Help me recycle my Live Rock

[ctripi]

Quick background first.

My plan is to change a SPS-dominated mixed reef to an softie/anemone tank. The rock has many attached mature SPS colonies as well as zoo's and shrooms. And by the way did I mention that I plan to move the tank too.

What I want to do is sell off the SPS colonies but maintain the rock for the new set-up. I'll frag off the SPS colony bases from the rock. But there will be alot of the encrusted SPS remaining.

Should I chisel, dremel, or grind the remaining SPS off and let the rock (re)cycle in the new tank (with new water etc). Or should I let the SPS die off via light starvation etc. I want to preserve the softies and zoo's though. See tank photo below.

 

[mscarpena]

I would frag off whatever you can and your remaining removal will depend on the specific rock. You could use a hammer and chimsel, but may crack your rock in half. You could use a band saw, wet tile saw, grinder, dremel, or whatever ever else gets the job done. Light starvation may take a lot longer than you think and also kill your corals you want. I would try to sell it with the coral attached and just buy new rock. You may even make some money off the ordeal. I would not kill corals or any part of them, but thats just me.

 

[GXPKY]

Why not sell off what you can get off of there, if anything continues to grow, keep fragging it until it fails to return?

 

[zachfishman]

Just place any rocks with encrusting SPS face down on the sand for a couple weeks. Rotate and repeat for others growing on sides, etc.

 

[CLINTOS]

plus one

for turning them upside down and rotating over time as that sps starves to death.

 

[Dave71]

I assume you have softies and zoos on the same rock you have the sps.

My approach would be to break off the colonies as you mentioned. Then reef putty over the base of the SPS.

When you believe enough time has passed, pull the putty off to give the rock a better "curb appeal".

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Clay]

never thought id read advice on how to kill corals on purpose

Agreed. When I read the title, I was intrigued... when I read the post, I was shocked. I can't think of a single thread where someone has WANTED to KILL their corals?

My suggestion is to frag and frag until it doesn't return.