green star polyp in a reef tank

[afboundguy]

I am in the process of going much more reef in my tank. I was wondering if anyone has GSP in their reef tanks? I have this stuff in my tank now and it grows like crazy. I didn't know if this would be a problem once I start putting in LPS and SPS. I'm just worried that it would take over the whole tank and cause problems in a reef tank. The GSP is on about 25-33% of the rocks now but it used to be on over 50% untill I trimmed it down. Any input would be great.

 

[niakon22]

ill take soem of the gsp

 

[Mr.HaHa]

I am in the process of going much more reef in my tank. I was wondering if anyone has GSP in their reef tanks? I have this stuff in my tank now and it grows like crazy. I didn't know if this would be a problem once I start putting in LPS and SPS. I'm just worried that it would take over the whole tank and cause problems in a reef tank. The GSP is on about 25-33% of the rocks now but it used to be on over 50% untill I trimmed it down. Any input would be great.

i place the fast growing and to some extent "nusiance" corals on a rock on my sand bed which is isolated from all sps and lps. that way corals like xenia, gsp, zoos, and leathers wont intrude and directly poison any of my more prized corals.

 

[Miller]

Once I saw photos online of GSP dominating the rock work of tanks I took the small piece we had attached to a small rock and isolated it like Mr. HaHa mentioned

 

[JohnK]

Yup, GSP's can be nice to have, but they can overgrow and sting other corals. They are quite aggressive.

 

[ZenMastr1968]

My patch of GSP creeped too close to my Torch and guess which one won....


The Torch!

Definitely keep in mind the growing habits of any coral you introduce to your tank....

 

[Cardiak]

I usually take mine and force them to grow over staghorn coral skeletons and then I keep them isolated on the sand. When they overgrow these skeletons they look like an entirely new type of coral, almost like a SPS with large feeders as they envelope all the long branches.

 

[stingythingy45]

That's what I'm planning to do with a frag I picked up at the meeting.
Right now I have if glued onto a shell on the sand bed.I'll tell you another coral that's pretty aggressive is encrusting gorgonia.That would look awesome getting that to grow on branch as well.

 

[RayD]

That's what I'm planning to do with a frag I picked up at the meeting.
Right now I have if glued onto a shell on the sand bed.I'll tell you another coral that's pretty aggressive is encrusting gorgonia.That would look awesome getting that to grow on branch as well.

EG can grow quickly and take over but it's weak and can easily be controlled by putting something aggressive next to it. I used to park my Bubble Coral near the intruding EG and it would would die off.

 

[stingythingy45]

Good to know......thanks Ray.
Right now it seems like my very large toadstool is knocking it back also.
It's pretty and interesting but that mat expanded rather quickly over the past year.I thought about fragging some if people were interested.Is there a way to peal the mat off the rock?

 

[fanaglethebagle]

I guess I'll be the one to post the pictures. GSP can become very invasive.

 

[Jahn]

Damn. I had about 2/3 that before upgrading to bigger tank and trying to brush it off with wire brush. But it came back in small crevasses, nooks and crannies.
It comes back....
? sell it on Ebay as "Stephen King" GSP??

 

[fanaglethebagle]

Add the name "Steve Tyree" and you're gold

 

[jdeb101]

im also interesting in any procedure used to peel GSP off rockwork. Any techniques or special tools?

 

[afboundguy]

thanks for all the info on GSP. I'm going to try (if the misses lets me or I can keep it a small secret from her) to get some marco rock and re-aquascape my tank to be more "reef" friendly. When I first aquascaped it after my move I had never imagined going full reef.

niakon I'll let you know if I have any sell'able pieces after I rework the rocks. I think I have some smaller rocks that are full of it that I could probably part with...

I also would like to know about howto peel the GSP off rocks. I've tried just peeling it off but it sticks pretty good. If anyone has had success with this let me and jdeb know. Thanks again.