Question about removing palys from liverock

SaleenCB · Sep 16, 2016

Hey everyone! Was hoping I could get some advice. I have a large piece of liverock that has a large group of unidentified palys on it that I am wanting to remove. They have grown and multiplied rather quickly and I was thinking of taking the rock out of the tank and removing them. I know the risks to myself with removing the palys and will take the proper precautions. Is it best to scrub them off or get under them and remove them with instruments? Also I am worried about putting this rock back into the tank too soon, out of fear of it having any residual palytoxin on it. Is there a recommended time frame to keep the rock out of the tank? Should I treat the rock with any chemicals to neutralize any residual toxin? Thanks in advance!!!!

cromag27 · Sep 16, 2016

Acid bath. lol.

clownfish chris · Sep 16, 2016

That will do it! A quick dip is all you would need. Dip in acid taking proper precautions, dip in salt water rince, soak overnight, place back in tank. That would have little affect on the bacteria deep in the rock.

If the colony isn't too large, coat the palys with kalk paste and let that sit for a few minutes. Rince and place back in tank.

Alfrareef · Sep 16, 2016

I use a razor blade.
Place them under RODI water and cut scratching from the rock.
4-5 mins and I'm done.

gashunk · Sep 16, 2016

Get a whole new piece of rock

stevieduk · Sep 16, 2016

what are Palys

SaleenCB · Sep 16, 2016

Hi stevieduk. Palys are short for palythoa corals. They are soft corals that are very similar to zoanthids. Here is some information about them: http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/good-corals-for-beginners-zoanthid-and-palythoa/

Bunnee911 · Sep 16, 2016

I am using Aipstasia X on mine.

stevieduk · Sep 17, 2016

ok than

SaleenCB said:
Hi stevieduk. Palys are short for palythoa corals. They are soft corals that are very similar to zoanthids. Here is some information about them: http://www.reefaquarium.com/2012/good-corals-for-beginners-zoanthid-and-palythoa/

ok , thankyou , they look nice

vic67 · Sep 17, 2016

I use tweezers and try to peel them off at the base. If any of the palys do tear I scrub the area with a stiff steel brush. I have peeled them off while the rock was in the tank with no livestock being affected; I do always run carbon.

Luke Schnabel · Sep 17, 2016

I've removed many from my tank and all I do is shut down the pumps, use tweezers, rip them off and then turn pumps back on. Then I add a fresh batch of carbon and make my skimmer wet skim. Never had a problem yet