What to do about birdsnest covered in valonia/ulva?

[JoJosReef]

I have a struggling birdsnest. It is mostly skeleton, which happened quickly after the frag was cut and given to me, but the ends have remained with polyps and seem to be keeping up.

But now valonia and ulva are invading the skeletons and it is exceedingly hard to keep in check without molesting the live polyps too much.

What would you do with this? Can they be cut off at the skeleton and reglued to new frag plugs? I understand that controlling the ulva and valonia would also do the trick--not a quick solution, though. Thanks!

 

[pandaparties]

Frag and remount, no point in keeping the base it's gone. As for the algae, find yourself some good herbivores..plenty of things love to eat ulva

 

[JoJosReef]

Frag and remount, no point in keeping the base it's gone. As for the algae, find yourself some good herbivores..plenty of things love to eat ulva

newbie question, but how best to frag this? I have some frag plug/bone cutters. Will this work or will it crush/fracture the skeleton up to the live part? How far down from the polyps would you go? This will be my first time cutting a stony coral.

Thanks!

 

[pandaparties]

newbie question, but how best to frag this? I have some frag plug/bone cutters. Will this work or will it crush/fracture the skeleton up to the live part? How far down from the polyps would you go? This will be my first time cutting a stony coral.

Thanks!

Yup just use the bone cutters, cut off the top. Try to get relatively close to the polyps, if it's diseased keeping the dead part can spread (maybe even do an iodine dip, I've had success using it on diseased frags) Then just put a dab of glue on the new plugs and squish it in. Pretty easy process, will probably upset it at first but give it a couple weeks to heal and you should be good and see it extended and happy

 

[ScottB]

Do a test cut down closer to the base with the bone cutters -- just to make sure the skeleton isn't the hollow type that shatters. Otherwise I would saw it with a diamond wire saw.