The effort is especially worth it for expensive frags or SPS.

Quick Tips

• Never dip in RO water — the osmotic shock will damage the coral
• Don't dip longer than recommended — more isn't better
• Inspect with a magnifying glass for SPS
• Keep notes on what was dipped and when

Does anyone have a go-to dipping routine that works well?