Instructions
Clean your corals. Remove any of the bacteria from the corals while they are still in the tank. Clean the affected corals with a soft brush. You may have to continue gently brushing for a few days because the bacteria can reappear.
Remove any parts of your coral that have been killed by bacteria. Cut off diseased portions of your coral to prevent the disease from spreading.
Check your water flow. Most corals need very strong currents to wash over them in order to stop any bacterial growth from forming, so make sure there are no blockages in your tank's water flow.
Test your aquarium water. Bacteria often form when the nitrate, phosphate and silicate levels get too high. Nitrates should be between 5 and 10 parts per million, or ppm, for the total level. The phosphate level in your water should be between 0.02 and 0.04 ppm. Silicates must be under 0.5 ppm or bacteria will form.
Treat your aquarium with a chemical filtration compound if your nitrate, phosphate or silicate levels are too high. You can buy these compounds at a pet store or order them online.
Apply vitamin C to your coral and your aquarium to stop the bacteria. Rub powdered vitamin C on the affected area of your coral. Treat the rest of your aquarium with 5 ppm of vitamin C daily.
How to Stop Bacteria From Eating Away Corals
Bacteria can be found in aquariums in many different forms. Some of the more common bacterial infections that infect coral are the brown slime bacterial infection, black band disease and the white syndrome. The bacteria can be evident as a brown, slimy residue, and other times it may remain undetected. Bacteria in aquariums can cause damage to coral and fish, depending on the levels of bacteria present. Keeping your aquarium clean can help stop bacteria from forming.