How do I control yellow colony polyps?

[Candi]

I have some long skirted yellow polyps (they look lilke these http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=675&N=0 ) that I bought from a fellow reefer ages ago even though I knew they were moderately aggressive since I really liked the color. They've grown out a bit and are all over a rock with some other zoas I like, the other zoas are not happy about it... how can I remove them from the other rock w/o harming the other zoas?

Thanks

 

[dc_909]

I would just pluck them off with some tweezers and then use a toothbrush to scrub away all parts you can't get with tweezers. Then Isolate the remaining yellow polyps to a rock of their own.

 

[MinibowMatt]

Those are really a nuisance. When you do pluck them off, seperate the colony from you reef. Put them out on Xenia Island... You'll be much happier.

 

[Candi]

when plucking them off (which I assume will pretty much tear them apart) underwater will it cause any water issues? This is in a 24g aquapod so I don't want to cause any issues (the rock they have moved onto is one of the ones holding up my whole aquascaping so not easily removed if I don't REALLY have to)

 

[dc_909]

You could setup a mini siphon and have someone hold the siphon next to the polyps as they are ripped off and you will siphon most of the stuff away. Just do a few every couple days.

 

[MinibowMatt]

I dont think you will have anything to worry about, but if you wanted to run a little carbon to remove any of the organics, it wont hurt.

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the siphon, Im too lazy. It certainly wouldnt hurt though.

 

[msman825]

peppermint shrimp will eat it.

 

[Riona]

My peppermint shrimp doesn't. She'd rather clean my fingers. The yellows are Right next to where she perches too. Would be the easiest thing in the world for her to swipe a few.

 

[Mrdillpickle]

You can treat yellow polyp the same way as Pest Anemones. Mix up some kalk paste. I like to mix it to the consistency of yogurt, put it in a syringe and coat the stray polyps.

My first alternative to killing the polyps, would be removing the polyps. Just take a knife/file/chisel and remove a thin layer of rock under the polyps. The little frag can be super glued to a new rock to start a new colony.

To avoid stray polyps spreading, just make sure the colony is not touching any rock that you don't want polyps on. You can place smaller rocks under the colony. The smaller rocks act as a buffer. When the smaller rocks get polyps on them, replace them with new buffer rocks. All the new frags can be traded in to a LFS for store credit or give to a fellow reefer.