Zoa and paly growth help

[sweat044]

Need some help. Lately I've been buying frags. I hate the look of frag plugs. I want them to grow on the rock and look natural? Thoughts ideas? I have a 29 gallon biocube running a 120 watt evo above. Also do I need to feed them?

 

[jordan banks]

You may want to try more light and feed them reef roids. I'm running250 watt mh over a 29 gallon. Be careful what you wish for. I'm having to get rid of a bunch of palys and zoas because of too much growth. They are extremely hard to get off rocks.

 

[sweat044]

Any other thoughts?

 

[Poolman]

I would just cut them off the frag plugs and either glue them to the rock or to a piece of rubble and then glue that piece to the rock. Fish poo is a great food for zoas.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I would just cut them off the frag plugs and either glue them to the rock or to a piece of rubble and then glue that piece to the rock. Fish poo is a great food for zoas.

I've seen where many people have difficulty doing this without causing damage to the coral. In the accounts I've read, this usually ends in the frag dying. Do you know of a way that might minimize the damage to the zoa or paly?

My advice would be to try and grow them out, or buy the frag from individuals who will glue them to a piece of of live rock rubble or shell for you instead of buying them on frag plugs.

 

[Poolman]

I have fragged thousands of zoas over the last 6 years. The only time I have trouble is if the zoa is prone to melting anyways.
I use a heavy knife and scrape under them the best I can. If you have the money buy a griphon saw and cut the frag plug.

 

[jokervueboi]

I have fragged thousands of zoas over the last 6 years. The only time I have trouble is if the zoa is prone to melting anyways.
I use a heavy knife and scrape under them the best I can. If you have the money buy a griphon saw and cut the frag plug.

++
Just chop off the plug (bottom of the frag) and glue that onto the rock. Soon the zoa/paly will overtake the frag and rock.

 

[joshporksandwich]

++
Just chop off the plug (bottom of the frag) and glue that onto the rock. Soon the zoa/paly will overtake the frag and rock.

+1 just cut the bottom of the frag plug. Scrapping zoas is not very good unless you are a pro like poolguy.

 

[smiley28]

I take them off the plug if I don't want it in a particular area an example is my Rastas

You can see 2 polyps and 2 babies while plugged I simply remove like stated above with a knife(getting under the glue or whatever is holding the polyps to the disc) then just added more glue to the bottom and

I understand these are bad pics and the one here I actually just took with an iPhone and the Rastas aren't open but! You see there has been growth! The polyp count is around 10

Anyway I'll take another pic in 30 or so mins when they are open

 

[smiley28]

Same terrible side view lol

Here you can tell they are Rastas sorry for the phone pics just wanted to get the point across

 

[ReeferRookie]

I actually hate the look but the ome time i cut a zoa off it died i tried leaving one on and its closed and.hasnt open.up since yet my anemone is living and.very.healthy all perams are fine

 

[deedeesdaddy]

Drill holes in rock with masonry bit.... then when it grows out u can cut the plug out for a friend... the stump didn't make it but u get the idea

 

[deedeesdaddy]

Be careful tho... I've split smaller 2-3 pound rocks... ended up smashing it to bits, then glue frags to bits of live rock so it was kinda a win/win

 

[ReeferRookie]

I would just. Take the frag off the plug with a razor and glue.it.

 

[deedeesdaddy]

Take rock out to drill if possible.... I've drilled rock in the tank... (long masonry bit obviously).... it will cloud the hell outta ur water. It's dust, it clears after a while with no harm to rest of the tank

 

[digitaledge]

BRS Bulk Dry Live Rock Rubble

 

[digitaledge]

I buy BRS Bulk Dry Live Rock Rubble then cut the stem off the plug and glue it to a piece of rubble. It then attaches really well to my current rockwork in the tank. The ZOA's or pallys then grow out over the plug which you cant see plug anymore. Because they don't grow on my main rock work I can keep them in check by thinning out by fragging. Also move around the tank if need be.

 

[sweat044]

Drill holes in rock with masonry bit.... then when it grows out u can cut the plug out for a friend... the stump didn't make it but u get the idea

What does a masonry bit look like and what size? Also if I take the rock out and drill will it cause any issues in my tank?

 

[leadsinker]

Take a exacto knife and try to scrape off gel glue with coral. Carefully lift zoa mat off plug. carefull with palytoxins.
It's fairly easy

 

[ReeferRookie]

I wouldnt drill holes in my rock. Just me. But rinse the rock in rodi before putting it in ur tank so no fragments are left floatinf