So I just massacred my Zoa rock.

Crashnt24 · Jul 30, 2020

I attempted to frag some old zoas that took over a rock to make room for some new zoa frags. Well it was unsuccessful. I ended up not being able to peel back the mat or chip at the rock. I just gave them the mower treatment and sliced all the heads off as close to the rock as I could. I guess at least I cleared them off the rock, but killed over 50 heads in the process

Crashnt24 · Jul 30, 2020

After and before pics

HeyJay · Jul 30, 2020

I'd be most worried about palytoxin!

Crashnt24 · Jul 30, 2020

HeyJay said:
I'd be most worried about palytoxin!

I was too. I wore a face shield and shoulder length gloves. I'm still worried lol, I keep psyching myself out by thinking too much.

ReefBeta · Jul 30, 2020

Try use a chisel next time

cameronh · Jul 30, 2020

Hey atleast you made room though! Any big frag/cut or removal like that I leave them in the water with the flow off (submerged) to ensure the dont shoot anything out.....it happened to me once before and it JUST missed my eye. Then just do a water change!
Even if I'm doing a small cut I'll tank some tank water and put it in Tupperware to where the coral is also submerged and cut that way too.

Crashnt24 · Jul 30, 2020

zsxking said:
Try use a chisel next time

I would've if it was any other rock. This is a Pukani rock from my first tank 10+ years ago. Not only can you not get it anymore, it holds sentimental value to me. Crazy I know, but I couldn't break it up. The little critters love this rock compared to the fake stuff on the market now. I also have a huge fiji rock I would never hack at either.

Crashnt24 · Jul 30, 2020

cameronh said:
Hey atleast you made room though! Any big frag/cut or removal like that I leave them in the water with the flow off (submerged) to ensure the dont shoot anything out.....it happened to me once before and it JUST missed my eye. Then just do a water change!
Even if I'm doing a small cut I'll tank some tank water and put it in Tupperware to where the coral is also submerged and cut that way too.

I thought about it, but I didn't have a container large enough. I didn't perform a water change, but I changed my carbon and added a second bag to double the amount. I'll run the carbon for a week.

Oscar47f · Jul 31, 2020

Slicing zoanthids can cause bacterial infections, iodine dip them I hope they all survive ! Be careful with the toxins !

ReefBeta · Jul 31, 2020

Crashnt24 said:
I would've if it was any other rock. This is a Pukani rock from my first tank 10+ years ago. Not only can you not get it anymore, it holds sentimental value to me. Crazy I know, but I couldn't break it up. The little critters love this rock compared to the fake stuff on the market now. I also have a huge fiji rock I would never hack at either.

Not to break up the whole rock, but use chisel to chip off a layer of rock under the polyps. If you chisel from the side under them, you can chip of a pretty thin piece.

NashobaTek · Jul 31, 2020

Totes from Walmart or Target are great for cleaning and holding large rock pieces in under water

NashobaTek · Jul 31, 2020

Totes from Walmart or Target are great for cleaning and holding large rock pieces in under water

Crashnt24 · Jul 31, 2020

zsxking said:
Not to break up the whole rock, but use chisel to chip off a layer of rock under the polyps. If you chisel from the side under them, you can chip of a pretty thin piece.

Well I will have to try that next time. It will still be hard for me to do LOL. I never thought I would love certain rocks as much as I do corals and fish...