How do I get rid of Zoanthids?

[mook1178]

I have some zoanthids that have taken over my Candy Cane Coral. I will get a pic when I get home from work. They are growing all over the coral and are in between the coral heads.

What is the best way to get rid of them? just pull them off? vinegar? lemon juice?

 

[mook1178]

Here is a pic

 

[EnterName]

Whatever you decide to do, do it outside of the tank if possible. Wear gloves and eye protection (zoas can spit out water when retracting) in a well ventilated area. Rinse the treated rock after treatment in a bucket with tank water you pour down the drain afterward.

This way the least amount of toxins are released into the tank. Sure, most Zoas are probably reasonably safe and don't contain palytoxin producing zooxanthellae, but even less potent toxins may irritate other corals or hurt your fish so it's always a good idea to treat rocks & corals outside the tank. This is safer for you and your tank inhabitants, regardless of how dangerous your corals actually are.

As for your treatment of choice... I don't think zoas will dissolve as easy as aiptasia so physical removal might be necessary even when working with highly concentrated acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

 

[mook1178]

Whatever you decide to do, do it outside of the tank if possible. Wear gloves and eye protection (zoas can spit out water when retracting) in a well ventilated area. Rinse the treated rock after treatment in a bucket with tank water you pour down the drain afterward.

This way the least amount of toxins are released into the tank. Sure, most Zoas are probably reasonably safe and don't contain palytoxin producing zooxanthellae, but even less potent toxins may irritate other corals or hurt your fish so it's always a good idea to treat rocks & corals outside the tank. This is safer for you and your tank inhabitants, regardless of how dangerous your corals actually are.

As for your treatment of choice... I don't think zoas will dissolve as easy as aiptasia so physical removal might be necessary even when working with highly concentrated acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

I can't remove the rock they're on. How do I do it while they're in the water?

I won't go ham and kill them all on the first day. I just need to know what's the best method for in water

 

[Isaac Alves]

Maybe find someone who has a zoa eating angel? My Pygmy lemon peel eradicated my pandora zoas and Xenia colonies.

 

[Macropharyngodon]

Maybe find someone who has a zoa eating angel? My Pygmy lemon peel eradicated my pandora zoas and Xenia colonies.

This idea would definitely be good to try, and I am sure there is someone trying to get rid of an angel with expensive taste :)