zoas grown on to eggcrate?

[Skeptic_07]

this is probably a dumb question but i fragged some zoas a while back and left them on my little frag rack in my tank. I shouldve glued them to a plug but i didnt i just left them on the little bit of rock they were on and kinda forgot about them a bit. well about a month later i tried to pick them up and they're now attached firmly to the eggcrate. Any advice?

sorry i dont have any pics right now because i'm at work. I'll try to get some up later so you guys can see what i mean.

[Sk8r]

I'd take some needlenose pliers and crush the surrounding eggcrate to free them without injuring them. They may incorporate the bit of eggcrate they're stuck to, but no big deal. just give them some rock in addition and let them re-stick. Plus buy yourself some more eggcrate, this time to support rock frags. ;)

[DurTBear]

Same thing happened to me and I just ripped the original rock off. When it was time to replace the eggcrate, I just cut the piece of eggcrate the zoas were attached to and glued the eggcrate with zoas onto a rock. In time, you can't even tell there is any eggcrate when the zoas multiply.

[Lytehouse]

Easier to cut out the eggcrate than the zoas.

I have taken a very sharp razor and shaved underneath zoas, but it really upset them. I'd just cut the egg crate.

[Skeptic_07]

man.. i just made this frag rack.. ohh well.. heres the pics..

from the top:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/sam12345678/eggcratezoa002.jpg

and from the bottom:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b252/sam12345678/eggcratezoa005.jpg

[Lytehouse]

You might be able to slide a very sharp blade underneath if there is enough rock and you work it slowly. It depends how much they have put down growth between the squares. Can't tell from the second pic. Does the flesh peel off at all?

[Skeptic_07]

i havent really tried. its grown about 8 polyps or so down through the hole there. Its wierd, when i fragged it the polyps were pressed up against eachother. Now they're spread apart and it seems like they're trying to grow downwards around the tiny bit of rock. They are almost like liquid in extreme slow motion, if that makes any sense.

[dark_stranger]

I have had this happen & was able to gentle prise the zoa's off

[JMCAquarium]

just push them out from the bottom you'll tear the "mat" alittle but they will recover and all is well. they have a hard time attaching to egg crate until they have grown over more then one square.

the ones that have grown to mine from the frags I've made I just leave them there and let them grow. When I have a frag I pretend liek the zoa's aren't there and put disc ontop of them or around them and they move over to find the light on there own.

[Acan Lord]

Not uncommon to have zoas grow to eggcrates. I know its not a zoa but my lfs has his 600 gallon coral tank eggcrates (creats the levels in the tank) cover with GSP. It looks like grass some times.