green star polyps - maintainance

[jimnrose]

My tank (125gal) is being chocked out with the green star polyps. About 6 months ago I removed (ripped) some of the polyp from the rock surfaces. I got hit with red slime and it took a few months to get ride of it. I'm guessing the polyps raised the nitride levels (due to the damaged areas). I don't know of any other way to remove the excess because the rocks are very large and can't be removed from the tank for maintenance. I cut the light period back to hopefully reduce the growth rate but I haven't noticed any change.
Any suggestions??? Jim

 

[hobineros]

I rip my gsp out of my tank nearly monthly I go and pull out a handful with no ill effect. Only thing I can see maybe happening is, you are tearing off small pieces that float away and then rot in the tank. Use a pair of skizzors. Maybe a cleaner cut results in less small pieces.

Are you asking how to slow GSP growth? If so, Break tank down, submerge in lava, and start over.

 

[dustinkimpel]

I rip my gsp out of my tank nearly monthly I go and pull out a handful with no ill effect. Only thing I can see maybe happening is, you are tearing off small pieces that float away and then rot in the tank. Use a pair of skizzors. Maybe a cleaner cut results in less small pieces.

Are you asking how to slow GSP growth? If so, Break tank down, submerge in lava, and start over.

Lol it sucks because I really like how GSP looks : / I have that and pulsing xenia that look like they are planning on a full take over and occupation.

 

[Webmanny]

LOL. I love to see these threads because of their contrast with others asking how to better grow GSP and Xenias in new tanks. I always warn new reefers about the dangers of GSP and Xenias. It is not a question of will they overtake and choke everything else in your tank, it is a question of when.

 

[water is wet]

If you keep them isolated you shouldn't have any problems with it taking over anything but the rock they are on. I don't understand why so many have trouble with it unless they are unaware of how it grows.

 

[Webmanny]

If you keep them isolated you shouldn't have any problems with it taking over anything but the rock they are on. I don't understand why so many have trouble with it unless they are unaware of how it grows.

Hopefully it won't happen to you as it does to many. Please keep in mind that even when placing them on their own separate rock, away from everything else and actively watching their growth... Nature finds a way.

Regardless, good luck and best wishes!

 

[hobineros]

My GSP is like growing on branches that wave out and flow in the current away from the rock, some of the "tentacles" are probably 6 inches or longer. Its cool looking. I like GSP. I just needed room for a tank merger and some polyps of z's and p's.

Check out how it looked before I removed probably half of it LOL!

 

[hobineros]

My GSP is like growing on branches that wave out and flow in the current away from the rock, some of the "tentacles" are probably 6 inches or longer. Its cool looking. I like GSP. I just needed room for a tank merger and some polyps of z's and p's.

Check out how it looked before I removed probably half of it LOL!

Forgot to finish photo upload.... :debi:

 

[countryboy12484]

Wow... Thats allot of gsp! Lol

 

[hobineros]

Wow... Thats allot of gsp! Lol

That's the left side of the tank, the right side is just as bad! lol

 

[dustinkimpel]

Lol dang... I fear my tank will be like that very soon

 

[dustinkimpel]

Do clownfish swim threw it?

 

[tidus10]

wow so cool i love that full tank of GSP..

BUT for the OP,
Maybe when you pulled off a chunk of GSP you stirred up detrious that was under it and that added bacteria is what caused the spike..

 

[water is wet]

Hopefully it won't happen to you as it does to many. Please keep in mind that even when placing them on their own separate rock, away from everything else and actively watching their growth... Nature finds a way.

Regardless, good luck and best wishes!

I've never heard of this happening. I tried to search google and wasn't able to find any evidence of this. Do you have any links that clearly state it was isolated and still took over?

Thanks

 

[tidus10]

I've never heard of this happening. I tried to search google and wasn't able to find any evidence of this. Do you have any links that clearly state it was isolated and still took over?

Thanks

happens all the time

my buddy had a single GSP jump from his colony to the other side of his 75 and boom now 2 colonies..

How do you think it spreads in the wild? There isnt just 1 big mat in the ocean of GSP..

 

[hobineros]

Do clownfish swim threw it?

Never noticed the percs swimming thru it, but my 6 line does like a boss. The hippo tang I have looks like he is skiing on a slalom slope weaving in and out of it lol.

 

[hobineros]

wow so cool i love that full tank of GSP..

BUT for the OP,
Maybe when you pulled off a chunk of GSP you stirred up detrious that was under it and that added bacteria is what caused the spike..

+1, my thoughts as well. Rip up the mat and stirred up something that decayed .

 

[Webmanny]

I've never heard of this happening. I tried to search google and wasn't able to find any evidence of this. Do you have any links that clearly state it was isolated and still took over?

Thanks

Fortunately for you, I have heard of it and this is why I decided to warn you and others about this potential problem.

I'll leave you with some pictures of different ways this coral can take over a tank and propagate regardless of their placement.

Have a great day!!

The sand crawl:

The glass crawl:

A picture from above:

It all started with one small frag away from everything:

 

[jimnrose]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. I'll try and be more careful trimming the spf this time. It's a nuisance & eliminated the ricodea but sure looks pretty waving in the water flow.

 

[water is wet]

happens all the time

my buddy had a single GSP jump from his colony to the other side of his 75 and boom now 2 colonies..

How do you think it spreads in the wild? There isnt just 1 big mat in the ocean of GSP..

Did he frag it and maybe that's how it ended up in two locations? Another possibility is that it came in on another rock.

I never thought about how it spread in the wild and your right I'm sure it's not one big mat however IME it is a rare occurrence in the home aquarium.