Help! Strings on Zoas

[Jaden9933]

I bought a small zoa frag about a week ago that had some “string” coming off of both the stalk and the plug. I pulled off what I could, but, after returning from a week long vacation, they’re all back and there’s more than before! I’ve tried looking this up but can’t seem to find an answer. The other zoas I bought at the same time haven’t had this problem and they came from the same tank so I’m a bit stumped

 

[KrisReef]

Looks like some kind of algae.

Remove the coral and plug, remove the coral from that plug and glue it to the rock or onto a clean plug.

 

[SchrutesReefs]

Looks like some hair algae. I would dip it and brush it clean.

 

[Jaden9933]

Looks like some kind of algae.

Remove the coral and plug, remove the coral from that plug and glue it to the rock or onto a clean plug.

How do I remove it from the plug without damaging it? I never knew you were able to

 

[Jaden9933]

Looks like some hair algae. I would dip it and brush it clean.

I dipped it when I first got it which didn’t seem to help at all but I’ll try it again!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hair algae. Take frag out and brush with firm toothbrush and Hydrogen peroxide and return plug to tank

 

[Jaden9933]

Hair algae. Take frag out and brush with firm toothbrush and Hydrogen peroxide and return plug to tank

The toothbrush won’t damage the zoas?

 

[KrisReef]

Removal or toothbrushing, you have to be careful but either can be done.

 

[Cpthairychest]

The toothbrush won’t damage the zoas?

what did you end up doing? I have some algae around a couple of my zoa's it looks like. Wondering how things turned out for you?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

Take the frag out, put it in a small container with some tank water. Start pouring hydrogen peroxide into the container, keep adding it until the plug starts to bubble. Let the coral sit in there for a couple minutes, then remove and place it back in the tank. Can usually kill off the algae in one go, I've only had one frag that took 2 dips but it was 99% algae and 1% zoa lol the zoas will be mad for a little while, but they'll get over it!

 

[Cpthairychest]

Take the frag out, put it in a small container with some tank water. Start pouring hydrogen peroxide into the container, keep adding it until the plug starts to bubble. Let the coral sit in there for a couple minutes, then remove and place it back in the tank. Can usually kill off the algae in one go, I've only had one frag that took 2 dips but it was 99% algae and 1% zoa lol the zoas will be mad for a little while, but they'll get over it!

do you recommend this over the brushing method? what's your success rate?

 

[LiveFreeAndReef]

do you recommend this over the brushing method? what's your success rate?

100% on success rate. Brushing does remove most of the algae, but if you miss any it'll come back. Dipping in hydrogen peroxide just straight up kills the algae

 

[Jaden9933]

what did you end up doing? I have some algae around a couple of my zoa's it looks like. Wondering how things turned out for you?

Okay so at this point in my reefing experience, I am a strong advocate for dipping zoas in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 2min maximum. I have does this to many zoa frags (one colony a couple of times) and it always ends up helping them out. They don’t always look happy right after, and may even form some bubbles under their flesh for a day or two, but just give it time and don’t stress! After maybe a week, your zoas should be looking happier and opening more! The algae on the frag itself should be gone by around day 3-5 depending on how severe it was. Just make sure to rinse the frag and coral is some tank water, after the dip, and before placing it back in your tank!

Most people ask about diluting the peroxide, but if you are using 3%, it’s not needed. Please also know, this is not safe for all corals. Zoas have never had a problem for me, however.

 

[Jaden9933]

do you recommend this over the brushing method? what's your success rate?

If you hit the zoa with the bristles, you’ll end up irritating it a bit more than just dipping it would. It could also tear their flesh, causing them to melt. I damaged mine and they took almost a 4 weeks to open back up

100% on success rate. Brushing does remove most of the algae, but if you miss any it'll come back. Dipping in hydrogen peroxide just straight up kills the algae

I agree! Brushing also won’t kill what’s growing under the flesh of the coral as well as soaking it would if not done correctly.

 

[Dom]

The toothbrush won’t damage the zoas?

You aren't brushing the Zoa, just the plug!

 

[Just John]

Okay so at this point in my reefing experience, I am a strong advocate for dipping zoas in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 2min maximum. I have does this to many zoa frags (one colony a couple of times) and it always ends up helping them out. They don’t always look happy right after, and may even form some bubbles under their flesh for a day or two, but just give it time and don’t stress! After maybe a week, your zoas should be looking happier and opening more! The algae on the frag itself should be gone by around day 3-5 depending on how severe it was. Just make sure to rinse the frag and coral is some tank water, after the dip, and before placing it back in your tank!

Most people ask about diluting the peroxide, but if you are using 3%, it’s not needed. Please also know, this is not safe for all corals. Zoas have never had a problem for me, however.

What they said

 

[vetteguy53081]

The toothbrush won’t damage the zoas?

No- obviously don’t make contact with zoas and go after the roots, not the strands themselves

 

[LRT]

This is where cheap handheld rechargeable dremel with diamond blade really pays off. You can cut right up to and around soft tissue of foot on shrooms and zoas if your careful.
Smart practice to get into the habit of removing all foreign frag plugs, rocks etc before introduced into system. I learned the hard way and let some nasty algae into system. I would have rather had bugs with all the man hours I had to put in removing it. Idk if certain reefs build defenses to particular algae but the one I recieved was no laughing matter.

 

[Jaden9933]

This is where cheap handheld rechargeable dremel with diamond blade really pays off. You can cut right up to and around soft tissue of foot on shrooms and zoas if your careful.
Smart practice to get into the habit of removing all foreign frag plugs, rocks etc before introduced into system. I learned the hard way and let some nasty algae into system. I would have rather had bugs with all the man hours I had to put in removing it. Idk if certain reefs build defenses to particular algae but the one I recieved was no laughing matter.

I have a dremel and bought about a 20 pack of Diamond blades on Amazon for about $12. I use that and bone cutters for cutting the frags.

 

[Jaden9933]

You aren't brushing the Zoa, just the plug!

No- obviously don’t make contact with zoas and go after the roots, not the strands themselves

This was an old question from when I was still new to this and only had the one zoa frag. These are my zoas now.

Much progress has been made