Star Polyps Not Spreading

[AJSTITAN14]

My stars are not spreading they are definitely out, open and happy but I think they aren't really pleased with their location as far as growing out goes.

They came on a bit of rock and I just glued that to a peak on my live rock and called it good. Could they be too high up and not finding a way to spread out like they want to?

 

[Skipper]

I doubt it. Consider yourself lucky that they aren't spreading.

 

[jdthomas24]

Skipper. do they spread often and hard to remove? i put some in mine and wonder if that was a mistake....

 

[giantxtc]

I have always seen them grow like weeds.On the glass,in overflows and all over other corals.They are very agressive and invasive.Once they get a hold in your tank they are hard to control.I had some that would spawn about once a month and start new colonies everywhere.I call them the crabgrass of the reef tank.

If they are not spreading,and have been in your tank for sometime,maybe you are right and they are not happy with thier placement.As weird as it sounds,they probably don't feel the need to spread around so fast.I think when space becomes competitive they will spread out to make sure they are the dominant coral.

 

[crispyreef]

AJSTITAN14-You said you glued the plug on the peak of the rock, try moving it to the side of the rock so the coral will want to spread up. I'd bet it will take off if you want it to or not.

 

[sagecx]

i have the same problem i have mine against the back wall in a corner and they refuse to grab onto the back glass and expand. 5 months and no new growth. Mine arent in a high flow area would that make a difference.

 

[garygonzales]

yea be glad they aren't spreading.....they definitely are hard to control ...have to trim mine every few weeks ..and they grow over everything....keep them separated from everything..and you should be good...(like its own island)....

 

[AJSTITAN14]

Ok thanks. I will consider myself lucky then

 

[Falcao]

You guys are making me feel bad. I just got some last week. The green neon color is what made me get it. Now I am having second thoughts.

 

[WhoDey64]

I get a chuckle out of people who like to look down their nose on those keeping GPS, acting like its the bubonic plague of reefing. When properly maintained it can be a stunning contrast to even the most "elite" SPS or LPS. On top of that its the easiest spreading coral to remove, its matting pulls off in sheets.

Good enough for TOTM?

 

[rogerrgr]

I love my GSP! They are in medium flow and seem to spread away from the flow. They don't seem to spread too quickly, at least for me.. And if they do, just frag and sell or trade!

 

[LouPhoenix]

I love GSP too, I have a garden of it in my mixed reef, but i'm considering moving a batch to another, dedicated softie tank... it is growing faster than I can trim it and in areas that are impossible to reach... check out the garden...

 

[LouPhoenix]

opps double post.

 

[Falcao]

Nice pic lou

 

[davenia7]

I got mine to spread onto my in-tank skimmer, Tunze Nano, so, it's like my skimmer has a coat... looking pretty good actually. And I just have to get a blade to slice the next bunch off the wall.

 

[llamart]

My GSP are not invasive at all. They will grow where they can but stop in their tracks as soon as they get close to something else.

For folks having problems having them grab on the glass, the mat needs to be very close to the glass with good exposure to light. The smaller the mat the longer it takes to grow. The side of my tank took 6 months and the majority of the growth occurred in the last month.

 

[jackryan]

how do you make them spread out that much?

 

[rednkfish]

mine statered to spread ( was happy) then i moved the rock and changed the bulbs and now no matter where i place the rock it does not want to extend it is just the pinkish tissue. any suggestions?