Coming to you for some advice.

reed_5point0 · 09/02/2014, 08:53 PM

Before any of you go on a witch hunt, this was all purchased decades before I was born, I just recently inherited it due to losing my father, a science teacher. He collected anything awesome. However I am a big advocate against how decor like this is made, and would like to bring it back where it belongs, and still have a centerpiece to enjoy.

Ok so I have some old coral skeletons, two of witch I am too new to the hobby to identify dead, so I will name them myself

. Both are dyed it looks like with something...I would date these from 1950s-70s no F'n clue what was used.

Big Blue
Green Monster

However I am starting up a new Nuvo 30gal, and would like to feature both in my tank. Mainly the big blue one, but I like both lol.

Would it be possible to bleach the crap off them so nothing would leech into my ecosystem? Would make my day to rehost some life back onto these guys slowly in my tank.

syrinx · 09/02/2014, 10:57 PM

neither one is dyed- the first is a blue ridge coral. You have proven the fact that harvested coral is a good thing-here is a coral that has been used and enjoyed for 30 or 40 years- most coral in peoples tanks that is alive- will not be for that amount of time, and likely will be discarded when it dies. Just bleach and let air dry for several days and you should be good to go.

Steveb · 09/02/2014, 11:34 PM

pretty sure the green monster is a Slipper / Tongue Coral (Polyphyllia sp.).

reed_5point0 · 09/02/2014, 11:42 PM

awesome, I was going with "plate" coral for Green dude. Thanks for the tips guys!

fishhuman · 09/20/2014, 08:46 AM

It's a great idea but eventually both( unless by some miracle there alive) will break down in your tank. It will probobly take a few months though.

IdahoCindy · 09/20/2014, 11:02 AM

I would use them for décor outside of the tank, if it were me.

syrinx · 09/20/2014, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishhuman

It's a great idea but eventually both( unless by some miracle there alive) will break down in your tank. It will probobly take a few months though.

these are storny coral skeletons- they wont break down for a thousand years. Coral reefs are comprised of coral skeletons. Alive or dead -perfectly appropriate marine aquarium decor.

acabgd · 09/20/2014, 05:35 PM

But they might get completely covered with algae...

Steveb · 09/20/2014, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrinx

these are storny coral skeletons- they wont break down for a thousand years. Coral reefs are comprised of coral skeletons. Alive or dead -perfectly appropriate marine aquarium decor.

agreed. not sure what the line of thinking was. Live rock after all is nothing but coral skeletons.

I like the idea of keeping it out as decoration as well.

tigerjace · 10/01/2014, 05:29 PM

Using it as decor in or out of the tank is both appropriate. However inside the tank it will collect algae or turn brown from slime....you can just let nature takes its course and let other coral spread onto it.

reed_5point0 · 12/04/2016, 01:35 PM

I know I am resurrecting a dead thread of sorts...But I just wanted to post a long due update!

I took about a year to save up a little more, and do my first reef in a decade RIGHT. I am still planning to use the Blue Ridge in the tank.

All my equipment is in, just waiting on the drop shipped Reefer tank. Have had a few days to plan my Aquascape tho!

nate16 · 12/04/2016, 06:21 PM

I'd agree with some other posters here and recommend to keep them as decor. Awesome relics though!

skiingfast · 12/19/2016, 02:02 PM

That Big Blue will make a great place for fish to sleep and cleaners to graze. Looks good.

I've used both real and replica skeletons. I got the real at garage sales. All I do is sun bleach them in between tanks and they growth just falls off with the slightest breeze.

reed_5point0 · 12/19/2016, 02:09 PM

My first decent diatom bloom happened last week and the top plates got a decent coat. I picked up some Certh snails and they like it a lot. Can't wait till fish can move in. Soon I hope.

Steveb · 12/19/2016, 03:12 PM

Cool.. post some pics when you get a chance!

birdfish · 12/20/2016, 03:24 PM

The Blue Coral is Heliopora, and great in tanks. The green is a type of tongue, of which there are a few genera, Herpolitha and Polyphyllia are the common ones in the hobby.
There are a couple other similar types of tongues.

