Coral trimmings in CARX

[YankeeTankee]

For those with a CARX, when your colonies become too large and need a trim, ever throw some of the old coral into the carx? Maybe wait until the reactor needs a refill to do the timming? Or is it better to use dead coral? Either way, any thought on this topic?

If your corals really big, there quite a bit leftover even after making a few frags for friends.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I think it's way better to use dead coral. Live coral would die in there and that would add rotting stuff to your system.

 

[TX_Punisher]

Same as reborn, basically. Its a pretty common practice in some circles Especially with fast-growing colonies In large tanks.

 

[ScottB]

I chuck mine in a bleach bucket. After a month or so of accumulation and cleansing, I throw it into a bucket of dechlor. When I think about it, I'll finally move it over into a bucket of RODI for a while. Finally leave it out to dry and cut or saw it up to size.

 

[therman]

I run a large system with a lot of extra growth (and a ton of demand). Especially during the Reborn shortages I've been saving chunks and feeding them back into the reactor. Initially I was concerned about cleaning them, but came to the realization that I certainly dont get a nutrient spike whenever a colony dies in 900 gallons, so the little bit of tissue isn't going to make a difference. My thinking was that any side effects on chemistry from a bleach or peroxide soak might be worse than the little film of decomposing coral tissue.

I just dry them out and then put in chunks when I refill my reactor every month. FWIW a power washer does a great job at stripping off tissue from a fresh Acropora if you do want to remove it.

Hope that helps.

 

[ScottB]

I run a large system with a lot of extra growth (and a ton of demand). Especially during the Reborn shortages I've been saving chunks and feeding them back into the reactor. Initially I was concerned about cleaning them, but came to the realization that I certainly dont get a nutrient spike whenever a colony dies in 900 gallons, so the little bit of tissue isn't going to make a difference. My thinking was that any side effects on chemistry from a bleach or peroxide soak might be worse than the little film of decomposing coral tissue.

I just dry them out and then put in chunks when I refill my reactor every month. FWIW a power washer does a great job at stripping off tissue from a fresh Acropora if you do want to remove it.

Hope that helps.

I do some modest barter work with my LFS. Part of my "payment" comes in the form of skeleton from their coral tanks and service clients. If I can't pick it up quickly though, the stench becomes an issue and they dump it in a chlorine bath.

You are right about the powerwasher's effectiveness.