detaching coral matting

[theDeedo]

So I am trying to frag all the zoas in my tank, and I have to work quick because zoas usally grow on an encrusting mat. So I am trying to do it while they are still on their plugs, but I have 3 colonys that seem to have attached themselfs to rock. Not to bad though, if I tug on it I am sure it will come off. But is this safe? with peeling the zoa's mat off of my rock work hurt the zoa or encourage growth?

 

[GlassMunky]

Whatever you do, BE CAREFULL!!! fraging zoas is somewhat dangerous. you gotta watch out for palytoxin.....

 

[theDeedo]

you know I have heard that once before a long time ago. what exactly am I looking for, and what are the effects?

I guess I should be wearing my gloves and washing my hands,....and keepng them away from my mouth :barf:

 

[theDeedo]

anyone else had any experience removing matted corals?

 

[thereefersspot]

you can also use stony coral cutters to cut the rock, that way there is les of a chance of getting their toxins on you, asuming you do this underwater. well whatever you decide to do, good luck!

 

[Varga]

You can just use your finger nail to peel them off and glue them elsewhere. it'll hurt them a bit but they recover fast

 

[catran]

I use a scalpel and try to cut down into the plug. I had one (plug) disintergrate on me and that was difficult to glue. I just fragged a large colony of green nukes and the rock it was on was very jagged. I couldn't get to much of the mat, but I just cut as close as possible and glued the polyps. They were opened in about 3 hours. I always use gloves, and if I didn't wear glasses I would put work glasses on. Polyps have been known to squirt also.