09/02/2014, 08:53 PM	#1
reed_5point0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midland, Texas Posts: 197	Coming to you for some advice. Before any of you go on a witch hunt, this was all purchased decades before I was born, I just recently inherited it due to losing my father, a science teacher. He collected anything awesome. However I am a big advocate against how decor like this is made, and would like to bring it back where it belongs, and still have a centerpiece to enjoy. Ok so I have some old coral skeletons, two of witch I am too new to the hobby to identify dead, so I will name them myself. Both are dyed it looks like with something...I would date these from 1950s-70s no F'n clue what was used. Big Blue Green Monster However I am starting up a new Nuvo 30gal, and would like to feature both in my tank. Mainly the big blue one, but I like both lol. Would it be possible to bleach the crap off them so nothing would leech into my ecosystem? Would make my day to rehost some life back onto these guys slowly in my tank.

09/02/2014, 10:57 PM	#2
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	neither one is dyed- the first is a blue ridge coral. You have proven the fact that harvested coral is a good thing-here is a coral that has been used and enjoyed for 30 or 40 years- most coral in peoples tanks that is alive- will not be for that amount of time, and likely will be discarded when it dies. Just bleach and let air dry for several days and you should be good to go. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

09/02/2014, 11:34 PM	#3
Steveb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: TX Posts: 1,090	pretty sure the green monster is a Slipper / Tongue Coral (Polyphyllia sp.). __________________ Steve My Tanks 50x30 ABS Tub & a 48x24 frag tank at the moment Steve's Reef 265 Build In Progress

12/19/2016, 02:09 PM	#14
reed_5point0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midland, Texas Posts: 197	My first decent diatom bloom happened last week and the top plates got a decent coat. I picked up some Certh snails and they like it a lot. Can't wait till fish can move in. Soon I hope. __________________ Reefer 170 (34g) Build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=24847981#post24847981 Current Tank Info: In Development!!!

12/19/2016, 03:12 PM	#15
Steveb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: TX Posts: 1,090	Cool.. post some pics when you get a chance! __________________ Steve My Tanks 50x30 ABS Tub & a 48x24 frag tank at the moment Steve's Reef 265 Build In Progress

09/02/2014, 11:42 PM	#4
reed_5point0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midland, Texas Posts: 197	awesome, I was going with "plate" coral for Green dude. Thanks for the tips guys!

09/20/2014, 08:46 AM	#5
fishhuman Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: LA california Posts: 647	It's a great idea but eventually both( unless by some miracle there alive) will break down in your tank. It will probobly take a few months though.

09/20/2014, 11:02 AM	#6
IdahoCindy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sun Valley Idaho Posts: 329	I would use them for décor outside of the tank, if it were me.

09/20/2014, 05:35 PM	#8
acabgd Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,086	But they might get completely covered with algae...

10/01/2014, 05:29 PM	#10
tigerjace Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 201	Using it as decor in or out of the tank is both appropriate. However inside the tank it will collect algae or turn brown from slime....you can just let nature takes its course and let other coral spread onto it.

12/04/2016, 01:35 PM	#11
reed_5point0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Midland, Texas Posts: 197	I know I am resurrecting a dead thread of sorts...But I just wanted to post a long due update! I took about a year to save up a little more, and do my first reef in a decade RIGHT. I am still planning to use the Blue Ridge in the tank. All my equipment is in, just waiting on the drop shipped Reefer tank. Have had a few days to plan my Aquascape tho!

12/04/2016, 06:21 PM	#12
nate16 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Peabody, MA Posts: 80	I'd agree with some other posters here and recommend to keep them as decor. Awesome relics though!

12/19/2016, 02:02 PM	#13
skiingfast Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 217	That Big Blue will make a great place for fish to sleep and cleaners to graze. Looks good. I've used both real and replica skeletons. I got the real at garage sales. All I do is sun bleach them in between tanks and they growth just falls off with the slightest breeze.

12/20/2016, 03:24 PM	#16
birdfish Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Utopia TX Posts: 50	The Blue Coral is Heliopora, and great in tanks. The green is a type of tongue, of which there are a few genera, Herpolitha and Polyphyllia are the common ones in the hobby. There are a couple other similar types of tongues.