Removing Acanthastrea echinata from a rock - how to?

[scolley]

I've got a couple of Acanthastrea echinata that I've have killed their last coral in my tank. I never purchased the echinata's. They were "freebies" from vendors, and WOW am I sorry I ever put them in my tank. A couple of years ago one zapped my favorite coral of all time. And today they killed another nice one. They HAVE to go. Should have done it sooner.

But they are growing on a piece of live rock that absolutely cannot be removed from my nano. Any ideas on how to remove these things? Killing the corals in the process is not an issue for me.

Thanks.

 

[scolley]

No advice on how to remove these things?

Without SOME guidance, in a day or two I might try to see if I can slice them off the rock with a scalpel. Unlike Acan lords, these guys don't look to have much of a hard base.

But you know one has to be there. It's a stony coral. So my fear is that a scalpel will only cut flesh then hit bone. Then what? A dying coral in my tank?

Or maybe the best "removal" method is not removal, per se, but to kill them a polyp at a time. Joes Juice maybe? Might be worth a try...

 

[jg93]

I had one of these blast my Stylo the other day. They are nasty as hell when threatened, I can't blame you for wanting to kill them. I've tried Joes Juice on mushroom and zoas i wanted dead - to no avail. It's worth a shot though. I ended up getting some bone cutters from BRS and cutting the rock they were growing on.

Wish I had more advice, good luck.

 

[scolley]

Thanks Jeff. But I don't WANT them dead. They're just doing what they are supposed to do. But unfortunately for them I put them in a place where I don't want them to do it. And it HAS to stop.

I've got bone cutters. That sounds like a good option. Thanks!

And if I can get them off without killing them, there's a local reefer that actually WANTS them. If you can wrap your head around that... LOL

 

[scolley]

I ended up getting some bone cutters from BRS and cutting the rock they were growing on.

Worked PERFECTLY! Thank you.

Was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. And got it out pretty much intact. I did not realize just how deep their bone was, and cut too shallow on one polyp. But there 10 or more, so I suspect it'll be fine.

Thanks!