My first coral!

[Pea-brain]

Hi. I just felt like sharing a few pics It is a GSP, sold as "Metallic green star polyps" and arrived in good condition. I found a coral eating sea slug On it the first night after it arrived. I caught it (looked like a piece of frozen shrimp at first. Then I pried it off) and ID'd it as a coral eater. It was white/pink with two rows of spine things. I flushed it needless to say (my colony isn't big enough to continually feed it, and I wasn't too interested in keeping anyways) By the second day half the polyps were out. Now they are all/mostly out, and its tuesday. It is in my ten gallon P. ciliata mantis shrim tank about 4-5 inches from the water surface, lit by 18 watt 50/50 NO flourescent. Some might argue that isn't enough light, but most people say it'll either be okay, or turn brown and be ok. Besides in a few weeks I'm picking up a 130 PC light I'm afraid that is too much though. Anyways we need pics now!! Also in these pics you'll notice a round thing. It is a coral but I have no idea what kind (looks like a mushroom) If you have any ideas please share!

I know, I know. I'm horrible at taking pictures, and I have a bad camera Anyways, Any idea what that coral is? Also, any comments? I just couldn't get the nice metallic green shiny ness with the camera!....Ok I'm done now...

 

[skimmerman100]

phytoplankton makes this grow fast

 

[Nano Chris]

Looks good!

 

[Pea-brain]

I swear this thin is growing. And i'm seeing tiny polyps sproouting. There is on spot that looks like it is kind of shaky (gonna fall off) and once it gets 4-5 mature polyps ' gonna snip it and rubberband it to another rock.I also wnto try puin a frag in a tank with no lighting except sunlight, which comes through the window. I know, I know, I broke the cardinal rule: Don't put aquariums near windows. And this is me doing it anyways Also any idea what that circular thing is? Thanks for the replies

Dan

 

[LionfishFinatic]

the brown thing kind of looks like some kind of Palythoa or Button polyp. THe GSP looks great too!!

 

[Pea-brain]

OK I couldn't resist. More pics

These were taken today. You may notic it shifted slightly....The rock pile it is on collapsed in my frantic attempt to kill aptaisia....Luckily I caught the rock with the GSP on it before it fell! But those aptaisia are still there......(PS. You can't suck aptaisia out with a turkey baster. They hold on good! )

 

[ebay04chris]

Inject them with boiling hot fw they will be gone in a day or so.

 

[Pea-brain]

I've made them disapear by turkey basting them with boiling hot water before...but it kill all coraline in a circle around it, and they came back. Do you know where I can get a needle?

 

[peanut95]

I make a paste out of kalk boil it and shoot it, then cover it with aqua putty when I see it on a new frag. So far no aptaisia in my tank!!!!

 

[Faviaphile]

Very nice GSP. I wouldn't worry about your PCs being too much light. Make sure they get plenty of flow, I've noticed that they do the best with a nice current right over the top. It also helps keep algae from growing on the base. You'll know if it's too much if the polyps don't extend.

About the aptasia... I used to use a syringe with a needle but now I've found that an open syringe works better, especially on the little ones. It makes it easier to smother them!

Good luck!

Oh, and I second the paly vote on your unidentified polyp.

 

[TriniReefer]

They'll open up alot more,they'll look really nice,youll like it i have some myself.

 

[Pea-brain]

Thanks. I got a needle from my uncle and am injecting them with vinegar and watching the holes intently for signs of coming back. It is hard to know if you got them because they retract. I also fragged a small piece and attached it to another rock with a rubber band. Pics coming tonight or tomorrow!

 

[Pinner reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9955849#post9955849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pea-brain
I also fragged a small piece and attached it to another rock with a rubber band. Pics coming tonight or tomorrow!

Sounds good but if you are woking with a 10g you might want to be careful in spreading the GSP. GSP have a habit of overtaking nanos. I already have an "isolation post" which is nearly failing in my attept to isolate GSP.

Good beginner coral almost too good LOL

Happy Reefing
-pinner

 

[Pea-brain]

Actually, I was kinda hoping it would take over the entire ten gallon.....Especially the back of the glass.....Anyone know how to attach it to the glass? I wanted coralline to cover the back at first, but it is taking forever to spread.....The only problem is that when I pick up my 130 watt light, I can probably keep some LPS or even hardy SPS corals, and I might want to start to get it under control when I decide to do that. But even then I can just sell/give away a whole lotta frags It looks like There'll be enough to frag again in a few days....this thing grows FAST!

 

[kingfisher62]

Nice lookin piece! How big is it ? It is hard to tell from the photo.
I can't believe yours is growing so fast I have had mine for 5 months and can not really tell if it is spreading.
It is looking good though . Just wait till yours realyy acclimates you will be amazed how long the polyps get!
here is a video of mine