Best way to get rid of green star polyps??

MG21 · 03/09/2007, 05:26 AM

Have some green star polyps that are out of control and wanted to know the best way to get rid of them on the rocks I don't want them on.

Frick-n-Frags · 03/09/2007, 06:11 AM

just a few ideas
A) if you are ready for a couple of new rocks, you can sell those GSP encrusted ones
B) you can work the mat off a lot of the rockwork to make frags to sell and flip the rocks over to kill what's left(the old manual algae removal trick)
C) nuke the rocks in freshwater

I know of no dedicated GSP predators in the hobby, but I have seen a big cowrie shred gorg mat because it scrapes so hard.

returnofsid · 03/09/2007, 09:03 AM

I don't know if flipping the rock would work. I have GSP in my tank on a dedicated rock that's not near any other rock. It's actually growing from the top and sides of the rock to around the bottom and actually spreading on the rock where the rock is partially submerged by my live sand.

I do know that the mat is very easy to peel off of the rock. Might try peeling it off. I'd try that and see if anyone is interested in some frags. Even if shipped, you don't have to ship it attached to rock. You can easily just ship the mat itself in a small amount of water.

dc_909 · 03/09/2007, 09:48 AM

I am just slowly peeling chunks off and scrubbing the little bits left behind. I do a little every week to make sure and not foul the water.

returnofsid · 03/09/2007, 11:16 AM

It the rock is removable, you can do this outside the aquarium.

davidryder · 03/09/2007, 11:34 AM

why would you ever purposely kill coral? they are a fairly popular item in fish stores, and most of what the LFS has is harvested form the ocean. once you get them to where they are you shouldn't have to frag more than once a month. there is even a section here on reefcentral where you can go to trade and sell livestock.

selling:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=98

trading:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...p?s=&forumid=5

a lot of areas also have local reef clubs/groups that get together every now and then and try to sell/trade some things they have.

if you have colonies of GSP multiplying at alarm rates, help contribute to the lessening of the impact we have on coral reefs by making fragged coral available to other hobbyists.

dc_909 · 03/09/2007, 11:39 AM

Maybe its on a rock that forms the base of his structure. It is not always convienent to breakdown a tank to remove a rock just to save a few GSP. I know it would be a good thing to do, but not always practical.

davidryder · 03/09/2007, 11:45 AM

they can be peeled off without moving anything...

drummereef · 03/09/2007, 12:33 PM

Sometimes you will be able to peel them off, depending on how strongly they are attached. Other times you have to take a razor blade at them.

sdesi2005 · 03/09/2007, 12:43 PM

kalk paste, just goop it on the polyps you want to get rid of

cdangel0 · 03/09/2007, 03:38 PM

Just peel off a 4"x6" piece of the mat, out it in a bag of water. Put in to an insulated box with a heat pack and ship to me. I'll take care of disposing of it for you

Frick-n-Frags · 03/09/2007, 06:48 PM

davidryder, moral judgements still don't answer the thread question.

If someone has permanent rock with a GSP infestation, they have a serious problem. You cannot get every scrap of mat off, so you actually have to kill some of it to get rid of it all, no matter how much you recycle.

returnofsid · 03/09/2007, 07:20 PM

That's very true. GSP is actually very toxic towards other corals. Especially towards SPS. That's why I mentioned "IF" the rock was removable. Otherwise, peel off what you can and unfortunately, find a way to terminate the remainder...lol.

godlyme · 03/09/2007, 08:23 PM

not to try and sound mean, but some of the comments posted sound ridiculous. Saving a corals life? First off you obviously have not ever had gsp, as they grow insane! I wish i could peel mine off. Sure if your live rock is a bunch of flat bricks then it will pull off easily...but My live rock and the majority of rock ive seen has alot of places for the mat to bury itself in the cracks etc.. It is almost impossible to scrape the mat off. Actually in my case even nasa couldnt take the mats off. I loved mine to death at first...Now they are the death of ME! I even isolated a huge rock in the middle of a large sand patch thinking I stranded them, guess what they did then...they simply dropped a piece of mat off and now its growing on my glass too. anyways thanks for the rant...and please dont cry about saving a life...these things are like the plague.

MG21 · 03/09/2007, 08:38 PM

Some of the rock is rock that I cant remove, I only need to kill off some parts before it really gets out of control. I don't like killing things either but when it comes to the star polyps or my micros or SPS it's gonna be the star polyps that have to go.

stereomandan · 03/09/2007, 09:01 PM

You can peel it off as mentioned above.

Dan

CrackerFish · 03/10/2007, 11:01 PM

I Have seen it both ways, some that easily peels off and some that doesn't. Some of it encrusts so tightly that you can't peel it off. My lfs has a rock encrusted with it in its vat of live rock, it was given to them because the owner was having the same problem. Its been 3 months with only ambient light and its still living, pretty hardy stuff!

billr · 03/10/2007, 11:04 PM

Just send it all to me, I will replace your rock

DrBegalke · 03/11/2007, 12:35 AM

i put mine in a tank with a choc chip starfish, got rid of the gsp and feed the star! (hope that's ethical enough, lol)

03/09/2007, 05:26 AM	#1
MG21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 381	Best way to get rid of green star polyps?? Have some green star polyps that are out of control and wanted to know the best way to get rid of them on the rocks I don't want them on.

