Yellow Polyps / Zoas

JeffDubya · 07-06-2007, 04:09 PM

So, last year when I started my SW tank, I bought an invert pack from an online reseller. Most of them did very well, except for one - the yellow polyps. I started with a rock that went from 40 to around 2. Not so good!

However, as I became a more advanced aquarist, checking parameters & dosing regularly, etc., these polyps have come back in a BIG way! The original rock probably has 50 and they have spread to another sport in the tank and are doing well there also.

The only problem is... I have a small tank. They are kind of taking over.

My plan right now is to frag the original rock in half and see if I cant get some new rocks started in my prop tank. However, I really need to get rid of the "volunteers" as they are starting to encroach on some other critters I really like - for example my green plating montiopra, where they come in contact, the monti has bleached.

Additionally, the rock where they have started their new colony is one of my larger rocks and home to lots of stuff I don't want to lose, so moving it out of the tank for eradication may be difficult or problematic.

So, how would YOU try to nuke these little buggers?

**Seahorsedreams** · 07-06-2007, 05:43 PM

Buy some GSP and they'll be gone in no time. LOL... We went on vacation and the GSP ran up over the yellows... now I have GSP on a large rock.... I'm not happy. Could I interest you in a box snail or 2? I keep a picotope full of them. How big is your tank? They are very easy to find after the fact... I picked a few of them out of a 240 gallon tank... very easy to spot and don't reproduce well in our tanks.... just a thought and really depends on what else is in the tank.

Can I use that picture in our ReefReaders online magazine?

***lReef lKeeper*** · 07-06-2007, 05:48 PM

if you cant remove the rock ... good luck with removing them !! i guess you could try to shoot them up with Joes Juice, but you might have to try something like boiling water on them, and you will need to inject them with it (in the stalk through the mouth). good luck !!

JeffDubya · 07-07-2007, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahorsedreams

Could I interest you in a box snail or 2? I keep a picotope full of them. How big is your tank?

My tank is only 29 gallons... I'm a bit nervous about purposely introducing something that eats all the stuff I work so hard to grow...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahorsedreams

Can I use that picture in our ReefReaders online magazine?

I actually got that from the folks who sold me the corals in the first place: http://www.vividaquariums.com/ but if you need a photo I would be happy to take one this week.

JeffDubya · 07-07-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lReef lKeeper

if you cant remove the rock ... good luck with removing them!!

Not what I wanted to hear... if I *can* get it out, just scrub them off?? Or would the hot water work better - if I can do that without disturbing any other critters...

JeffDubya · 07-07-2007, 01:33 PM

By the way, Bobby... the prop tank you encouraged me to set up is continuing to go well. I have some issues with hair algae, but that just becomes a maintenance thing.

***lReef lKeeper*** · 07-07-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDubya

Not what I wanted to hear... if I *can* get it out, just scrub them off?? Or would the hot water work better - if I can do that without disturbing any other critters...

if you can get them out ... i would just try to chisel off the pieces of the rock that they are on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDubya

By the way, Bobby... the prop tank you encouraged me to set up is continuing to go well. I have some issues with hair algae, but that just becomes a maintenance thing.

glad it is working out for you. you can try some Astrea snails to eat the algae.