detaching corals

scubaD · #1 04/13/2007, 06:05 PM

OK, so we are upgrading tanks and not planning to take most of the live rock out of our old tank. Having said that there are things on those rocks we plan to leave behind that we do want to keep. Most worried about the Ricordia. 3 maybe 4 beautiful Ricordia well attached to a rock. How do we get them off without hurting them? Without killing them? We also have some shrooms and some zooanthids. How do we go about pulling them off? Please advise.

Thank you,
David

scubaD · #2 04/14/2007, 10:28 AM

anyone?

marduc · #3 04/14/2007, 10:30 AM

chisel

reefnetworth · #4 04/14/2007, 10:44 AM

i use an exact-o knife and cut as close to the rock as possible. the shrooms you will need netting and a rubberband. go to Wal-Mart and get Bridal Vail. clean it and a couple of rubberbands in cold tap water for about 2-3 min... on a newspaper or simular paper, place the cut mushroom upsidedown on top of the vail and wrap the vail around the other rock, slightly shaped like a baloon. place the RB on and it will attach in about 1-2 weeks.
to do the zoo's, i use superglue gel. make sure it is 100% CYANOACRYLATE!!! place one drop on (papertowel) dryed location. cut as close as you can to the rock and place beside, NOT, on top of the gel in desired place. in about 15 seconds, return to tank.
hope this helps, and good luck!!!
JDM...

P.S. go to the Pharmacy at wally-world and get a box of powder- free Latex exam gloves. ($3.99 for 50 gloves, store brand, in the infant aisle)

reefnetworth · #5 04/14/2007, 10:51 AM

almost forgot, the shroom will grow back from the cutting on the old rock! sometimes, so will the zoo's, sometimes.
have a great weekend!
JDM...