How to separate nepthea from rock

[echrdur]

Hi everyone,
I've been having this Nepthea for over a year and it's grown quite tremendously, but it's attached itself to some rockwork that I would like to move and I'm wondering how can I remove it without damaging the coral, thanks!

 

[DeniseAndy]

You can remove by gently pulling or cutting the nepthea off the rock. You can do it along the attachment or cut a clean stalk. Do this outside the tank. Just make sure to dip in iodine when done and put on some other rock or rubble to re-attach.

Also, when you add it back in, you will want to run carbon for a bit too if you do not already. It will probably slime and shed.

 

[echrdur]

You can remove by gently pulling or cutting the nepthea off the rock. You can do it along the attachment or cut a clean stalk. Do this outside the tank. Just make sure to dip in iodine when done and put on some other rock or rubble to re-attach.

Also, when you add it back in, you will want to run carbon for a bit too if you do not already. It will probably slime and shed.

It's in a spot where I can't really take the rock out without removing another coral with it, I think that I'll just have to deal with it then. Unless that pulling it back from the rock is safe to do inside the tank, then I'll try that. Thanks!

 

[DeniseAndy]

You can do it in the tank depending. How large is it? Haw large is your system? Do you have a good way to run carbon effeciently?

 

[echrdur]

You can do it in the tank depending. How large is it? Haw large is your system? Do you have a good way to run carbon effeciently?

My tank is a 29DT, but 37 total volume. The coral is about 6 or 7" tall from the base. I run a bag of carbon and change it out monthly, but I also have carbon filter pads that I can throw in.

 

[DeniseAndy]

Okay, you can peel the coral off the rock carefully. Once off, take it out and soak in lugols dip for 15 minutes. Do a small water change if you notice any slime.
Put the coral back where you want it (usually between two rocks to attach is best. Glues will not work nor rubber bands (very well).
After coral is back in, make sure you have fresh carbon, do a water change next couple days. Maybe 2-4g each day. Should be fine.