GSP "barrier"

Palting · 10/19/2010, 07:41 AM

Thanks to all the recent posts, I've learned to be careful with GSP. I do have one rock island with GSP, but my concern is that I used that rock as a pillar to support an outcropping of a large rock tower. I already have it set up, and I hate to re-aquascape it. I am going to put a cushion of dried silicone, like a flat washer, between the GSP rock support and the outcropping. If the GSP starts to grow over the silicone washer, I will take it out, scrub it, then replace it.

What do you guys think? Is there a better way?

chimmike · 10/19/2010, 07:47 AM

yah, take the GSP out all together!

I had GSP on a rock all by itself on sand, and the GSP was actually spreading out on the sand....it got a little ridiculous.

lordofthereef · 10/19/2010, 07:54 AM

I personally think that if it isn't too much hassle for you to remove it WHEN it starts growing where you don't want it, you should eave it (as I am assuming you want it in your tank in a controlled way in the first place being that you are asking). FWIW there isn't a think that I haven't been able to eradicate from a rock using a course toothbrush.

Steve Wright2 · 10/19/2010, 07:58 AM

similar situation for me
I did try a couple of GSP islands on the sand bed, but as stated above, they dont know their limitations and will put out mantle (which can give you some easy frags for a nano project IME) and try to stretch across the gap

but if your willing to put the effort in, its managable IME

Steve

HKAVR45 · 10/19/2010, 08:08 AM

Another option is to place a ring of rubble rock around your GSP island. Within a month you'll have plenty of GSP frags. The rubble rock makes them easy to remove in one piece. I always hated removing the GSP in sheets for fear that a small piece will make it to the "mainland" and cause an uncontrolled outbreak.

Lynnmw1208 · 10/19/2010, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Wright2

similar situation for me
I did try a couple of GSP islands on the sand bed, but as stated above, they dont know their limitations and will put out mantle (which can give you some easy frags for a nano project IME) and try to stretch across the gap

but if your willing to put the effort in, its managable IME

Steve

so you're saying just keep the rock far enough away and the GSP will try to stretch over to the rock? that seems like an easy enough idea! then it would be easy to snip snip. I'm interested in this as well as I LOVE this stuff and want it in my tank.

Steve Wright2 · 10/19/2010, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnmw1208

so you're saying just keep the rock far enough away and the GSP will try to stretch over to the rock? that seems like an easy enough idea! then it would be easy to snip snip. I'm interested in this as well as I LOVE this stuff and want it in my tank.

Yes thats exactly been my experience with the GSP island I had, several areas extend into fresh air in reality , much easier to see after the lights have been off and the GSP have retracted, you can see pieces of what looks like a thick purple skin (Mantle) extending out from the colony - snip these off
dab back with paper towel, superglue them to a piece of rock, and they day after the polyps are back out again IME

Steve

Palting · 10/19/2010, 08:57 AM

Yes, I want to keep it. It actually looks nice to me, like waving grass. Plus it's on a rock island with several bright orange mushrooms and zoas. Be interesting to see the fight for space and who will win on this rock.

There should be stronger warnings on this thing. I knew about encrusting gorgonians and xenias, but I didn't know GSP belongs to the same "growing like mad weed" categrory.

matt144 · 10/19/2010, 10:28 AM

I just got my first frag of it yesterday, how fast does it spread/ grow?

steelhead77 · 10/19/2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt144

I just got my first frag of it yesterday, how fast does it spread/ grow?

Well, to hear some people tell it, it's like kudzu and within days your tank will be overrun with nothing but GSP. This is not true. It does grow fast but is definitely managable. It is pretty easy to remove when it overgrows the rock you've placed it on and most LFS's will most always take it in for store credit. If you miss some when peeling it off, just remove it with a pocketknife or toothbrush. It's really no big deal.

Saltyllama · 10/19/2010, 12:46 PM

I'm thinking of taking the skin flaps that grow out off of my rock, and sticking them to my back glass with superglue. I think a flowinggreen background will look nice. However, I also thought my overflow box would look nice with anthelia growing on it (BIG MISTAKE).

dublo8 · 10/19/2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt144

I just got my first frag of it yesterday, how fast does it spread/ grow?

GSP is a plague of epic proportions. it's nice to look at, it doesn't require any type of supplimental feeding but yet it grows out of control. It will take over colonies of almost any other coral in your tank if given the chance.

I have some and made the mistake of putting it on a supporting rock of my main aquascape and now it's starting to spread and take over 2 colonies of zoa's and now onto another rock. If you get GSP put it as far away from anyother rock as possible.

Palting · 10/19/2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhead77

Well, to hear some people tell it, it's like kudzu and within days your tank will be overrun with nothing but GSP. This is not true. It does grow fast but is definitely managable. It is pretty easy to remove when it overgrows the rock you've placed it on and most LFS's will most always take it in for store credit. If you miss some when peeling it off, just remove it with a pocketknife or toothbrush. It's really no big deal.

What the heck is kudzu?

EDIT: Never mind. I googled it. I think GSP IS kudzu!! http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/

ritter6788 · 10/19/2010, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

What the heck is kudzu?

EDIT: Never mind. I googled it. I think GSP IS kudzu!! http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/

You're right! GSP is kudzu!

luv951 · 10/19/2010, 02:21 PM

Ohh wow....

We had this bush in the yard of our new house. It was really pretty with nicely shaped leaves and some white flowers in the summer. We really liked it, but it was sending out vines all over the place; the deck, other bushes, fence, etc. The thing was getting really big. So, we chopped it back. It grew again. One day my wife and I were in the yard and I got a bit overzealous on cutting it back. I say a different leaf inside the bush. I pulled at it and saw more. I kept chopping. I found a whole 'nother bush under the vine. What we had thought was as strange vining bush was really kudzu that had completely taken over another bush!

