Star Polyp HELP

[tomasga]

I have this Green Star Polyp piece

which I have had for a few years, it has grown from a small dime size frag to a beautiful coral but then recently retracted mostly and has become bleached, probably due to being without much light and care when I was battling an agonizing GHA issue. I have since overcome that problem and then rest of my tank is doing great. What can I do to help this coral get back its colors. It sits under Blueline 150WATT 20K bulb with two 96 watt actinics.

CALC 400 - 425
PH 8.0 - 8.1
Nitrates undetectable
Phosphaes undetectable

 

[Logzor]

I have witnessed GSP retract for nearly a week. Give it some time.

Unless you see large amount of tissue melting leave it be.

 

[tomasga]

how about the bleaching, it has lost all of its color too?

 

[darkdruid]

If it was doing fine before, it's apparently in a good spot, but if you decide to move it, they like high flow and intense light. Put it near the top of the tank and point a powerhead at it, mine gets blasted 6 inches under a 250 watt HQI and less than a foot in front of a powerhead. Grows like a weed.

 

[tomasga]

thanks; I will try adding more flow to it and see what happens.

 

[Octopus8]

My large GSP rock is currently on its 4th day of pouting after getting its 3rd severe trimming this month. It looks horrible for up to a week, then it just opens up and keeps spreading like a weed. Like darkdruid, I have mine at the top of the aquarium in the highest flow area and it almost does too well.

 

[darkdruid]

I can't kill the stuff with a hammer and a blow torch. It's like that old 1950's movie - The Blob!!!

 

[RockyMtnReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15443226#post15443226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by darkdruid
I can't kill the stuff with a hammer and a blow torch. It's like that old 1950's movie - The Blob!!!

You got that right. If yours dies consider yourself lucky. It is a plague.

 

[tomasga]

"but, its so pretty!" quote MyWife....

 

[redfishsc]

Star polyps like water with nutrients in it. If your nitrates and phosphates are undetectable, you might consider dosing some amino acids to help boost them.

 

[tomasga]

redfishsc - can you give me some examples of marine safe AAs?

 

[redfishsc]

Brightwell being one of the more popular in my area, but here's a link to what Marinedepot.com carries.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_searchItem.aspx?SearchText=amino acid&parsed=1

 

[tomasga]

thanks

 

[reefworm]

redfishsc - your avatar is freaking me out!

 

[Cassidy1016]

my star retracts every now and then also. I would say if it was growing well then just give it time. I would leave it where it has always been and you should be fine.