Are these zoas or palythoas ?

Coralmaniac21 · Feb 8, 2019

I just got back from the lfs i purchased a orange Yuma mushroom for 15$ and it came on a fairly large rock. Like 5 lbs rock. I chipped the mushroom off with a hammer and screw driver as i dont put big rocks in my tank from other systems. As i was looking at this rock underneeyh it has like 15 heads of zoas or palythoas on it.

I always get freaked out with the whole paly toxin thing as i hear its palythoas that have it... I do however have 4 different types of zoas in my display tank.. These arent too bad looking they have a flourescent green color to them under blue light.

I just cant tell what they are.. They are all over the rock seperated from eachother and just have a longish stalk to them.

Lady in the store said the rock had palythoa on it.. but i dunno if she was rigjt or not. Id hate to toss this in the trash if there zoas.. Because well hey free coral with a 15$ mushroom that should have been 50$

These are the best pic i could get of the rock in the bag. Also the other pic of the yellowish zoas Are those zoas ? They have long stalks too and they look a little different then my other zoas.. SO im not sure what they are

DSC reef · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome to R2R. The first 2 pics resemble palythoa, the last look like zoas. Some palys actually use sand in the stalks so you can tell that way occasionally. IMO I wouldn't worry to much. Don't heat the rock and if you decide to remove then use eye wear and gloves. They look like they have some decent color.

#WelcometoR2R

James M · Feb 8, 2019

Welcome to reef2reef
The green ones look like palys. Why are you freak out by paly toxin ? Zoas have them too .Just don’t boil the rock with them , sniff a freshly cut frag, and wear eye protections

Coralmaniac21 · Feb 8, 2019

Well the way this rock was.. the shroom was on the top and the palys were on the bottom.. so 2 or 3 palys got smashed like a pancake so i dunno if i wanna mess with it lol.

So would you guys chizzle them off in chunks/rubble and glue em in your tank or no ? Looking at the stalks i can see sand on it so i guess they are

Here they are under blue light.. Note it looks more green flourescent in oerson can never filter mys9+perfectly

Also what is that glowing red stuff... is that coraline ?

Lovemyreef2015 · Feb 8, 2019

Coralmaniac21 · Feb 8, 2019

Thanks.

So what would you guys do chizzle them off or toss the rock ? Its a good sozed rock bout 7 incjes long 5 inches wide and 4 inches tall.

Wish i could just put the whole thing in but bristleworms and other nasties isnt worth it lol so i have to chizzle with a hammer and screw drive to get small chunks.

Do all palys get huge or do some stay zoa sized. I dont like those massive ones you see in some tanks.. I mean these look small zoa like size ones.. Do they grow fast should i glue them to a seperate rock so it doesnt take over my tank or should i glue em with my other zoas ?

Jmareef1022 · Feb 8, 2019

Yes they grow fast and if you want to keep them isolate them. If not I would just let the rock sit outside and let it dry out for a couple weeks then rinse off and back in the tank. That's what I would do with it.

Coralmaniac21 · Feb 8, 2019

I isolated them to a small rock i had that i use for that. Bout 3 inches by 2 inches. I had to scrape thrm off the rock with enough rock on them to glue them.

I originally dipped the whole rock in to kill nasties... then put it in my tank and i saw a bristle worm moving in it.. so i said heck no and thats when i just scraped em off and glued em on with puddy.. I kill3d like 3 of em trying to do this. And maybe 2 more i glued wont make it. But the others seems ok.. So well see.. put charcoal in my filter in case of toxins.

I actually like the color on these