Removing pocillopora

[ReefJCB]

So like many newbie reefers, I made the mistake of putting an invasive coral in my tank. I was lucky enough to avoid GSP, Xenia, and Kenya tree, but I did put in a Frag of pocillopora.

Low and behold, it’s done well and increased in size at least 10x. I noticed my first polyp bailout last month and was able to scrape it off.

I’m wanting to remove the colony but want to make sure it doesn’t turn into a polyp bailout rainstorm. Any suggestions? The base of the colony will not just snap off as it’s quite thick. Removing the rock it’s on is also out of the question.

I’m sure there are also mini colonies that I’ve missed. Would zapping smaller ones with kalk paste or Aiptasia x work?

 

[Reefltx]

Just break off the colony and epoxy over the encrusted base. After a few months of removing my colony, I did find some trying to grow in a few areas. What I did was put super glue over them, haven't seen any since.

 

[2Wheelsonly]

So like many newbie reefers, I made the mistake of putting an invasive coral in my tank. I was lucky enough to avoid GSP, Xenia, and Kenya tree, but I did put in a Frag of pocillopora.

Low and behold, it’s done well and increased in size at least 10x. I noticed my first polyp bailout last month and was able to scrape it off.

I’m wanting to remove the colony but want to make sure it doesn’t turn into a polyp bailout rainstorm. Any suggestions? The base of the colony will not just snap off as it’s quite thick. Removing the rock it’s on is also out of the question.

I’m sure there are also mini colonies that I’ve missed. Would zapping smaller ones with kalk paste or Aiptasia x work?

Get a larger fish net, modify the stem so you can lay the net below the poci like a trap. TURN OFF FLOW and chip away with the coral frag bone cutters; pieces will fall into the net and then you can glue/epoxy the stubborn stuff. I find that if you chip away enough you can pretty much snap all of it off the rock in small chunks.

 

[Bj’s Reef]

Aptasia x works good on them as well. The directions on the bottle says to keep it away from corals. So I did the opposite and it killed them. Give it a try it worked for me.

 

[ID-Reefer]

Bump. To the OP, thread is a couple years old but thought I’d ask how it went. I have a colony that is about the size of a head of cauliflower that I’d like to remove.

 

[Hemmdog]

Bump. To the OP, thread is a couple years old but thought I’d ask how it went. I have a colony that is about the size of a head of cauliflower that I’d like to remove.

It’s so gorgeous though!

 

[ID-Reefer]

I agree I do like the look of it in my tank but like acros more. It’s also popped up about 4’ away on a zoa rock so figure it’s time before it’s too late.