03/09/2007, 06:11 AM	#2
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	just a few ideas A) if you are ready for a couple of new rocks, you can sell those GSP encrusted ones B) you can work the mat off a lot of the rockwork to make frags to sell and flip the rocks over to kill what's left(the old manual algae removal trick) C) nuke the rocks in freshwater I know of no dedicated GSP predators in the hobby, but I have seen a big cowrie shred gorg mat because it scrapes so hard. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/09/2007, 11:34 AM	#6
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	why would you ever purposely kill coral? they are a fairly popular item in fish stores, and most of what the LFS has is harvested form the ocean. once you get them to where they are you shouldn't have to frag more than once a month. there is even a section here on reefcentral where you can go to trade and sell livestock. selling: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...?s=&forumid=98 trading: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...p?s=&forumid=5 a lot of areas also have local reef clubs/groups that get together every now and then and try to sell/trade some things they have. if you have colonies of GSP multiplying at alarm rates, help contribute to the lessening of the impact we have on coral reefs by making fragged coral available to other hobbyists. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

03/09/2007, 11:45 AM	#8
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	they can be peeled off without moving anything... __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

03/09/2007, 12:33 PM	#9
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Sometimes you will be able to peel them off, depending on how strongly they are attached. Other times you have to take a razor blade at them. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

03/09/2007, 09:03 AM	#3
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	I don't know if flipping the rock would work. I have GSP in my tank on a dedicated rock that's not near any other rock. It's actually growing from the top and sides of the rock to around the bottom and actually spreading on the rock where the rock is partially submerged by my live sand. I do know that the mat is very easy to peel off of the rock. Might try peeling it off. I'd try that and see if anyone is interested in some frags. Even if shipped, you don't have to ship it attached to rock. You can easily just ship the mat itself in a small amount of water.

03/09/2007, 09:48 AM	#4
dc_909 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 3,260	I am just slowly peeling chunks off and scrubbing the little bits left behind. I do a little every week to make sure and not foul the water.

03/09/2007, 11:16 AM	#5
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	It the rock is removable, you can do this outside the aquarium.

03/09/2007, 11:39 AM	#7
dc_909 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Murrieta, CA Posts: 3,260	Maybe its on a rock that forms the base of his structure. It is not always convienent to breakdown a tank to remove a rock just to save a few GSP. I know it would be a good thing to do, but not always practical.

03/09/2007, 12:43 PM	#10
sdesi2005 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 114	kalk paste, just goop it on the polyps you want to get rid of

03/09/2007, 03:38 PM	#11
cdangel0 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 905	Just peel off a 4"x6" piece of the mat, out it in a bag of water. Put in to an insulated box with a heat pack and ship to me. I'll take care of disposing of it for you

03/09/2007, 06:48 PM	#12
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	davidryder, moral judgements still don't answer the thread question. If someone has permanent rock with a GSP infestation, they have a serious problem. You cannot get every scrap of mat off, so you actually have to kill some of it to get rid of it all, no matter how much you recycle. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

03/09/2007, 07:20 PM	#13
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	That's very true. GSP is actually very toxic towards other corals. Especially towards SPS. That's why I mentioned "IF" the rock was removable. Otherwise, peel off what you can and unfortunately, find a way to terminate the remainder...lol.

03/09/2007, 08:23 PM	#14
godlyme Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: ny long island Posts: 618	not to try and sound mean, but some of the comments posted sound ridiculous. Saving a corals life? First off you obviously have not ever had gsp, as they grow insane! I wish i could peel mine off. Sure if your live rock is a bunch of flat bricks then it will pull off easily...but My live rock and the majority of rock ive seen has alot of places for the mat to bury itself in the cracks etc.. It is almost impossible to scrape the mat off. Actually in my case even nasa couldnt take the mats off. I loved mine to death at first...Now they are the death of ME! I even isolated a huge rock in the middle of a large sand patch thinking I stranded them, guess what they did then...they simply dropped a piece of mat off and now its growing on my glass too. anyways thanks for the rant...and please dont cry about saving a life...these things are like the plague. __________________ 75 gal reef tank....... also working on figuring out how to build my 500 gal in wall, and converting garage into big fish room

03/09/2007, 08:38 PM	#15
MG21 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 381	Some of the rock is rock that I cant remove, I only need to kill off some parts before it really gets out of control. I don't like killing things either but when it comes to the star polyps or my micros or SPS it's gonna be the star polyps that have to go.

03/09/2007, 09:01 PM	#16
stereomandan Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,888	You can peel it off as mentioned above. Dan __________________ 90g Tank, 75 lbs Live Rock, T5, T8 and VHO Lighting, Closed loop on Snapper Pump 1.5" Sand in main tank, DSB in 38g Sump, B-ionic Daily, Temp 79, SG 1.026 LPS, Softies Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef

03/10/2007, 11:01 PM	#17
CrackerFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: SC Posts: 161	I Have seen it both ways, some that easily peels off and some that doesn't. Some of it encrusts so tightly that you can't peel it off. My lfs has a rock encrusted with it in its vat of live rock, it was given to them because the owner was having the same problem. Its been 3 months with only ambient light and its still living, pretty hardy stuff!

03/10/2007, 11:04 PM	#18
billr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 269	Just send it all to me, I will replace your rock

03/11/2007, 12:35 AM	#19
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	i put mine in a tank with a choc chip starfish, got rid of the gsp and feed the star! (hope that's ethical enough, lol) __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey