Should I get rid of these?

[Rafty]

Hi all

This look great to me but are starting to spread and multiply. I understand they need to be treated with great care. My questions are:

1. Should I get ride of them?
2. If so how (without removing rock from tank)?

Thanks oh knowledgeable ones!

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[billdogg]

That decision is entirely up to you. If left unchecked, they can easily cover every available surface of your tank.

Because they can release a very potent toxin if disturbed, your safest option will be to carefully remove the rock from the tank (wear gloves and eye protection). You can then scrape them from the rock (still wearing your PPE!)

Your better option is to remove the rock from your tank, wrap it in several layers of plastic bag, and dispose of it.

 

[Rafty]

Should I get rid of these?

That is why I said not removing the rock. It is a massive piece of live rock that can't easily be removed. Could I just cover it with coral putty?

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Rafty, Can't find it now but I've seen a video few times.
You use a stainless steel straw, available on Amazon, insert it into a larger hose using simple rubber bands to increase its size so it's a tight fit.
The start a siphon & scrape the palys under water into a container, this eliminates exposure from nasties.

 

[cody6766]

Unless you can safely chip the rock's surface away, there's no good way to remove them in the tank. I'd be afraid to chip the rock away in the tank because of the force it might exert on the lower glass pane, or that the whole rock may crumble in an unexpected way.

Those palys grow like weeds. If you want to remove them, it may be worth pulling the rock and fixing the aquascape after. If you pull it, I'd chip the paly-covered rock away, toss it in a bag and throw it away.

Whatever you do, don't skimp on the PPE and honor the threat.

 

[Rafty]

Thanks. What about putting a cover over it without touching it that deprives it of light? It would slowly die off but will it release its toxins into the tank when it dies?


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[billdogg]

If you try to cover them/deprive them of light, etc in the tank they will just move to someplace else. They seem to thrive in conditions that most corals cannot.

Although it may be a royal PIA, the only sure way to get rid of them will be to remove the rock and either chip the rock away where they are or just replace the rock with another. Doing anything to them in the tank will just make things worse.

This is what happens when you mess with them in tank. Cost me a trip to the urgent care, then to my PCP, and a week off work.

You decide.

 

[cody6766]

Wow! I've had some odd sensations in my fingers after working with them, but never anything beyond that. I've heard of a ton internal issues from people getting exposed, but I haven't seen anyone mention blisters until now.

This is why I avoid this type of paly. I had some red ones that are basically just a better looking version of the greens in my most recent tank. They're now somewhere, rotted in the city dump. I'll stick with other zoas and palys (which can still cause issues).

 

[mfinn]

If you try to cover them/deprive them of light, etc in the tank they will just move to someplace else. They seem to thrive in conditions that most corals cannot.

Although it may be a royal PIA, the only sure way to get rid of them will be to remove the rock and either chip the rock away where they are or just replace the rock with another. Doing anything to them in the tank will just make things worse.

This is what happens when you mess with them in tank. Cost me a trip to the urgent care, then to my PCP, and a week off work.

You decide.

Man I've been messing with zoanthids and palythoas for 3 decades and never had anything like that happen.
That sucks.

 

[Rafty]

Okay I went with the epoxy / glue option. Running a slimmer and carbon. 12 hrs later I am good and tank looks healthy. My plan is to leave my Chernobyl in place for 2 - 3 months and the remove.

Will keep you posted.

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[hkgar]

Man I've been messing with zoanthids and palythoas for 3 decades and never had anything like that happen.
That sucks.

