Coralline overgrowing Zoas...what to do?

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by Nismo400rgtr, Apr 24, 2011.

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  1. Nismo400rgtr

    Nismo400rgtr Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    My tank is currently experiencing increased Coralline growth. It's growing faster than my Ked's reds Zoas. It's begun to affect they're opening and I know it's not good if they can't get light. How should I go about removing the algae without harming the coral?

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1303659941.609568.jpg

    There's three more heads near the top of the rock the coral is on that are nearly completely covered.
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    I think you are going to have to consider moving the coral. Some urchins, asternia, chitons, some others I can not think of at the moment eat coralline, but not quickly especially in a larger tank.

    I am actually kind of surprised that it affecting the way they open.

    You must have hit that sweet spot, if the coralline is growing that fast, congrats Nismo.
     
  4. xxredxpandaxx

    xxredxpandaxx Coral Banded Shrimp

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    my purple pin urchin ate coralline like crazy he ate almost all of it he could reach in my brothers 40 breeder in a couple days, and it was everywhere in his tank.
     
  5. BlueWaters10

    BlueWaters10 Skunk Shrimp

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    Wow! I wish I had the same problem! I can't think of anyway to get it to go away quickly.
     
  6. SushiGirl

    SushiGirl Barracuda

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    I've never heard of coralline overgrowing living corals before. Can you get a better pic without the blue?
     
  7. loneracer05

    loneracer05 Clown Trigger

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    Abalones may eay coral though they can be bulldozers
     
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  9. Kriss

    Kriss Astrea Snail

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    Hi :D

    I would recommend a long-spined black sea urchin. I am actually trying to increase coralline growth so he has enough to eat. He eats constantly & although has past over corals has never damaged or eaten any :)
    not so sure that one would be able to eat at the speed you require though :(

    Good luck
     
  10. Nismo400rgtr

    Nismo400rgtr Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    Thanks for the replies everyone. I don't want to introduce a creature just to eat the coralline because I like it everywhere else in the tank and it'd be nearly impossible to have it target the Zoas in question. I was thinking more along the lines of scraping/peeling it away.

    Here you go sushigirl

    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1303679681.596352.jpg

    As you can see it's growing right up the stalk of the one head and encrusting right over the three at the top left edge of the rock they're attached to.
     
  11. Nismo400rgtr

    Nismo400rgtr Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    Thanks! Never thought coralline growth would actually become a nuisance!
     
  12. SushiGirl

    SushiGirl Barracuda

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    Wow, that's just crazy! Thank you for the pic!