Rock covered in zoas

[ryshark]

I have a nice piece of rock which I want to use as a shelf in my aquascaping for more sps. I want the zoas off, what is the best way to get rid of the zoas without turning the rock into uncured live rock? I was thinking I could put it in the sump for a couple weeks where there is no light. Will that work? Would they release toxin or something into the water as they die? The rock is probably 8"x5" flat rock, so its got tons of heads.

 

[Spssteven]

If you just want to kill them Just scrape them off
if you want to keep them cut underneath the Matt and carefully pull them
off and glue them on an another rock

 

[ryshark]

I just want them gone and preferably without messing with gloves and eye protection

 

[nivram]

if the rock is soft enough, try to scrape underneath the zoa so that you are scraping the rock as well. You could also try injecting with a alk slurry. But be careful with this method. Can you stick this rock in an unlit tank or bucket with a powerhead? Eventually the zoas will melt and dye off. But this will take time, possibly a couple weeks. Personally if I didnt want them, i'd just scrape them off with a razorblade. If you leave some of the tissue on the rock, there is a possibility of it regenerating.

 

[ryshark]

if the rock is soft enough, try to scrape underneath the zoa so that you are scraping the rock as well. You could also try injecting with a alk slurry. But be careful with this method. Can you stick this rock in an unlit tank or bucket with a powerhead? Eventually the zoas will melt and dye off. But this will take time, possibly a couple weeks. Personally if I didnt want them, i'd just scrape them off with a razorblade. If you leave some of the tissue on the rock, there is a possibility of it regenerating.

The rock is really hard, I could do what you said with the separate bucket and just waiting it out. So is it not a good idea to essentially do the same thing but in my sump?

 

[MUCHO REEF]

I would take the rock to a store and do a trade, exhange or credit towards the purchase of another rock of equal size and shape. There's no need to kill them. I'll find you a rock of equal size and send it to you if you pay the shipping, but don't kill those zoanthids my friend.

Mucho Reef

 

[sedor]

I just want them gone and preferably without messing with gloves and eye protection

Why is wearing gloves and goggles so difficult? Chances are you won't have a problem, but you could go blind or get very sick when fragging zoas.

I would probably try and trade the rock as well. You could probably get a nice trade in credit...zoas are worth a lot more than the rock they sit on

 

[MUCHO REEF]

OK rysark, the pressure's on, what-cha-gone-do ? LOL

 

[whipit]

I just want them gone and preferably without messing with gloves and eye protection

hmm gloves? eye protection? I frag all the time without all that..
I think scrapping them off maybe your only choice.

 

[Dun Properly]

Definitely trade or sell that rock and then find another suitable rock to replace it. There are plenty of people that would like to take that off your hands.

 

[ryshark]

I'm not a big zoa/paly fan yet, they just seem to take over too much rock space. I like the upward growth of most sps. Anyway, I don't want to mess with scraping them off. Maybe I will try to sell the rock with zoas in the local forum then find some base shelf rock somewhere. I don't want anymore Live Rock from the lfs.... I've had my fair share of Isopods, fireworms, algae etc and don't want to risk it. Thaks for the replies.

 

[rjnjaj]

I have a lot of live rock I'll trade don't kill them that's not right me cell is 203-909-5408 my name is Ricky

 

[rjnjaj]

Like I said I'll trade or bye it and give u a rock the same size or bigger don't kill them

 

[ryshark]

Where are you located, I'm not familiar with a 203 area code.

 

[stevek480]

203 is CT.

 

[ryshark]

203 is CT.

CT huh, well then maybe rjn and I can meet us somewhere in the middle.... around Kansas

 

[mayjong]

buy dry rock, not live rock.
i too, would never add another piece of LR to my system...

 

[cubsFAN]

Got any friends that have a fowlr thats got some zoo eating fish in it? Also, I don't know where you are in SoCal, but I've been to a few amazing stores in the LA area. I'm surprised that there isn't a store near by that can supply you with some quality live rock. I think trading with a store or a fellow reefer is the best way to go about it if you can't go with my first suggestion.