That stuff sucks....we are still fighting it even after doing out best to rip it completely out....

crsswift70 · 10/19/2010, 02:44 PM

I have found anthelia to be much worse than GSP. Just a little fragment will sprout a whole new colony. And on top of that, mine was just brown and unattractive (other than the waving in current look). At least GSP can look nice and doesn't normally break in to pieces that spread.

Rumplestilsken · 10/19/2010, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt144

I just got my first frag of it yesterday, how fast does it spread/ grow?

Similar to xenia or anthellia. AKA FAST

Saltyllama · 10/20/2010, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crsswift70

I have found anthelia to be much worse than GSP. Just a little fragment will sprout a whole new colony. And on top of that, mine was just brown and unattractive (other than the waving in current look). At least GSP can look nice and doesn't normally break in to pieces that spread.

Amen brother

cdeboard · 10/20/2010, 04:27 PM

I had it growing on my glass.. crazy stuff.. I started with aobut an inch frag a year ago and now it is covering a rock thats roughly 8 inches long by 4 inches thick by 5 inches wide.. and hasnt grown anymore. I have it out on its own in the sand. It does get the odd pieces that flap in the mid air trying to spread. I just snip and glue to another piece of rubble and sell.

10/19/2010, 07:41 AM	#1
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	GSP "barrier" Thanks to all the recent posts, I've learned to be careful with GSP. I do have one rock island with GSP, but my concern is that I used that rock as a pillar to support an outcropping of a large rock tower. I already have it set up, and I hate to re-aquascape it. I am going to put a cushion of dried silicone, like a flat washer, between the GSP rock support and the outcropping. If the GSP starts to grow over the silicone washer, I will take it out, scrub it, then replace it. What do you guys think? Is there a better way? __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/19/2010, 07:47 AM	#2
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	yah, take the GSP out all together! I had GSP on a rock all by itself on sand, and the GSP was actually spreading out on the sand....it got a little ridiculous. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

10/19/2010, 07:54 AM	#3
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	I personally think that if it isn't too much hassle for you to remove it WHEN it starts growing where you don't want it, you should eave it (as I am assuming you want it in your tank in a controlled way in the first place being that you are asking). FWIW there isn't a think that I haven't been able to eradicate from a rock using a course toothbrush. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/19/2010, 08:57 AM	#8
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	Yes, I want to keep it. It actually looks nice to me, like waving grass. Plus it's on a rock island with several bright orange mushrooms and zoas. Be interesting to see the fight for space and who will win on this rock. There should be stronger warnings on this thing. I knew about encrusting gorgonians and xenias, but I didn't know GSP belongs to the same "growing like mad weed" categrory. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/19/2010, 12:46 PM	#11
Saltyllama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 283	I'm thinking of taking the skin flaps that grow out off of my rock, and sticking them to my back glass with superglue. I think a flowinggreen background will look nice. However, I also thought my overflow box would look nice with anthelia growing on it (BIG MISTAKE). __________________ 90 gallon RR w/ megaflow, mixed reef softie/LPS/SPS, 22 gallon split sump/fuge, BM NAC7 cone skimmer, GFO reactor, 4 bulb icecap 660 T5 retro Current Tank Info: 90 gallon w/ 22 gallon (actual volume) sump/fuge

10/19/2010, 07:58 AM	#4
Steve Wright2 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Shenzhen PRC Posts: 454	similar situation for me I did try a couple of GSP islands on the sand bed, but as stated above, they dont know their limitations and will put out mantle (which can give you some easy frags for a nano project IME) and try to stretch across the gap but if your willing to put the effort in, its managable IME Steve

10/19/2010, 08:08 AM	#5
HKAVR45 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 50	Another option is to place a ring of rubble rock around your GSP island. Within a month you'll have plenty of GSP frags. The rubble rock makes them easy to remove in one piece. I always hated removing the GSP in sheets for fear that a small piece will make it to the "mainland" and cause an uncontrolled outbreak.

10/19/2010, 10:28 AM	#9
matt144 ><((((•> Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 238	I just got my first frag of it yesterday, how fast does it spread/ grow?

10/19/2010, 02:21 PM	#15
luv951 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washougal, WA Posts: 841	Ohh wow.... We had this bush in the yard of our new house. It was really pretty with nicely shaped leaves and some white flowers in the summer. We really liked it, but it was sending out vines all over the place; the deck, other bushes, fence, etc. The thing was getting really big. So, we chopped it back. It grew again. One day my wife and I were in the yard and I got a bit overzealous on cutting it back. I say a different leaf inside the bush. I pulled at it and saw more. I kept chopping. I found a whole 'nother bush under the vine. What we had thought was as strange vining bush was really kudzu that had completely taken over another bush! That stuff sucks....we are still fighting it even after doing out best to rip it completely out.... __________________ "Ummm, you do realize that you just took a picture of a cup of poo, right?" -my wife

10/19/2010, 02:44 PM	#16
crsswift70 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Spanish Fort, AL Posts: 1,032	I have found anthelia to be much worse than GSP. Just a little fragment will sprout a whole new colony. And on top of that, mine was just brown and unattractive (other than the waving in current look). At least GSP can look nice and doesn't normally break in to pieces that spread.

10/20/2010, 04:27 PM	#19
cdeboard Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Posts: 520	I had it growing on my glass.. crazy stuff.. I started with aobut an inch frag a year ago and now it is covering a rock thats roughly 8 inches long by 4 inches thick by 5 inches wide.. and hasnt grown anymore. I have it out on its own in the sand. It does get the odd pieces that flap in the mid air trying to spread. I just snip and glue to another piece of rubble and sell. __________________ CVRC Current Tank Info: 90g

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