GHA on frag plugs

snowlynx · 11/10/2017, 08:34 PM

Hi

I have done peroxide dip 2-3 times now, even tried 100%, for few seconds
for Zoa plus with GHA.

The GHA keeps coming back! Mostly on the plugs.

One coral branch that was live with coraline had GHA, I dipped in peroxide,
Zoas still alive, all coraline died, looks completely bleached and GHA grew
back on it.

Frag plugs on frag rack with good flow. GHA seems to grow specifically on the plugs,
not much elsewhere,.

What is your method that is effective?

Crooked Reef · 11/11/2017, 04:49 PM

Frag plug is probably leaching phosphates. If you can get the zoas off safely, pop them off and glue them to a rock. Look into safely handling zoas though. They could have palytoxin in them. Gloves and eye protection would be a great help, maybe even a splash guard for your mouth and nose if you’re worried. That being said I wouldn’t use any of that, but it’s a good idea. Palytoxin is some nasty stuff.

outy · 11/11/2017, 04:54 PM

Its not the plugs, it is your water and lighting conditions.

You do not need to sterilize something to stop it, it doesn't help or work that way, it will always come back if water conditions dictate such.

homer1475 · 11/11/2017, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outy

Its not the plugs, it is your water and lighting conditions.

You do not need to sterilize something to stop it, it doesn't help or work that way, it will always come back if water conditions dictate such.

+1

Also, while it is a great idea to wear protective eyewear and such when dealing with zoa's or paly's, it is called PALYtoxin not ZOAtoxin.

Sometimes they are hard to tell apart, so it is best to just handle with care.

Crooked Reef · 11/11/2017, 07:41 PM

Palythoas are a genera of zoanthids. I’m not able to tell if he has palythoas or zoanthids apart from someone on the internet saying they have zoas. Unless he is 100% sure on the species he has and even if they were palythoas, whether they are a species or hybrid that are toxic, protecting yourself from the unknown is good advice. The advice to use protection is valid from that point of view.

https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=16

http://masna.org/masna-education/palytoxin/

snowlynx · 11/11/2017, 10:50 PM

lol

I have both palys and zoas. I have removed zoas using gloves.
I even remove it while still in the water. They end up melting.

Looking more carefully, pic attached, might not be GHA, someone mentioned
caulerpa.

I have a zoa colony and the caulerpa is even larger and overtaking the zoas.

Seems mainly this type of algae is growing and only from the corals I purchased.

The rocks don't grow this stuff so far.

Are the worms in attached pic, common, safe?
Tried looking up but doesn't show much.

11/10/2017, 08:34 PM	#1
snowlynx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: California Posts: 244	GHA on frag plugs Hi I have done peroxide dip 2-3 times now, even tried 100%, for few seconds for Zoa plus with GHA. The GHA keeps coming back! Mostly on the plugs. One coral branch that was live with coraline had GHA, I dipped in peroxide, Zoas still alive, all coraline died, looks completely bleached and GHA grew back on it. Frag plugs on frag rack with good flow. GHA seems to grow specifically on the plugs, not much elsewhere,. What is your method that is effective? Last edited by snowlynx; 11/10/2017 at 08:39 PM.

11/11/2017, 04:49 PM	#2
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Frag plug is probably leaching phosphates. If you can get the zoas off safely, pop them off and glue them to a rock. Look into safely handling zoas though. They could have palytoxin in them. Gloves and eye protection would be a great help, maybe even a splash guard for your mouth and nose if you’re worried. That being said I wouldn’t use any of that, but it’s a good idea. Palytoxin is some nasty stuff. __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank.

11/11/2017, 07:41 PM	#5
Crooked Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,765	Palythoas are a genera of zoanthids. I’m not able to tell if he has palythoas or zoanthids apart from someone on the internet saying they have zoas. Unless he is 100% sure on the species he has and even if they were palythoas, whether they are a species or hybrid that are toxic, protecting yourself from the unknown is good advice. The advice to use protection is valid from that point of view. https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/resources.asp?show=16 http://masna.org/masna-education/palytoxin/ __________________ “In wine there is wisdom; in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef. Biocube 29 lionfish tank. Mantis tank. Last edited by Crooked Reef; 11/11/2017 at 10:20 PM.

11/11/2017, 04:54 PM	#3
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	Its not the plugs, it is your water and lighting conditions. You do not need to sterilize something to stop it, it doesn't help or work that way, it will always come back if water conditions dictate such.