Zoas or palys please?

[saltyfins]

These are running over my tank, and I’m petrified to try to get rid of them, but I have to do something. Any help would be appreciated so much

 

[ndrwater]

Palythoa Toxica...
Carefull with those.
Id use gloves and pull the entire rock..
Its a bummer, but they will go crazy if left to go unchecked.

 

[saltyfins]

Ok. I had a chemical analysis ran on my tank and no palytoxin was noticed. Does that matter? I have on basically taking a coral over. Maybe I’ll bring home some gown and masks from work, (surgical tech.,) and tr. they’re spreading everywhere and I can’t just get rid of the rock, as they’ve got corals.

 

[saltyfins]

how long could those other corals be out? and likely I'd need to do this outside...(thinking outloud here) and it's super cold here... of course, I supposed I could also frag them. one problem, is that on another rock, they're under a lepto, and a plating monti

 

[ndrwater]

Ok. I had a chemical analysis ran on my tank and no palytoxin was noticed. Does that matter? I have on basically taking a coral over. Maybe I’ll bring home some gown and masks from work, (surgical tech.,) and tr. they’re spreading everywhere and I can’t just get rid of the rock, as they’ve got corals.

You should only have palithoa toxins if you mess with the polyps. Cutting or pulling them apart will certainly expose you to the toxin. Be VERY careful. You may want to remove what rocks you can and cut/break the rock away from the coral you want to keep.
Wear eye protection and gloves. Work outside if possible. Palitoxin is nasty stuff. Whatever you do, dont bleach or boil the rock as it will atomize the palytoxin into the air.

 

[saltyfins]

You should only have palithoa toxins if you mess with the polyps. Cutting or pulling them apart will certainly expose you to the toxin. Be VERY careful. You may want to remove what rocks you can and cut/break the rock away from the coral you want to keep.
Wear eye protection and gloves. Work outside if possible. Palitoxin is nasty stuff. Whatever you do, dont bleach or boil the rock as it will atomize the palytoxin into the air.

Ok. so after I cut my corals off....what do I do with the rock? I mean, I have animals outside...and I am so aware of the toxicity from these things. I hate that I ever put them in. it's going to take forever to get rid of all of them

 

[ndrwater]

When i was in your boat, I wrapped the affected rock in kitchen trash bags doubled up and then tossed them. Preferably they day before the trash man comes. Once in the bag, don't open the bag. Seal tight

 

[ndrwater]

how long could those other corals be out? and likely I'd need to do this outside...(thinking outloud here) and it's super cold here... of course, I supposed I could also frag them. one problem, is that on another rock, they're under a lepto, and a plating monti

Circling back to how long the coral can be out, quite a while. Hour or more...
Do your best to get rid of the palys you can. You can always smother them in crazy glue, but that would be a last option for me.
If you have a garage, even though cold you are probably better off than being in the house unless the windows are open and a fan going
Don't want to be alarmist, but these things are nasty... And a weed....
Like i said before, perfectly fine unless disturbed...

 

[saltyfins]

Circling back to how long the coral can be out, quite a while. Hour or more...
Do your best to get rid of the palys you can. You can always smother them in crazy glue, but that would be a last option for me.
If you have a garage, even though cold you are probably better off than being in the house unless the windows are open and a fan going
Don't want to be alarmist, but these things are nasty... And a weed....
Like i said before, perfectly fine unless disturbed...

that would take a LOT of glue. ok...so I'll just frag the sps, and toss the rock into a hole or something. these things are about as obnoxious as they can be.

 

[saltyfins]

When i was in your boat, I wrapped the affected rock in kitchen trash bags doubled up and then tossed them. Preferably they day before the trash man comes. Once in the bag, don't open the bag. Seal tight

did you have other corals to remove? these are large rocks. Like 4-5 lbs each

 

[Jamie9]

I haven’t handled these personally before, but before you proceed you might want to search r2r for “metal straw” or “steel straw” and you’ll see what some others have done to remove these without taking them out of the water.

Here is one example:

Post in thread 'Advice on Fragging Palythoas?'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/advice-on-fragging-palythoas.1139214/post-14030058

 

[ndrwater]

did you have other corals to remove? these are large rocks. Like 4-5 lbs each

I did... Came to the unhappy conclusion that it was the Palys or my tank... I sacrificed a few nice rocks.... And a coral or two, but no more Palys

 

[saltyfins]

I haven’t handled these personally before, but before you proceed you might want to search r2r for “metal straw” or “steel straw” and you’ll see what some others have done to remove these without taking them out of the water.

Here is one example:

Post in thread 'Advice on Fragging Palythoas?'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/advice-on-fragging-palythoas.1139214/post-14030058

I have seen that, but after I make them mad, I’m not sure having them in a bucket in my house, is a good idea. Plus there are hundreds of them stupid things. If not for the sos, I’d put the rocks in a different tank, that seems to kill everything lol

 

[saltyfins]

did you have other corals to remove? these are large rocks. Like 4-5 lbs each

I did... Came to the unhappy conclusion that it was the Palys or my tank... I sacrificed a few nice rocks.... And a coral or two, but no more Palys

Ok thank you. You’re right. Unfortunately I’ll probably lose at least 1 entire colony. They do have somewhat of a mat, so with that one, I’ll probably do gloves and eyes, and a bucket of water, then flush that water. That would work, right?

 

[Jamie9]

I have seen that, but after I make them mad, I’m not sure having them in a bucket in my house, is a good idea. Plus there are hundreds of them stupid things. If not for the sos, I’d put the rocks in a different tank, that seems to kill everything lol

I think the idea is to keep them submerged. But yeah that does beg the question what to do with them after.

 

[ndrwater]

Ok thank you. You’re right. Unfortunately I’ll probably lose at least 1 entire colony. They do have somewhat of a mat, so with that one, I’ll probably do gloves and eyes, and a bucket of water, then flush that water. That would work, right?

Yes......

 

[saltyfins]

Yes......

Thank you!

 

[RedFrog211]

Following for update; hope all goes smoothly!

 

[saltyfins]

Following for update; hope all goes smoothly!

I wont be able to get the stuff I need, until next week. Meaning, gowns and masks and gloves. I want to be sure I am SUPER careful...so I am planning this out. :)

 

[Mrcote1]

Good luck with the removal!

I just rid my tank of all palys and zoas as they were taking over so quickly. I couldn't remove my rocks due to the size of them (I mortared them all together). I ended up using a 1/8" wood chisel to peel them all off the rocks about 10 to 15 polyps a day until they were all gone. Took a ton of work and many hours but my tank now has no zoas or palys. I did not have palythoa toxica though.