How can i remove Zoas/Palys... safely?

[steallife904]

So I have some green zoas/palys. I honestly don't know if they are zoas or palys. They have been around over a decade. Someone gave them to me years ago and they went out of control. I have many times removed and trashed rocks they are on only to have them pop up later. Now I have them growing up the overflow box and a small spot on a rock at bottom of rock scape. How can I remove them without risk of palytoxin? Was thinking of covering the ones on the rock with putty. the ones on over flow scrapping off during water change while siphoning out at the same time but I have a fear of this.

thank you,

 

[billdogg]

Wearing long gloves and eye protection! Dispose of the gloves when finished and wash well.


Your plan will work, but I'd lower the water level as far as possible so that when you scrape them bits and pieces as well as the juice (full of palytoxin) don't get scattered around the tank. You could end up making things way worse than they already are.

 

[mcgyvr]

How can I remove them without risk of palytoxin?

You can't eliminate the risk.. But you can mitigate your risks..

I would NOT expose them out of the water..
That can cause the toxins to become airborne..
NEVER bring them out of the water while agitating them.

If you have a large amount to remove and do not want to just trash the whole system then I would run copious amounts of activated carbon, massive amounts of air circulation (fume extraction), wear long gloves, full eye protection and absolutely wear a full respirator with appropriate cartridge or full face air respirator..

 

[Oldreeferman]

You can't eliminate the risk.. But you can mitigate your risks..

I would NOT expose them out of the water..
That can cause the toxins to become airborne..
NEVER bring them out of the water while agitating them.

If you have a large amount to remove and do not want to just trash the whole system then I would run copious amounts of activated carbon, massive amounts of air circulation (fume extraction), wear long gloves, full eye protection and absolutely wear a full respirator with appropriate cartridge or full face air respirator..

Absolutely what this man just said.:eek1: Can you possibly post a pic or two of the offenders would help to determine if they are the worst offenders or not. Drab brown is the closest to the worst possible ones you can have...and Palys are far worse then Zoos.

 

[frogspawn74]

I rip them from the rock using my wife's cuticle cutters. They are great for precision cutting and scraping them right off. Just be cautious.


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[Oldreeferman]

I rip them from the rock using my wife's cuticle cutters. They are great for precision cutting and scraping them right off. Just be cautious.


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Does not sound like your cutting back Palythoa Toxica sp species or similar :eek2: or else you would regret doing that, sounds more like Zoos. Can you post a pic of the species you have you brave soul you?

 

[jordan_reefer]

Be to wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection when removing them.