Need tool for pulling off invasive paly's

[kingfisher62]

I have some paly's that are starting to get a little invasive. I was thinking of using some small plastic tongs or large plastic tweezers or something like that to pull some of the stragglers off the LR. Can anyone recommend what they might use and where to find them?
Here are some pics of the culprits , you can see hor they are starting to gr between the shrooms.

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[frankpayne32]

IME it is very hard to do without chipping them directly off the rock using a chisel. Be prepared to make a mess of your rock. Make sure you do this out of the water and while wearing thick gloves (aquarium or dishwashing gloves) and protective eyewear. Rinse the rock off well with tank water after you are done.

 

[IslandCrow]

Try Boston Aqua Farms. I bought a pair of foreceps from them years ago that are absolutely top notch. They've worked very well for pruning my xenia, and I've been able to use them for certain zoanthids.

 

[drcarr]

i've got the same problem and tried using a razor blade. very messy and i couldn't get all of the stalk off. these things grow fast and spread thru the tank!

i'd love to see what others use as well...

 

[sabodish]

i have just been hitting mine with a strong kalk paste..i have used this in the past for mushrooms and xenia.

 

[HorsePower]

Get a glass bowl to cover them and starve them of light... Should take care of most of them..

 

[skanderson]

a nice big hungry angel may help keep those in check. my asfur and regal keep my palys down to a reasonable degree.

 

[frankpayne32]

Get a glass bowl to cover them and starve them of light... Should take care of most of them..

I think you'd be amazed how long they can live without light. Weeks...

 

[frankpayne32]

a nice big hungry angel may help keep those in check. my asfur and regal keep my palys down to a reasonable degree.

That's interesting. They only eat some and don't completely wipe you out?

 

[GQuinn]

Try Boston Aqua Farms. I bought a pair of foreceps from them years ago that are absolutely top notch. They've worked very well for pruning my xenia, and I've been able to use them for certain zoanthids.

This is what I use and it works good.

Gary

 

[DSMpunk]

I think you'd be amazed how long they can live without light. Weeks...

Months even! I have some green palys that are almost as resilient as Aiptasia.

I had to break down my old tank and I forgot about these palys on the bottom of the tank. They were in there for 2 months with no light, heat, water movement or food.

They were a little bleached but otherwise opened right back up in my new tank. Crazy!

 

[kingfisher62]

Thanks everyone, for all the replies. I think i will try to find some forceps. These particular paly's seem to have a very soft body and I think I might be able to peel the new ones off the rock. I am aware of the toxins that is why I want to take them off under water . I do like them but I guess I need to do a better job of isolatiing.

 

[mscarpena]

These things are tanks. Forceps will not work. I had some of these and I broke down the tank. I saved the rock because I knew I would set up another tank. The rock was in an unlit tank in my basement for over a year. I set up a 60 cube and those palys popped out after about 8 months. I only have one so I just scraped it off the rock. Hopefully it will not return. They are like your crazy girlfriend. You just never know where they will pop up.

 

[swjim]

My experience is the same as Frank Payne's - chipping the rock is the only sure fire way to get rid of them.

 

[kingfisher62]

Short of dynomite , I will probably try all of the above methods. It really is not too bad now but I am fore seeing how it could become a major prob.
Does any one want some free Paly's ? :thumbsup:
They are actually pretty nice if you can control them!
They have some nice colors in the right light and will quicly fill empty spaces.
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