Safe to Toothbrush SPS Coral Tips?

[SkyReef]

Not sure if my Bird's Nest SPS Coral will come back after initial stages of bleaching. I've decreased LED lighting to acclimate-coral setting, and I'm sitting tight to see if any recuperation of the coral occurs.

In the meantime, I have a separate issue that I need help with. There is reddish-brown crud and green algae deposited or growing in several coral tips. I want to gently brush that matter off with a toothbrush, to give my coral a fighting chance. Is it safe to do so?

 

[username in use]

Sounds like the tip died and has no flesh if there is algae growing on it. I would just snip the tips off back to where there is still healthy flesh. They will do better that way.

 

[Sk8r]

^ snip, no brush. Snip to take off a little good flesh, so that only healthy tissue is on the stub.

 

[gallegos]

Agreed snip

 

[SkyReef]

Sounds like the tip died and has no flesh if there is algae growing on it. I would just snip the tips off back to where there is still healthy flesh. They will do better that way.

Thanks, Joshua. Wow. I did not know that I could prune back my corals. That's very helpful to know. Thank you.

 

[username in use]

Thanks, Joshua. Wow. I did not know that I could prune back my corals. That's very helpful to know. Thank you.

That's how you get frags to trade with other reefers

 

[MondoBongo]

That's how you get frags to trade with other reefers

that, or when you're trying to make a teeny tiny change in something and your clumsy hands completely smash everything in their path.

 

[d2mini]

That's where baby frags come from!

I think we need to have a little coral birds and the bees conversation with the OP.


But ya, snip the tips. They won't grow over the algae. And the algae won't grow on healthy tissue.

 

[SkyReef]

Putting it like that it makes too much sense. I guess I hadn't considered that one could slough off the dead ends of a coral; that it would not grow unless the dead ends were clipped.

Thanks, all.

 

[DamonG]

Thank you guys, I had some tips that I looked at today, and wondered the exact same thing.. Right on time thread!

Sent from my SM-N920F using Tapatalk

 

[kelrn98]

that, or when you're trying to make a teeny tiny change in something and your clumsy hands completely smash everything in their path.

This is how all of my frags were created, lol!

 

[d-man]

That's where baby frags come from!

I think we need to have a little coral birds and the bees conversation with the OP.


But ya, snip the tips. They won't grow over the algae. And the algae won't grow on healthy tissue.

Hahaha.