Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi All,

I've got a bit of a situation with my zoanthid colonies - 5 total, with a couple of small ones and 3 larger ones that are showing signs of Zoa Pox. I've read up on the treatment with Furan-2, but I've got some questions specific to my case.

First off, the article recommends mixing 1 packet with a cup of water, but one of my zoa rocks is huge and I'd need around 8-10 cups to cover it. Would using one packet be okay, and just leaving it in the dip for a bit longer (maybe 30 minutes to an hour)? Or should I use two packets? The Furan-2 isn't cheap - $16 for 10 packets at my LFS, so 6 treatments over 2 weeks would be around $100.

I'm also thinking about using less Furan-2 because the infection isn't severe yet, and I don't want to stress the zoas out too much. Thoughts on that?

I'm curious about using Vitamin C during the dip - I've heard it can help, but I'm worried about adding it to the tank and causing an algae bloom or other issues. Has anyone used Sodium Ascorbate with success? Where can I find it?

Will the Furan-2 kill off micro brittle stars, bacteria on the rock, or corraline algae? I'd hate to lose any of those beneficial organisms.

Lastly, why do I need to use fresh saltwater for the dip? I'm not a fan of using water with different parameters - would it be okay to use DT water instead?

A few notes on my setup: my zoanthids are otherwise healthy, staying open during the day and growing well (even producing babies). I did an iodine and FW dip about 3 weeks ago to get rid of some nudibranchs, so maybe that stress caused the Zoa Pox to take hold. My water quality is good, with all parameters in check.

I've included some pics of the infected zoas (taken at night, so they're closed).

Thanks in advance!

Kyle, I've had my fair share of dealing with Zoa Pox and doing massive dips to prevent it from spreading to my other frags and colonies.

I've never used RO/DI water for my dips, instead I use water from my main tank and treat them in 5-gallon buckets - it's a great excuse to do a water change at the same time.

From what I've read, some people even use one packet for just a cup or two of water. I figure, if some polyps are already far gone, they might not survive the dip anyway. I've seen some small brittle stars and ampipods survive shorter dips, but I'm not sure how they'd handle 20-30 minute dips.

Personally, I used to use two packets for 2.5 gallons of tank water, and I always have a spare 5-gallon bucket of tank water set aside for rinsing before putting the dipped pieces back in the main tank. One thing I'd advise is to never treat Furan-2 in your main tank - we just don't know what kind of impact it could have on your tank's system.

zenko9, thanks again for your help - I really appreciate it. I saw your responses in a lot of threads about zoa pox I was reading through tonight, and they were super informative. I do plan to dip all my zoas, but I'm glad we're on the same page about not doing it in the main tank. My polyps are actually doing pretty well, just a few spots on each colony, so I'm hoping to catch the issue early.

I have a couple more questions for you, if you don't mind. First, would 1 packet for 1 gallon and a 30-min dip be okay? I know you mentioned using 2 packets for 2 1/2 gallons, but I want to make sure I'm not over- or under-dosing.

I also had a second question that I added after you replied - sorry about that. Should I use Vitamin C during the dip? I'm a bit nervous about adding it to the tank and causing an algae bloom or other issues. Do you think it's worth the risk, or should I just stick with the Furan-2? And where can I find Sodium Ascorbate to use - I've been having trouble tracking it down.

Thanks again for your help, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

1. I'd say 1 packet for 1 gallon and a 30-min dip is doable, but keep a close eye on the polyps - they're the ones who'll ultimately decide. Check on them every 10 minutes or so, and if you notice any adverse reactions, pull them out ASAP and give them a good rinse. Once they're back in the tank, make sure they're getting some decent, indirect flow to help them recover.

2. As for Vitamin C, I've had a pretty rough experience with it in the past, so I'm not too keen on recommending it. I know some folks have had success with it, but personally, I wouldn't risk it - the potential consequences just aren't worth it. If you do decide to try it, just make sure you're keeping a close eye on your tank parameters, especially your Alk and pH levels.

Here's a rewritten version of the post based on the provided user metrics:

Hey everyone, just thought I'd share some info on preventative maintenance and a possible cure for Zoanthid Pox.

Preventative Maintenance is key, folks. Check and clean your heaters and powerheads regularly. Keep up with water changes and maintain your equipment to prevent stress on your tank. Don't over-handle your corals, it can cause stress and stunt their growth.

Now, about Furan-2. Thanh Nguyen has found a repeatable cure for Zoanthid Pox using this medication. Furan-2 is effective against a wide variety of bacterial diseases and can be used in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

For treatment, you'll need 1 cup of new saltwater and 1 capsule of Furan-2. Mix the capsule with the new saltwater until it turns green, then add your zoas for 15-30 minutes. After treatment, wash your zoas in a separate cup of tank water and return them to the tank.

Some important notes:

- Make sure to match the temp, pH, and salinity level of your new saltwater to your tank before treatment.
- Keep your temp between 78-82 degrees, as Furan-2 works best in higher heat.
- Increase your water changes during treatment to promote recovery.
- Don't overdo it, 3 treatments in a row with 4-7 days of rest in between should do the trick.

I've heard some people have had success with this treatment, but be sure to monitor your tank parameters and adjust as needed.

Thanks so much for the help Charles, really appreciate it, I'm going to give it a try now. Take care!

Wishing you all the best with the treatment, keep us posted on the progress, really appreciate your detailed questions and hope it helps others with similar issues.

Just a quick update. I did the first dip last night with 1 packet and 12 cups of SW (3/4 gallon). Tonight, I doubled the dose - still small compared to the directions, but I'm being cautious. Not much to report on results yet, but my zoas are still opening up, even a bit tonight right after the dip. I'll keep you all posted after the 3rd dip. Thanks for your patience, and I appreciate the help from everyone, especially zenko9.

I'm about to start treating my zoa pox, and I had a question - when you say a "packet" of Furan-2, do you mean the entire package or just a single capsule? I've got Furanase, which comes in tablets, and I'm not sure if it's the same thing.

I also spoke with a vet who was pretty concerned about my use of Furanase - she said it's highly carcinogenic and recommended wearing gloves when handling it. She also suggested boiling any water that's been treated with Furanase before disposing of it, as it can remain stable and pose a risk to the environment. That's definitely something to consider.

I'm treating my zoa pox, but I'm not bothering with the ugly ones - I figure if they're not worth saving, I might as well just get rid of them. Trailblazer pox seems to have a thing for blue palys, so I'm not surprised I got hit.

My Furan-2 came in individual packets, not capsules like some other medications I've seen.

I'll share my experience - the Furan-2 didn't seem to have a huge impact on my zoas. I think it may have slowed the zoa pox down a bit, but it's come back, probably because I didn't do additional doses. I'm guessing the main reason is that my mix was too weak - I didn't want to risk the zoas and other life on the rocks, and buying a lot of Furan-2 for large rocks with zoas would've been expensive. My zoas don't seem to be affected too badly by the zoa pox yet, but I'll probably be dipping them again soon. Good luck with your treatment!