Green Star Polyps

[ichthyogeek]

So I know that everybody, his neighbor, and his dog usually has success in growing star polyps, but for the oddest reason, they've never really thrived for me. I have a pretty nice frag right now, and am hoping that it will spread. Yes, yes, yes, I know that if I give it time, then it will probably try to overtake my entire tank. What I'm asking are these:

What do they eat? Please don't give me any of the nonsense about these corals not needing to eat. Aside from xeniids who have underdeveloped digestion systems (or so I've heard), all corals eat something. They can't just photosynthesize, because that's just the zooxanthellae creating sugars to be broken down by the coral's mitochondria, and the corals need some sort of nitrogen and phosphorus in order to grow. Are they bacteriovores? Do they eat benthic copepods that just so happen to crawl onto a polyp? Or do they "absorb" nutrients from the environment(which would certainly disprove my idea about corals needing actual food)? What about phytoplankton? And yes, I know that some people have it growing just fine without feeding, so please don't mention that either...

Are these gorgonians or actual corals? Scott's 101 reef inverts has them listed as Briareum gorgonians, but other books say that these are actual corals.

What are their water parameter requirements? Do they prefer nutrient rich water or nutrient poor water?

I'm sorry if I seem offensive in this, but I really just want to know about green star polyps, and the whole nonsense is starting to irk me.

 

[tonysi]

I have the same problem with gsp. I have a red planet and birdnest coral that are growing like crazy, but these darn things just won't. I'm pretty interested in what others have to say.

 

[justthewife]

I would say they do well in the middle of the tank or off to one side. They are fussy about flow. Moderate random flow is good. If they close up or get curly looking its too much flow. They don't like detritus to land on them so blow it off of them if you see it. They will eat reef chili or anything small you can dust them with. In my opinion they are ok in either nutrient rich or not water as long as you feed them. Where do you put them in your tank?

 

[justthewife]

This may help: http://animal-world.com/Aquarium-Coral-Reefs/Green-Star-Polyps

 

[ichthyogeek]

So how does one know if one's GSP's are eating? Thanks for the information!

Mine are currently on a tiny island on the left side of the tank right in front of the glass, they seem to get enough turbulence to 'ripple' often. Also, after looking at the pictures, it seems that I've got a gorgonian...

 

[3dees]

I have mine on a separate rock and have to cut it back every 3-4 months. I do not feed it. it will get everything it needs with lighting and whatever you feed the fish.

 

[goldslinger]

I got one from Petco about 9 Weeks ago and it took about 6 Weeks to come out. I moved the chunk and it really took off when I put it under stronger flow and light.

Now I tear bits of the carpet off of the Mother rock, cya'd them to a magnetic round puck and stuck the on the back wall of the aquarium so it will cover that in time. They seem to like stronger currents and light. I know better light brings out the green coloration in them.

 

[Mr_I_Dare_You]

My GSP's grew like weeds under MH and have all but ceased growth once I switched to LED. Have never directly fed them. Although I use oyster egg coral food once a week.

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

My GSP's grew like weeds under MH and have all but ceased growth once I switched to LED. Have never directly fed them. Although I use oyster egg coral food once a week.

It is funny in my old tank which was MH they grew fine. .. in my current tank which is led I can keep them... they flourish for a month or so then sure off. .. now in my daughter's tank which is also led lit but has UV leds the stuff grows like a weed. .. but that tank also is sump less so the water is a touch dirtier

 

[justthewife]

If you have the gargonian type, I would say they would get what they need from light and water. Maybe Reef Chili would be good once in a while.