Frags and invading algae

[flricordia]

Simple way to remove algae from frags that are being infested. Usually pulling it will only encourage the algae to regrow faster and thicker.
Try placing the frag in very low light for a couple weeks. Make sure they still get some actinic. If yo don't have actinic set up a small corner of the tank and place a small actinic 9wt or something against the tank. This will keep the zoas alive.
This frag of Mohawks I got with algae growing on it and starting to take it over. I placed the frag under actinic only lighting March 16th.

This is the frag today. I have placed them low in the tank and will watch for a few days/week to make sure all the algae is gone then place them back under high light since Mohawks do best under this. Note that the coraline not only survived but continued to spread.

Course, if you have algae problems elsewhere in your tank you will need to take measures on controling it while the frags are under the actinic ridding themselves of the growth.

 

[MikeB]

Wow interesting

 

[slipondajimmy]

good piece of info there. Thanks a bunch

 

[Hypertek99]

My hermits eat the algae super fast when i get a new frag with algae on it.

 

[subielover]

Thanks Mike for revealing one of your zoa growing secrets, much appreciated.

 

[flricordia]

No secrets here. If there is something I know works I try to share it. I am still learning myself and if you knew my thoughts about what I do know about zoas you would see that I know very little. lol
But anytime something does seem to make it a little easier to keep them alive and growing thereby advancing the hobby it should be shared no matter by whom.

 

[Zoalover34]

Nice lookin mohawks man

 

[treylane]

For those of us without hermits:

 

[flricordia]

I personally don't care for the hermits, urchins or even large snails for that matter. Always seem to knock over, irritate and/or damage the zoa frags.
I do love the stomatellas though.

 

[treylane]

A very expensively earned law of reefing: GLUE YOUR FRAGS DOWN.

Even without snails and hermits and urchins, unglued frags wind up getting lost/mauled/etc. Glue stuff down cuz it makes sense, and as a bonus, you don't have to fret about whether to buy cool inverts.

 

[flricordia]

A very expensively earned law of reefing: GLUE YOUR FRAGS DOWN.

Even without snails and hermits and urchins, unglued frags wind up getting lost/mauled/etc. Glue stuff down cuz it makes sense, and as a bonus, you don't have to fret about whether to buy cool inverts.

I prefer the faster growth I get from the zoanthids to having inverts crawling over them. But everyone has their preferences when it comes to keeping reef tanks.
Nice looking urchin BTW. What is it called?