getting zoas off a rock

[mrcote1]

I bought a small rock with two types of zoas and some other coral on it. Id like to remove the zoas and put them on a frag plug to seperate them and also dont want the rock in my tank any longer since I don't want the coraline algae taking over. On videos people show methods of using a wood chisel with large colonies that have mats but what could I use with a colony this small? I dont have any wood chisels that small either.

 

[MofoCorals]

You can use the tip of a knife to get under the mat and peel them off or you could use a toenail clipper go breakway the rock with the zoa on it.

 

[mrcote1]

Are zoas pretty sensitive? Like if I nick them with the knife will they die on me?

Also what is the name of that other coral?

 

[MofoCorals]

Looks like some kind of sps, maybe a Acro... zoas are pretty hardy. As long as you don’t cut up the zoa polyp too badly it recover. Just wear gloves and eye protection. They squirt and may be poisonous.

 

[mrcote1]

Thanks!

 

[CoralJunkie]

The rock looks small so I'd use bone cutters and cut the rock rather than the zoaz

 

[mrcote1]

The rock looks small so I'd use bone cutters and cut the rock rather than the zoaz

My main concern with that is I don't want the coraline algae in my tank. I don't like having to scrape it off the glass and overflow and have it take over

 

[MofoCorals]

Coraline will grow. It's a given with a mature reef. As long a syou scrape your glass often it wont calcify your glass.

 

[mrcote1]

Coraline will grow. It's a given with a mature reef. As long a syou scrape your glass often it wont calcify your glass.

Even if I started with all dry rock and sand And replace all coral plugs? I thought coraline had to be introduced?

 

[Chris A.]

Its one of those inevitables like bristle worms. It’ll eventually happen

 

[mrcote1]

That's funny you mention that. I noticed a tiny little (what i assume to be) bristle worm on my glass yesterday and have NO Idea how it got in there.

 

[Arsalan]

If you’re super delicate, you can literally peel the zoas off of any surface without hurting them, then you can glue them onto a plug of what ever. It just takes an intricate process and patience. I usually use a regular razor blade.


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[Arsalan]

Regarding coraline, I take pride in mine. It’s a sign of a healthy reef


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[mrcote1]

Got them off the rock. It was sort of a pain because the mat was tucked into the crevices of the rock real good. I assume I cut into one of the polyps because this thick brown goo started flowing from somewhere.