Kenya trees are out of control!

[stanleo]

What would you do with this? I haven't really minded it too much, I kind of like the wild look of them but its getting ridiculous. How do I remove them and keep them from coming back?

 

[User1]

Gloves
Forceps
Reef safe epoxy
Carbon (optional depending on how much you are removing)
Rubble (if you want to frag)
Cup of tank water
Bit of Bob Marley
Step stool if needed
Cracked / open window

Basically what you are doing is calming yourself down before starting thus the music. Once the vibe is set you glove up, reach in, clamp the forcep on the base of the stalk as close to the rock as possible. As close as possible. Now with it set you can lift, pull, slowly left and right as you lift it off the rock. It should peel off. take it out of the tank and place it in the cup of tank water.

Once you cleared the area you want look at the rock(s) and see if there is anything left behind. Sometimes you get a clean pull and nothing will be there. Other times, most, you won't. When you don't get a clean separation you get the reef safe epoxy, mix a dab up, and then spread it over the spot the Kenya Tree was at preventing grow back. Can mix in sand with the epoxy and you won't even see it. It will blend in.

I use this method with other corals such as Xenia. After you are done you can toss the frags in the garbage outside or in a low flow area with rubble to attach. In a couple days you will have frags to trade in at the LFS or give away. That is what I do anyway, give away when I had a lot of Kenya Tree.

If you are pulling a lot out I'd suggest toss in a bag of carbon in your sump if you have one. Just to clear any left over coral toxin if there. Doesn't hurt.

In any case you get the idea. Oh yeah, whatever music works doesn't have to be Bob.

 

[Super Fly]

for me, I just kept pruning them w scissor as close to rock as possible while placing other corals nearby to prevent Kenya tree from taking over and eventually got them under control. Keep an eye out for those that drop and spread.

 

[mike550]

Newbie Q here. When you prune the Kenya tree is it possible to glue the piece to a frag plug? I wouldn't mind starting a smaller piece elsewhere in the tank and then pruning it down to maintain.

 

[User1]

Newbie Q here. When you prune the Kenya tree is it possible to glue the piece to a frag plug? I wouldn't mind starting a smaller piece elsewhere in the tank and then pruning it down to maintain.

Yes, you can. Thick gel super glue and out of water. The way I did this both with Kenya Tree and Fuzzy Lobo is to take the stalk out of water, dab dry the bottom of it, place some glue on the frag plug, and then connect the two together pressing firmly from the frag plug to the base of the coral. Not super pushing, strong, force stuff just lightly holding the two together. They should be firmly secure in a couple minutes or less then place back in the tank in a lower flow area for a day.

Others will take the cut frag and place it in a tupperware container that has rubble in it. High wall type tupperware. Anyway the idea here is to place the frag cut in the container with rubble and low flow. It will attach naturally in a couple days then glue the rock/rubble to a plug or in your aquascape.

I've done both and both work. Up to you. Hope this helps.