Brushing mat?

eric1283 · 01/23/2012, 10:43 AM

I read if you gsp wont open you can use a soft tooth brush to clean the mat and that can make thin open up is it OK to do this?

sporto0 · 01/23/2012, 10:50 AM

Does it have algae growth on the mat itself? I would be careful brushing it, they will tear very easily. Have you tried wedging the piece (mat) between a crack in the rock, mine would not open or grow until I did this, now I wish I wouldn't have bothered, it grows & grows & covers everything, I have to put putty over parts of it to stop it's expansion. Good luck.

eric1283 · 01/23/2012, 10:53 AM

I did see some algae growth on it but it hasn't opened for 4 days now and it was a large beautiful colony when it was open

eric1283 · 01/23/2012, 11:14 AM

Has anyone ever tried this does it work?

tebstan · 01/23/2012, 12:47 PM

I've done it... but it did tear the mat. I didn't really care, the stuff is overgrown now. When it was new, I wouldn't have risked damaging it. If there's algae on it, blow it lightly with a turkey baster.

eric1283 · 01/23/2012, 01:16 PM

I did end up brushing it I was careful not to tear it when I was done the mat was bright purple the way it was when I first got it if it was that dirty do you think that could have been the problem should it open back up now?

Meshmez · 01/23/2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sporto0

Does it have algae growth on the mat itself? I would be careful brushing it, they will tear very easily. Have you tried wedging the piece (mat) between a crack in the rock, mine would not open or grow until I did this, now I wish I wouldn't have bothered, it grows & grows & covers everything, I have to put putty over parts of it to stop it's expansion. Good luck.

Not to thread hijack, but how did you stop its expansion? I figured if you put putty over it, it would just grow over the putty eventually?

sporto0 · 01/23/2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meshmez

Not to thread hijack, but how did you stop its expansion? I figured if you put putty over it, it would just grow over the putty eventually?

I have been able to thwart it's direction & so far it has not grown over the putty & it's been almost 10 months now.

a.browning · 01/23/2012, 02:44 PM

I used a toothbrush to scrub off algae on my star polyp mat, took them a few days to come back out but it worked really well.

Bosha · 01/23/2012, 02:52 PM

Did something in the water change to make it close and grow algae perhaps?

01/23/2012, 10:43 AM	#1
eric1283 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: harlingen texas Posts: 130	Brushing mat? I read if you gsp wont open you can use a soft tooth brush to clean the mat and that can make thin open up is it OK to do this?

01/23/2012, 12:47 PM	#5
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	I've done it... but it did tear the mat. I didn't really care, the stuff is overgrown now. When it was new, I wouldn't have risked damaging it. If there's algae on it, blow it lightly with a turkey baster. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

01/23/2012, 02:44 PM	#9
a.browning Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 975	I used a toothbrush to scrub off algae on my star polyp mat, took them a few days to come back out but it worked really well. __________________ 75 SPS, 80 & 45 Frag Tank, 40B Leather Tank

01/23/2012, 02:52 PM	#10
Bosha Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: NorCal Posts: 58	Did something in the water change to make it close and grow algae perhaps? __________________ Girls aren't into fish and they're certainly not using the internet. This is a giant web of lies! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2120606 Current Tank Info: 40g breeder - empty

01/23/2012, 10:50 AM	#2
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	Does it have algae growth on the mat itself? I would be careful brushing it, they will tear very easily. Have you tried wedging the piece (mat) between a crack in the rock, mine would not open or grow until I did this, now I wish I wouldn't have bothered, it grows & grows & covers everything, I have to put putty over parts of it to stop it's expansion. Good luck.

01/23/2012, 10:53 AM	#3
eric1283 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: harlingen texas Posts: 130	I did see some algae growth on it but it hasn't opened for 4 days now and it was a large beautiful colony when it was open

01/23/2012, 11:14 AM	#4
eric1283 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: harlingen texas Posts: 130	Has anyone ever tried this does it work?

01/23/2012, 01:16 PM	#6
eric1283 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: harlingen texas Posts: 130	I did end up brushing it I was careful not to tear it when I was done the mat was bright purple the way it was when I first got it if it was that dirty do you think that could have been the problem should it open back up now?