Red coral our of control

[danieltouchette1964]

I have this soft coral. It's getting out of control. How do I control it or rid of it.
Also I have this red algae on my glass
What is causing it and how to rid of it
Thank you

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I dont know if that is kenya tree or pulsing xenia, but either way you are doomed. Try to isolate the rock so hopefully it doesnt spread further. You might consider pulling the rocks out and just cook/cure them again.

The pink kind of looks like coraline algae, if its hard to scrape off, its coraline. Coraline is a sign of good water conditions, but of course you dont want it covering your front glass, so you'll have to control it with a scraper.

If the red just blows off the glass easily, then its cyano, which is a nuisance bacteria/algae. There are thousands of threads on this forum discussing different ways of fighting it off. But the first thing is to identify what it is.

 

[KrisReef]

Welcome to Ree2Reef!

That xenia is a huge issue. It will grow from tiny fragments so be careful if you try to manage it by hedge trimming.

That coralline can also become a problem encrusting over the glass. Get a good scraper, I really like my Flipper for acrylic but there are other options for glass.

 

[danieltouchette1964]

I dont know if that is kenya tree or pulsing xenia, but either way you are doomed. Try to isolate the rock so hopefully it doesnt spread further. You might consider pulling the rocks out and just cook/cure them again.

The pink kind of looks like coraline algae, if its hard to scrape off, its coraline. Coraline is a sign of good water conditions, but of course you dont want it covering your front glass, so you'll have to control it with a scraper.

If the red just blows off the glass easily, then its cyano, which is a nuisance bacteria/algae. There are thousands of threads on this forum discussing different ways of fighting it off. But the first thing is to identify what it is.

How would I cook or cure the rocks.

 

[Pkunk35]

Can you take a pic of the full front of the tank so we can see the amount of infestation?

agree that if you can pull those rocks out of the tank I would in order to get rid of Xenia as a fast fix.
Not sure if fendabendazol works on Xenia but you could also research that if pulling rock isn’t an option and scraping/siphoning isn’t realistic. GL! Tank looks healthy! But def solve those Xenia they grow so fast

 

[KrisReef]

How would I cook or cure the rocks.

scrape off all the loose soft coral and any other growing stuff.
Rinse off, drop them in a bucket.
I would seal the lid and put it in my backyard for a couple of weeks.
Change the water and wait a few more weeks.
repeat until nothing was growing on them, rinse and put them back in.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How would I cook or cure the rocks.

lol, its an old expression, there are different ways, but personally I would pull the rocks, 1-2 at a time, let them sit in a bucket of bleach water for a few days with a powerhead. It will kill everything on the rock, then rinse super well and put them back in the tank. Just a couple at a time so you dont ruin the biolfilter.

 

[danieltouchette1964]

This is my infestation

 

[KrisReef]

Look up “Rip Clean” on here posted by-
@brandon429

 

[danieltouchette1964]

lol, its an old expression, there are different ways, but personally I would pull the rocks, 1-2 at a time, let them sit in a bucket of bleach water for a few days with a powerhead. It will kill everything on the rock, then rinse super well and put them back in the tank. Just a couple at a time so you dont ruin the biolfilter.

Do i mix with water and bleach, or just bleach.
Also will I loose the color in my stones.
Thank you

 

[KrisReef]

Do i mix with water and bleach, or just bleach.
Also will I loose the color in my stones.
Thank you

Yes, the rock will bleach towards white and everything dies.
If you let it rot in a dark bucket the macro life will die but the bacteria will survive.

 

[danieltouchette1964]

Thank you.
Question
Once I intro the rock back in the aquarium will the rock get its color back.
Thank you

 

[Uncle99]

Your rock scape does not look complicated.

If you get those rocks out, one by one, I’d try chip out the rock around the base of the Xenia, remove that piece, and put my live rock back, unharmed.

Since your going to take out the rocks anyways, nothing to lose as I see it, except a small fraction of your rock, which is easy to add. Maybe not as bad as you think.

If there were any small pieces left I’d just use Aptasia X on them.

Just a thought, good luck.

 

[danieltouchette1964]

Your rock scape does not look complicated.

If you get those rocks out, one by one, I’d try chip out the rock around the base of the Xenia, remove that piece, and put my live rock back, unharmed.

Since your going to take out the rocks anyways, nothing to lose as I see it, except a small fraction of your rock, which is easy to add. Maybe not as bad as you think.

If there were any small pieces left I’d just use Aptasia X on them.

Just a thought, good luck.

Thank you
I'll try that

 

[Uncle99]

Thank you
I'll try that

Put the rock in a bucket of DT water, put rock on hard surface, take a flat head screwdriver, and punch just outside the base.
You may break some rock.
Time for updated rock scape!

I removed 6 rock flowers from a rock same way, then transplanted.

Just way easier and less work than starting from zero with bleached rock.

Can be saved without interruption IMM.

 

[danieltouchette1964]

Thank you
I'll try that

 

[danieltouchette1964]

Some rocks where the Xenia is attached I also have some soft Coral attached, is it safe to still take it out of water
Thanks