Now that my tank is healthy and things are thriving and growing (thank you all for you advice and help that led me to this) but now my Kenya tree is shedding all over the tank! I probably have about 10 new trees growing. The lfs won’t give me anything for them (because they are like weeds)and I just dont want to take everything apart to get them out. Honestly a few would be fine but I can see this taking over the tank. I have researched and found that a long spine urchin will maybe eat them but I really don’t want an urchin b/c they knock over things… So anyone know what else eats them? right now I have:
sailfin tang
one spot foxface
nasty old percula clown
scooter blenny
algae blenny
yellow tail damsel
green chromis (sole survivor out of 6)
diamond watchman goby
bicolor dottyback
Wow, I’m having the same problem with mine. It’s throwing small branch all over the place. I don’t know if there’s anything that would eat that type of corals. I know some cowri do eat todstool soft corals, but don’t know about Kenya tree. Second, I don’t know if I would want to fine anything to eat it, that one thing might eat it all then you wouldn’t have any more left.
If you have room in your tank or frag tank, just put them on a frag plug or rock rubble and give them away to who ever want them, especially newbies to the hobby. Most LFS will not take them that small cause they won’t make any money.
bring em over, don’t know if we’v had a kenya before, but that dam rabbit eats about any thing we put in there.
bring em over, don't know if we'v had a kenya before, but that dam rabbit eats about any thing we put in there.I need to collect them, they are in every little crevice in the rocks.
I don't know if I would want to fine anything to eat it, that one thing might eat it all then you wouldn't have any more left.Not sure that would be a bad thing! There are so many of them...
My devils hand is doing the same. I think it has shed about 4-5 pieces in the past month and it has more its slowly dropping.
Good to hear your system is doing well. Mine is for the most part I just can not keep sps. but thats all good to me.
Make a post stating that you are giving away free Kenya Trees.
[quote=“Tony Vargas, post:6, topic:4411”]
Make a post stating that you are giving away free Kenya Trees.[/quote]
Any one would like these Kenya Tree’s babies, are more than welcome to stop by to get them for free. I have about 15-20 dropping ranging 1"-2". Please let me know ahead of time since they are in and around crevices of my rocks and it would take time to get them out. By the way I’m in Dover.
If no one speaks up with in an hour flush um. If anyone really wants them they aren’t hard to find. Manual removal is the only way worth the time and effort.
welcome to the Kenya Tree over population club.
It happens to everyone. It’s a nice starter coral because it grows and divides so well. It makes us feel good about our reef. But we do have to keep them under control . i just toss the little ones into a corner with some rubble rock. keep throwing them back if they wander. and soon, you have a Wopper of a cluster stuck together that you mght sell or give to the local fish store. or to a new friend with their first reef tank, so they also may feel good about their first reef tank.
It’s kind of a right of passage.
And now, Grass Hopper, time to move on.
Would you like to play a nice game of GSP?
[quote=“Gordonious, post:8, topic:4411”]
If no one speaks up with in an hour flush um. If anyone really wants them they aren’t hard to find. Manual removal is the only way worth the time and effort. [/quote]
I don’t think I can do that Jon, especially when it’s alive and healthy.
[quote=“kaptken, post:9, topic:4411”]
welcome to the Kenya Tree over population club.
It happens to everyone. It’s a nice starter coral because it grows and divides so well. It makes us feel good about our reef. But we do have to keep them under control . i just toss the little ones into a corner with some rubble rock. keep throwing them back if they wander. and soon, you have a Wopper of a cluster stuck together that you mght sell or give to the local fish store. or to a new friend with their first reef tank, so they also may feel good about their first reef tank.
It’s kind of a right of passage.
And now, Grass Hopper, time to move on.
Would you like to play a nice game of GSP? [/quote]
I would perfer to do it your way Ken. I know someday some one will ask for some soft corals in their tank or newly establish tank. Or I’ll just give it ways to LFS to help them out with their sales.
I wouldn’t be able to flush a living animal with a good consience. Also, doesn’t that put our waterways at risk of an invasive species, since the drains empty out into the ocean and the kenya tree is such a strong coral, it has a greater chance of survival in a foreign territory. Hope people don’t really flush corals or anything for that matter that could influence our ecosystem.
Uhh, I have a big ol’ empty tank and would gladly take what you guys dont want!
As far as flushing goes, the WWTP would kill off anything before it made it to the sea. The treatment process is substantial.
Not to mention the freezing cold bay and ocean water up here in winter. I don’t think tropical corals would survive a season.
Hey, Joe wants Kenya tree, and GSP and other stuff for free! I’ll bring you some stuff saturday. bring a bucket-o-tank-water. I am just about out of kenya tree. maybe someone else could bring some extras on the Dr. mac trip for Joe?
Joe… what kinda lights do you have on that big ole empty tank?
Joe, I’m not going to Dr. Mac Saturday. However, I can meet you at the FB some other time, if you want these Kenya tree droppings. LMK
Thanks, Ken! I appreciate whatever I can get! I ordered T-5’s, just four bulbs, but I wanted to go inexpensive to start. Should be here today or tomorrow.
Reefman, I have a cutting of it I got from Glen, but if you have extras, I would happily add a few. I love the look of a soft coral tank. The closest I ever got to stonies were frogspawn, and those were so/so…
Water treatment plants and cold water would take care of the Kenya tree? Anyone try growing corals in a “fresh water tank”.
