A question for the experts

H@rry · Apr 23, 2010

I have several SPS tanks. Back in "another life" I had added things like mushrooms, palys, and GSP. Now these things have become invasive and are encroaching on the SPS. In addition, I have several Montiporas that are getting out of hand. I want to go through the rock and take out any that are "contaminated" and replace them with "virgin" liverock. My question is: Is there any process/procedure that I can perform on the affected rock to purge it of the troublemakers or do I actually need to get it "out and away" and replace it?

TIA
H@rry

Aquascaper · Apr 23, 2010

I would trade out the rock personally...
trade the incrusted rock for rock that is "non-contaminated"...

There are plenty people who will trade "myself included":neutral:"shameless me"

The downside to removing the unwanted coral is that:
1. GSP's poison is extremely toxic
2. once rock is grown over with 'shrooms, GSP, Xenia....
it is seeded rock and without "cooking" the rock it is likely to see these guys return after a period of time...
3. "pay it forward" there are plenty reefer's who will gain great joy in the
corals that you personally need to rid this tank of....

condor · Apr 23, 2010

im with aquascaper

Dtronic · Apr 23, 2010

Sell the infected rock and buy new.

I see people selling pulsing xenia all the time.

650-IS350 · Apr 23, 2010

2. once rock is grown over with 'shrooms, GSP, Xenia....
it is seeded rock and without "cooking" the rock it is likely to see these guys return after a period of time...
3. "pay it forward" there are plenty reefer's who will gain great joy in the
corals that you personally need to rid this tank of....

CO-SIGN

Znut Reefer · Apr 23, 2010

+ 3rd with Aquascaper

DaveA · Apr 24, 2010

Znut Reefer said:
+ 3rd with Aquascaper

+4 with everyone else. Sell or trade.

surfjeepzx · Apr 24, 2010

As mentioned in many of the responses above... There are many reefers out there that would be thrilled to have the rocks.

This also gives you an opportunity to re-scape and buy some new "furniture" for the "living room"...

GSP and roaches will be the last two living organisms on earth. From experience I suggest completely removing the rock in order to eliminate GSP from the tank. If you want to keep the rock either cook it or just leave it in the sun to dry out for a week or so... then scrub it clean with a stainless steel wire brush rinse and repeat.

If you plan on reusing the rock you can modify the rock with holes for frags and such. Personally I would forward the whole shabang to another reefer and go for a new look.