star polyps with too much light?

Mappelbaum37 · 08/12/2007, 11:24 AM

i started a thread on this before but didnt get many responses. I have a star polyp in my 75 gal. tank and its on my highest rock- During the day half of the polyp curls up and when the lights go out they un-curl and look healthy. That being said I moved a little piece to a lower rock thinking theyre getting too much light but the small polyps are still curling when the light goes on. Whats going on with them?

craab · 08/12/2007, 11:28 AM

give them some time at the lower light, they may be shocked and need to recover.

Der_Iron_Chef · 08/12/2007, 11:30 AM

What lighting are you using?

Mappelbaum37 · 08/12/2007, 09:20 PM

T-5 Nova Extreme 216 watts-

I only took about 10% of the entire star polyp to a lower rock- when i tried taking the entire thing off the attached rock on top it was on pretty good and i didnt want to hurt it by ripping it off. (the LFS i bought it from had it on a piece of tonga rock but took it off so i attached it to a bigger rock in my tank) (No the big rock cant be moved, Ive got other rocks leaing on it)

barjam · 08/13/2007, 07:52 AM

You won't be able to kill them, don't worry about that.

One word of warning some GSP grows at a reasonable pace and some grow so fast that you will be unable to keep up with it. A year from now you will probably regret allowing the GSP grow on your main rockwork.

I would suggest placing it on an a single rock in the sandbed.

Mappelbaum37 · 08/13/2007, 03:24 PM

i have crushed coral and aragonite mixed together as a substrate.

Even if i place it on a rock on my gravel, will it get enough light?

HBtank · 08/13/2007, 03:42 PM

My star polyps are one of the most light loving corals I have ever had... FWIW

If you have the same type then they just might need to be acclimated a bit first, but can take as much light as any coral out there.

Anyways, a pic for reference, and also how I isolated them.

barjam · 08/13/2007, 07:01 PM

The type that HBTank has pictured grows extremely fast and doesn't take much light to grow (but seems to take as much as you can give it).

I trim mine (it tries to grow out over the sandbed) regularly and just for kicks I put a chunk into the sump that is lit by one 27 watt spiral bulb. It *STILL* grew at a pretty quick clip. I ended up throwing it away. I am guessing that it is growing fine in some landfill somewhere.

If you have the other variety (more of an aqua marine/blue color) it seems to grow at about 1/10th the speed as the neon green stuff.

jayghmi · 08/13/2007, 07:07 PM

I have green star polyps growing like mad on the bottom of my tank in the substrate attached to its own rock. I only have compact fluorescents.

Mappelbaum37 · 08/13/2007, 08:09 PM

i have pics of the polyps but how do i get it on?

Mappelbaum37 · 08/14/2007, 02:57 PM

anyone?

08/12/2007, 11:24 AM	#1
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	star polyps with too much light? i started a thread on this before but didnt get many responses. I have a star polyp in my 75 gal. tank and its on my highest rock- During the day half of the polyp curls up and when the lights go out they un-curl and look healthy. That being said I moved a little piece to a lower rock thinking theyre getting too much light but the small polyps are still curling when the light goes on. Whats going on with them? __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

08/12/2007, 09:20 PM	#4
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	T-5 Nova Extreme 216 watts- I only took about 10% of the entire star polyp to a lower rock- when i tried taking the entire thing off the attached rock on top it was on pretty good and i didnt want to hurt it by ripping it off. (the LFS i bought it from had it on a piece of tonga rock but took it off so i attached it to a bigger rock in my tank) (No the big rock cant be moved, Ive got other rocks leaing on it) __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

08/13/2007, 03:24 PM	#6
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	i have crushed coral and aragonite mixed together as a substrate. Even if i place it on a rock on my gravel, will it get enough light? __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

08/13/2007, 03:42 PM	#7
HBtank Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 2,957	My star polyps are one of the most light loving corals I have ever had... FWIW If you have the same type then they just might need to be acclimated a bit first, but can take as much light as any coral out there. Anyways, a pic for reference, and also how I isolated them. __________________ 80g Aiptasia dominated reef tank.. with fish and now a bunch of berghia! Current Tank Info: 80g tank, re-starting a reef after a zoanthid nudibranch plauge, followed by months of steady and unstoppable STN/RTN, crashed; stayed FOWLR for a couple years, currently an aiptasia dominated reef tank with fishies and BERGHIA

08/13/2007, 08:09 PM	#10
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	i have pics of the polyps but how do i get it on? __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef

08/12/2007, 11:28 AM	#2
craab Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 444	give them some time at the lower light, they may be shocked and need to recover.

08/12/2007, 11:30 AM	#3
Der_Iron_Chef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Calgary, AB, Canada Posts: 841	What lighting are you using?

08/13/2007, 07:52 AM	#5
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	You won't be able to kill them, don't worry about that. One word of warning some GSP grows at a reasonable pace and some grow so fast that you will be unable to keep up with it. A year from now you will probably regret allowing the GSP grow on your main rockwork. I would suggest placing it on an a single rock in the sandbed.

08/13/2007, 07:01 PM	#8
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	The type that HBTank has pictured grows extremely fast and doesn't take much light to grow (but seems to take as much as you can give it). I trim mine (it tries to grow out over the sandbed) regularly and just for kicks I put a chunk into the sump that is lit by one 27 watt spiral bulb. It STILL grew at a pretty quick clip. I ended up throwing it away. I am guessing that it is growing fine in some landfill somewhere. If you have the other variety (more of an aqua marine/blue color) it seems to grow at about 1/10th the speed as the neon green stuff.

08/13/2007, 07:07 PM	#9
jayghmi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 11	I have green star polyps growing like mad on the bottom of my tank in the substrate attached to its own rock. I only have compact fluorescents.

08/14/2007, 02:57 PM	#11
Mappelbaum37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 886	anyone? __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 75 gallon reef