Control Encrusting Montipora?

[LagoonReefLife]

I got this green encrusting montipora from a tank break down. It was completely white, almost dead when I got it. I had no idea what it was until it recovered and started growing (not sure if there’s a hobby name).

Now it’s thriving and taking over its rock.
I made a noob mistake and put too many coral on the same rock (small tank).
I should’ve isolated it.

It has grown over and killed parts of an orange Digitata, some Jason Fox special porites, and some of a Stylophora. The Stylo is proving itself strong though, it’s holding its ground.

Anyways, I wouldn’t be adverse to breaking off a big frag, giving it its own rock, and sacrificing the main colony to save the Digitata and Stylo.

Any recommendations on how to go about this? Or some way to control it.

It’s mostly closed up because I changed the flow direction and it’s getting too much in its current spot.

 

[Catawba_Valley_Reef]

Probably a sunset monti.

It’s gonna be tough to beat it back. Some people will use aptasia x or something similar to try to kill off the parts touching other corals.

I always put encrusters on the bottom of the tank.

 

[Biff0rz]

Frag it.

To kill it off on rocks where its encrusted, I use kalk paste. Take some kalk powder, mix it with very little water, then I use a ice cap coral feeder to place a bit on the offending parts with flow off for 10m. It'll nuke anything it touches plus if it's thick enough, it'll harden and stay in place.

 

[LagoonReefLife]

Frag it.

To kill it off on rocks where its encrusted, I use kalk paste. Take some kalk powder, mix it with very little water, then I use an ice cap coral feeder to place a bit on the offending parts with flow off for 10m. It'll nuke anything it touches plus if it's thick enough, it'll harden and stay in place.

Have you tested your alkalinity afterwards?

I like the idea, my main concern is spiking my alkalinity. Or causing a local spike in pH for the other coral and clam that are in the tank.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It’s a straight up weed coral. I have a red one I’ve been trying to kill for years. I scrape it off the rock every once in a while but it always grows back. It’s beautiful if it has room to grow but if you ever want to get rid of it it’s not easy.

 

[Biff0rz]

Have you tested your alkalinity afterwards?

I like the idea, my main concern is spiking my alkalinity. Or causing a local spike in pH for the other coral and clam that are in the tank.

I test alk every 4 hours. My total system is 315g and I rarely notice an increase in either unless I use a lot of it. I have not hurt any other coral when using it, and I have used a LOT of it at once a few times. When I've noticed a change in alk/ph the alk has gone up by no more than .1-.2 and ph less than .1.

Look at it this way -- if you don't control/kill it, it'll kill off nearby corals anyways!

 

[jwestwood]

Beautiful montipora!

 

[LagoonReefLife]

Have you tested your alkalinity afterwards?

I like the idea, my main concern is spiking my alkalinity. Or causing a local spike in pH for the other coral and clam that are in the tank.

I test alk every 4 hours. My total system is 315g and I rarely notice an increase in either unless I use a lot of it. I have not hurt any other coral when using it, and I have used a LOT of it at once a few times. When I've noticed a change in alk/ph the alk has gone up by no more than .1-.2 and ph less than .1.

Look at it this way -- if you don't control/kill it, it'll kill off nearby corals anyways!

Thanks for the details.
Very true, I need to frag and kill it.

I’m not so concerned about the other coral, but mostly the young Maxima clam that’s about 7-8 inches above that Monti.

My total system volume is around 160 gallons. So it’s not a small tank. I think it should be fine for me too.
Especially considering the majority of the kalkwasser is paste that stays in place, and doesn’t enter the water column.

I’ll try it out to tonight after the lights go out, move the clam away from the general area, blast it, move the clam back when I turn the flow back on.

 

[Biff0rz]

Thanks for the details.
Very true, I need to frag and kill it.

I’m not so concerned about the other coral, but mostly the young Maxima clam that’s about 7-8 inches above that Monti.

My total system volume is around 160 gallons. So it’s not a small tank. I think it should be fine for me too.
Especially considering the majority of the kalkwasser is paste that stays in place, and doesn’t enter the water column.

I’ll try it out to tonight after the lights go out, move the clam away from the general area, blast it, move the clam back when I turn the flow back on.

Just go slow with it, try a small spot to start. If you're using a similar tool as I described, of the paste is thick enough it'll slowly slide out on its own, no need to squirt it all over. You can start with a blob about the size of a quarter to get the feel for it.