Before you decide to go with Ken’s theory make some phone calls and see which LFS will take your Kenya tree. None? Kill the little ones now or grow a big one and kill it later.
Sorry guys, had several people ask, so have to give a good answer.
You’re going to kill those animals!?!?!
Suppose you’ve never squished an ant in your house either?
If you don’t want to kill animals be prepared for a nasty disgusting overgrown ugly aquarium.(some will argue with that statement, but whatever that is my opinion) Or do your research ahead of time on every animal and make sure there is a place to take animals if they are going to over grow your aquarium. Later may sound better, but hind sight is always 50/50.(is that the expression?) Even if you really know what you’re doing you’re still likely going to end up killing a lot of animals.
Really honestly, love and respect animals and have devoted my life to keeping aquariums with total respect and admiration for our oceans and natural reefs. To keep what most will consider a beautiful aquarium you are going to have to kill some animals. Ever heard of aptasia? Zoanthid eating nudibranchs? Montipora eating flat worms? Acropora eating “bugsâ€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ? Would anyone like to save the parasitic isopod that is eating a fish alive and give it a good home? Again if you don’t want to kill any animal ever this may not be the hobby for you.
What genus of coral is Kenya tree from anyways. Is it really a true coral? The last time I checked this group of soft corals was extremely difficult to identify to even genus by just visual inspection. Even if you did have some crazy biologist that would actually give such an ID corals are being reclassified on a daily basis at this point and soft corals like these are often just about ignored by biologist because they don’t significantly contribute to the structures of corals reefs. By the time we really understand what they are they are(and if they are even a coral at all) we likely to be only kept in captivity because conditions in the natural oceans won’t permit their survival.
So let’s say Kenya tree is a coral and obviously not one of these other pests so it should be held in higher regard then the other animals? And humans are better than monkies and animal testing is justified right? (ok, let’s not open that can of worms) Who is to say one animal is better than the other? Wait until you get your first Acropora and bring it back to life after 6 months of struggle and you see your first growth tips and the polyps are extended and a Kenya tree attaches right to the center of the coral and crashes the colony. Looking around your tank fill of Kenya tree you may start to kill animals.
Need some justification? Share your aquarium like crazy. Post info on facebook, invites friends over to see them. You’ll be surprised at how many don’t really understand that corals are animals. A couple of weeks ago a Comcast guy came to figure out why my internet reception sucks and I had him stop long enough to show him “nemo†and the gang and explain to him a little about coral reefs and how they are in danger.
More justification, google “Kenya tree taking over imagesâ€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ, “GSP taking over imagesâ€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ, “aptasia taking over images†and decide if you are cool with an aquarium that looks like that. Sometimes you have to think of it like a garden. You may want to nurture every plant in a newly plowed garden, but by day two you are going to label some as weeds. And if no want wants to take the weed from you even if it is free.
Free weed!?! Ok not that kind.
Back to my original post:
“If no one speaks up with in an hour flush um. If anyone really wants them they aren’t hard to find.â€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ
Actuually, gordonious, i do not kill animals. I am a strict vegan, wear no leather or fur, do not buy products that test on animals, I don’t squash bugs if I can help it,I donate to and volunteer at animal shelters and have spent A LOT of $$$$$ on saving these corals and fish so no, I think it is absolutely unethical to kill any kenya tree just because they are a minor imposition. Look at all of the people that are volunteering to take them!
I really do appreciate your knowlege on reefs and respect that but I am just saying while other reefs are bleaching and I have excess I wouldn’t feel right killing the ones I have, and there are flaws in the wwt plants and currents can move things quickly to warmer waters - so one never knows. There are many many invasive species of things nobody ever thought would survive when being released.
If that is truely the case:
[quote=“Gordonious, post:16, topic:4411”]
"Ever heard of aptasia? Zoanthid eating nudibranchs? Montipora eating flat worms? Acropora eating “bugsâ€ÂÂÂÂÂÂÂ? Would anyone like to save the parasitic isopod that is eating a fish alive and give it a good home? Again if you don’t want to kill any animal ever this may not be the hobby for you. "[/quote]
I’m just saying. You may want to look into the things mentioned above and be prepared to deal with things. Soon as your tank is filled with aptasia and you share this information with the one LFS in the state that takes Kenya tree off your hands…
My girlfriend asks me to kill bugs often. When I can I catch them and take them outside. I’m not a vegan, but I know where you are coming from.
I really think it may be time to step back for a minute and really look down the road a bit. Do you know what I am talking about in the above quote? Are you familiar with all of these animals? Even if you were to be one of the few that practices QT to prevent issues from getting into your aquarium, what do you do with the issue in your QT tank?
Yes, I amaware of using natural ways of pest control via recreating a natural reef environment.I’m not trying to argue the point, just looking for suggestions. Thank you for yours.
As much as we may try there is a massive difference between a glass box and the ocean. There isn’t always a “natural way” we are aware of that works in aquariums and often the natural way is much worse for the animals and the environment. Some of the people on this forum used nudibranchs that eat aptasia and then those animals slowly starved to death in the aquariums when there are none left. Can’t tell you how many cleaner wrasses and copper banded butterflies, neither of which are easy to keep, have met their demise in aquariums brought in mostly to be used as more “natural methods”. And what eats Kenya tree?
But ok… I can be quite, I have said my piece.