My first corals - Questions on cleaning off stuff!!

Row-Z · 01-16-2008, 01:16 PM

I just bought my first corals. One is a button polyp, the other are mushrooms. They are doing great in my quarantine tank. Eating well and both are openly fully and looking good. The question is: the mushrooms came on a large piece of rock (approx. 8 lbs). I bought it at the LFS but it came to them from someone who was breaking down their tank. My question is it has stuff on it, can I clean it or should I before putting in my main tank. I think it might have a lot of bristle worms, they are very small, almost thread like, seem to be stripped but are so thin it's hard to tell. Everytime I feed my polyp these things start waving around catching food. Do you know if this is a good or bad thing? Also there are several areas on the rock that have this white stuff (looks like wet cotton ball but small) on it. I don't want to introduce anything to my main tank. Suggestions please. I tried putting a hermit crab in with them but it just stays on bottom of tank (bare bottom). Would peppermint shrimp help clean or should I clean off rock with small brush? Help Please

crvz · 01-16-2008, 01:34 PM

It's wise to QT stuff, so kudos on that. I don't know how you'll really effectively clean the rock. If it's just a couple mushrooms and polyps, you may consider trying to remove them (either a polyp at a time where you cut them off with a sharp knife or razor right at the base, or by chipping the small part of rock that they're attached to with a screw driver or other tool) and doing away with that rock (or just leaving it in the QT permanently).

hng · 01-16-2008, 01:38 PM

I'm not sure you need to "clean" the rocks at all. You also probably don't have to feed these corals either.

luvmylo · 01-16-2008, 01:47 PM

make a bucket of new SW and get it to temp then use a dip the corals in there and use a brush to clean around the shrooms and polyps. i wouldn't try to go any further than that. Kudos on qt also. i've never done that in my life

Loverotties · 01-16-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmylo

make a bucket of new SW and get it to temp then use a dip the corals in there and use a brush to clean around the shrooms and polyps. i wouldn't try to go any further than that. Kudos on qt also. i've never done that in my life

I've done this and use a powerhead on it too!

Row-Z · 01-16-2008, 06:00 PM

I was told to feed the polyps especially since they are in the Q tank and there is no other food availabe. I only feed small amount once daily, should I not feed at all? I was going to quarantine for 6 weeks, won't they need something? I think I will do the water bucket method to clean up the largest rock, it's just nasty looking, but the mushrooms are huge and beautiful. Should I be concerned about bristle worms if that's what they are?

JY13131 · 01-16-2008, 06:06 PM

Usually the hermits and snails clean my rocks of anything that needs cleaning
No worry about the bristle worms, they will help clean up anything else that needs cleaning

Elegance Coral · 01-16-2008, 07:31 PM

What is on the rock that you think needs to be cleaned off? The white cotton balls are probably sponges. There are many different species of worm that can come with LR. Very very very very few cause problems. It is this life on the rock that gets us to pay $8/pound. If there is no nuisance algae, I wouldn't do any cleaning other than blowing it off with a power head. Can you post a picture?

hurly4 · 01-16-2008, 09:46 PM

i agree. im not so sure using a brush on any rock is the right way to go. power head and turbo snail is also a good option to throw in.

seasalt dreams · 01-17-2008, 10:58 AM

Using a brush on LR will not do a thing. Most things lie under the surface, not on it. And if it is on it, chances are, its also under it, so removing it from the surface only to have it grow back? why waste your time?
Your rock is probably fine, sponges/tunacates and tiny worms are all normal LR critters and just help to filter your water in the end

Row-Z · 01-17-2008, 11:14 AM

Thanks for your help. The reason for my concern is that I crashed and killed almost everything in my first tank (72 gal) last year. I have started over with a totally new system (with much improved equipment) its a 90 gallon. I now am a quarantine freak and just very cautious about potentially introducing anything into my main tank that could be a potential problem. If you think I should just leave well enough alone I will. I just think better to deal with things in my Q tank if they could be trouble. This morning when doing my water change I found very tiny sea star, I assume those are a good thing. Please let me know if they could be trouble though.

seasalt dreams · 01-17-2008, 11:18 AM

Nothing wrong with being cautious

.. Although I don't QT, you are right, better to deal with it there than in your tank!

Without a pic on the star, no one can say. Most are good, but some eat zoas.