Remove the rock and get rid of them. I spent 3 days in the hospital, under observation and have reduced lung capcity as a result.
Throw the bastards out.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2515630

 

[billdogg]

The afternoon of my little mishap I was tearing down a well established (22 years) tank with the main rock a piece of pumice that I had siliconed in place due to the fact that it floats! It was completely covered in "Texas Trash" green palys. Although they were pretty in their own way, I had no intention of moving them into my newly set up 120DT. My arm brushed against them many times while trying to catch the fish. At one point, I could start to feel something akin to a sunburn on my arm. Then it clicked. I looked at
my wife and told her that if I were to lose consciousness she was to call 911 and tell them it was palytoxin poisoning. She, of course, looked at me like I had 3 heads. Then I explained it to her. It didn't get any worse so we went to dinner like normal, although the burning intensified somewhat. In the middle of the night the pain woke me up several times. I just kept thinking "Well, at least I'm ALIVE!" In the morning I got up and looked at my arm. The blisters were way worse than in the picture so off to the UC I went. The triage nurse asked what the problem was and when I told her "palytoxin exposure" she had a blank look on her face so I took off my jacket. And was then escorted straight back to an exam room where the Doctor came in immediately. I told him the problem. He called Poison Control on speaker. They asked if I was alive. I assured them that I was. Steroids and pain meds was about all they could do at that point. Went to my PCP the next day where he decided to sent a sample off for cultures to r/o infection. To prevent it from becoming contaminated, he used a #11 scalpel and NO lidocaine. His nurse held my arm still, but really, it didn't hurt as much as the blisters themselves did.

I work in an OR, so obviously scrubbing in was not going happen until things healed up enough.

FWIW - that whole rock got well wrapped and sent to the dump. I also have a pair of extra long gloves I can wear if there is any question about things like this in the future.

Just my experience - your mileage may vary.

 

[hkgar]

The afternoon of my little mishap I was tearing down a well established (22 years) tank with the main rock a piece of pumice that I had siliconed in place due to the fact that it floats! It was completely covered in "Texas Trash" green palys. Although they were pretty in their own way, I had no intention of moving them into my newly set up 120DT. My arm brushed against them many times while trying to catch the fish. At one point, I could start to feel something akin to a sunburn on my arm. Then it clicked. I looked at
my wife and told her that if I were to lose consciousness she was to call 911 and tell them it was palytoxin poisoning. She, of course, looked at me like I had 3 heads. Then I explained it to her. It didn't get any worse so we went to dinner like normal, although the burning intensified somewhat. In the middle of the night the pain woke me up several times. I just kept thinking "Well, at least I'm ALIVE!" In the morning I got up and looked at my arm. The blisters were way worse than in the picture so off to the UC I went. The triage nurse asked what the problem was and when I told her "palytoxin exposure" she had a blank look on her face so I took off my jacket. And was then escorted straight back to an exam room where the Doctor came in immediately. I told him the problem. He called Poison Control on speaker. They asked if I was alive. I assured them that I was. Steroids and pain meds was about all they could do at that point. Went to my PCP the next day where he decided to sent a sample off for cultures to r/o infection. To prevent it from becoming contaminated, he used a #11 scalpel and NO lidocaine. His nurse held my arm still, but really, it didn't hurt as much as the blisters themselves did.

I work in an OR, so obviously scrubbing in was not going happen until things healed up enough.

FWIW - that whole rock got well wrapped and sent to the dump. I also have a pair of extra long gloves I can wear if there is any question about things like this in the future.

Just my experience - your mileage may vary.

My experience is much like yours except I inhaled it at about 1 PM. About 2 I actually went to my local LFS and that is when I began to experience a bit of chest congestion - like the onset of a cold. I continued to progress and I did a quick read on palytoxins as I had heard something about it. When the pulse and the shaking really started at 5pm. About 7 I called 911. When I told the EMT I thought it might be palytoxin he googled it. He look at his phone he looked at me and I remember clearly him say "Holy ****, it's the 2nd most deadly marine toxin known". In ER the nurse had no idea what it was and poison control had to search there manuals.

 

[Rafty]

Should I get rid of these?

Fortunately not my experience. Used gloves. Did not touch skin to paly and covered quickly with epoxy. 48 hrs no issues. I suppose forewarned forearmed.

 

[dadnjesse]

I used Franks Aiptasia killer. I had dozens of them. I injected a few at a time over a few weeks, they are gone now.
https://saltwateraquariumstore.franks-tanks.com/F-Aiptasia-Killer-Patented-Formula-p158766197