How to get rid of unwanted zoanthids?

[zygote2k]

just chuck the rock and start over.

[Origami]

just chuck the rock and start over.

If there's nothing more on the rock that you want to keep and can't remove to re-plant, then this is easy and quick.

 

I think you're picture showed that you also have them on the sand. You'll want to get those out, too.

[wangspeed]

I cut a 3/8" clear hollow plastic tube at an angle, and sharpened it even more. Then attached a clear hose to it, start a siphon straight into a drain, and use this to get rid of pests. At one point, I used it to stab, scrape, and siphon away some zoas/palys that I didn't want. I'm not saying it's the best thing to do, but it worked for me with all pumps off, and I was careful to suck away as much of the soft tissue and liquid around the area as possible. Move slowly so you don't stir it around.

[TonyInVa]

Be careful with those. They look similar, but not exactly, like the ones that I was dealing with. Better to be safe than sorry. There's a picture in this 2011 blog entry of the ones that were making the rounds here sometime back.

 

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/04/05/worlds-2nd-deadliest-poison-in-an-aquarium-store-near-you/#.WPLcKGnythE

Yes, I remember when this happened to SteveOutlaw.

[khh27]

Those look like what we call seafoam plays in central va

They spread like wildfire

 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[zygote2k]

You could always have a grow-out contest....

[TonyInVa]

Tony, the ones that I had were ugly - brown to olive brown - and about a half inch across. They spread across the rock and, even with kalk paste, they kept coming back. (Didn't kill them and, even if I did, there were others in places I couldn't reach.) This past summer, before I knew that I had a heart valve problem, I started to reboot my system. Taking the rock out 1/3 at a time, I set them in a trashcan outside that was 1/3 full of water. (I was fully gloved, wore a face shield and a pesticide-rated respirator. I really didn't want to get hit by these a fourth time.) After loading up, I poured a half gallon of muriatic acid in the water, put the lid on the trashcan and walked away for a couple of hours. The acid wiped out the palys and etched the rock. I hosed all the rock down, taking care to rinse off any remaining organics that I could identify. The process seemed to work because I've not seen another since.

 

Yeah, pretty extreme. But I'd been battling them on and off for something like 8 years and it was time to prevail.

I think I will go this route but have several questions Where do I get the  muriatic acid? Will the rock have to recycle, or cause a ammonia spike? How much do I use? How long do I leave the rock in the acid?

Thanks

[Origami]

I think I will go this route but have several questions Where do I get the muriatic acid? Will the rock have to recycle, or cause a ammonia spike? How much do I use? How long do I leave the rock in the acid?

Thanks

Lowe's for the acid. In the paint department. Read up on handling it. It's strong and can be dangerous if mishandled. A half gallon added to 15 gallons of tap water is plenty strong. Add acid to water. Wear gloves and eye protection. Avoid breathing fumes. Rinse well when done. The rock will be (white and) dead (on the surface) and should be re-cured.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk