|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 7:08:25 PM
Posts: 4,164,
Visits: 2,687
|
|
| a fav trick of mine for removing macro organisms such as worms, crabs, mantis, etc is to make a solution of magnesium chloride (not sodium chloride) mixed up to the same specific gravity as NSW (say... 1.024ish) Dip the rocks in this saltwater bath and watch the motile organisms exit rather promtly. For fish-only use display live rock, it accomplishes the goal of removing most if not all potential problem creatures such as parasitic isopods and mantis (stomatopods), as well as pests like the polychaetes you are hunting in this case. It does little to no harm to ther majoy benthic growth forms for the short duration and after a good rinse. I heard the trick from a chap at SeaWorld FL who does this to prepare LR for use in their fish only displays.
. Anthony Calfo
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: Yesterday @ 8:25:28 PM
Posts: 572,
Visits: 2,504
|
|
Excellent Anth-
isn't Epsom salt Magnesium Chloride?
better than boiling the rocks.....or is it cooking the live rock.
Frank
-----------
"We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities disguised as insolvable problems."- John Gardner
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 7:08:25 PM
Posts: 4,164,
Visits: 2,687
|
|
| I used to confuse Mag Cl with Epsom salt too but the latter is Mag sulfate. Either can be had in bulk from scientific supply houses. I haven't purchased any such recently in bulk, but I'm thinking of Carolina Biolgical Supply, Fisher Scientific... perhaps Argent Labs(?) or Aquatic Ecosystems (FL)?
. Anthony Calfo
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/30/2009 3:58:12 PM
Posts: 457,
Visits: 2,166
|
|
| Anthony, Thanks for this tip, I'm going to give it a try. I have one mantis left in my tank and I'm pretty sure he is decimating my limpet population and possibly my ceriths. All other methods of capture (FW dip, squirting carbonated water in holes, 2 different mantis traps, hyper and hypo SW) have worked in removing 4 mantis, but Smusher refuses to comply. I'll try to remember to report back on the results. Brian
7 years FW, 5 years SW
Education is the solution to pollution, not dilution.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 7:08:25 PM
Posts: 4,164,
Visits: 2,687
|
|
heehee... "smusher." It paints a clear picture  Please do let us know your results 
. Anthony Calfo
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/30/2009 3:58:12 PM
Posts: 457,
Visits: 2,166
|
|
| Anthony, Before I try this, is there any record of the effects of a MgCl dip on corals? I have 3 very likely suspect rocks for the mantis and 2 of them have LPS corals fused to the rock. I was thinking of trying to squirt MgCl into holes first before dipping the entire rock so the corals wouldn't be hit. Brian
7 years FW, 5 years SW
Education is the solution to pollution, not dilution.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/16/2006 9:05:21 PM
Posts: 12,
Visits: 40
|
|
| So will Epsom salt work as well? I don't have MagCl on hand, but plenty Epsom salts bought from Costco. Thanks for your help.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/16/2006 9:05:21 PM
Posts: 12,
Visits: 40
|
|
Also, If I dip most of the LR, will there be any negative impacts to the tank when I put them back in? I have a mixed reef tank with SPS, LPS, and softies, is this safe for them?
I assume the LR need to be rinsed well with SW first to avoid any spike of ALK in the tank? Will there be enough dieoffs that's going to cause a minicycle?
Thanks for your help.
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/26/2007 6:23:26 AM
Posts: 8,
Visits: 31
|
|
| Wouldn't it be easier to use reefbones (dried live rock)?
|
|
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/30/2009 3:58:12 PM
Posts: 457,
Visits: 2,166
|
|
Keith_Man (2/11/2006)
Wouldn't it be easier to use reefbones (dried live rock)?Yes it would, but then you miss out on the biological diversity of the live rock. Plus, with all these problem animals I am too busy solving problems to think about buying expensive corals Anthony, Well, Smusher remains in the tank as I have no clue where his home is, BUT the MgCl solution came in VERY handy. I have a Eunicid sp. worm in my tank that like to nip at my TBS brain corals (which are my favorite corals by far in my tank). Well, one of them built its easy chair(tube) next to and top of one of my brain corals and would only have to extend a couple of cms to get a meal.  I had to tear apart the left side of my rockwork to get the rock out, but finally did it today and squirted some MgCl into the hole and it was evicted immediately! I now have a weapon against these worms in case more decide to occupy the newly available pad. It also slightly raised my Mg level as it has been a bit low lately Thanks again! Brian
7 years FW, 5 years SW
Education is the solution to pollution, not dilution.
|
|
|
|