Pesky coral

I got some kind of toadstool coral with a piece of live rock that I purchased months ago. It was small at first but now it has gotten bigger and recently started dropping pieces of itself all over the tank. Many of these pieces have taken root and begun to grow nicely. Problem: I don't want these things all over my tank since I hope to add other corals in the future. What is the best way to remove them once they have attached themselves to rock? I tried to yank one up last night and some of it came apart but most did not budge. Do I need to slice it off with a razor blade? Obviously, my experience with corals is extemely limited .

Thanks!

 

That's what I would do but not unless the "babies" are large enough to grab a hold of and attach to a small piece of rock.

 

So I can cut these "babies" in the water with a razor blade and then attach them to something. I don't have any small pieces of rock but maybe some eggcrate? Then what? Do you think a LFS would give me credit for these? I think this is a very common type of coral, it looks like a toadstool (maybe it is some type of Kenyan Tree). What do you attach it with?

 

It's probably a Kenya tree. They drop babies like mad once they get established so be prepared for more! I've never seen or heard of toadstool corals dropping babies but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

If you don't have small pieces of rock, you can make some by smashing a large piece of rock to bits I'm not too sure that the frags will attach to plastic so experiment if you want to. If your lfs doesn't give you credit, you might be able to trade/sell them to local reef club members, assuming there is a club established in your area? In the meantime, let me search around for threads that discuss attaching soft corals to rock and such as there are several methods that you can choose from

Edit: Here ya go

http://www.3reef.com/forums/coral/baby-toadstool-leathers-37442.html?highlight=toothpick

 

That's good stuff to know. Thanks!

Isn't a Kenyan Tree a very common coral? These things don't seem to have problem securing themselves. They root like weeds! One of them has rooted to
an old snail shell. Maybe I can attach others to some of the old shells laying aound the tank. I don't have enough rock to start smashing into pieces.

One more question.........Once I cut the pieces at the base will they not grow back?

Thanks again!

 

Yes, a new coral will most likely grow back from whatever tissue is left behind after you cut the coral. If you want to keep this from happening, smear a very small bit of kalkwasser paste onto the area and it will burn off.

Kenya trees are pretty common and you can see why now that it's dropping kids off all over the place I'm sure that old snail shells will be perfect for them to attach to so go for it!

 

Hey, no kidding about those Kenya trees. They seem to go through spurts (at least mine does). It will drop pups like crazy for awhile and then stop. Grow back and then go through the drop cycle. Mine is just beginning the drop cycle again. YIKES!!!! I think if I bring anymore into the LFS's they will shoot me. I give as many as I can away.

An attachment method I use is to put them in a glass bowl of crushed coral and when they have grown a bit, they attach to the cc and then I mount them onto a rock.

Anne

 

What do you mount them with?