No more gargonia, please

sohal1025 · 01/04/2009, 08:25 PM

Trying to get rid of it before it takes over the coral.
I tried to scrub it from the rocks but still comes back. If the rock is removed and put in a bucket of saltwater without light, will that kill it?

sohal1025 · 01/04/2009, 08:27 PM

Its the encrusting kind(short fine-hair rock covering)

sohal1025 · 01/05/2009, 10:21 AM

Looks like you all are stumped also.

Untamed12 · 01/05/2009, 12:16 PM

Sounds more like some type of algae...not a gorgonian.

jgln · 01/05/2009, 03:24 PM

Gorgonian growing like weeds? Thats pretty good if the ID is correct. Can't you just frag them and sell them? I tried them many years ago with no luck but if they are growing like you say I guess they could be a nusance.

seafansar · 01/05/2009, 03:28 PM

Sounds like the kind I have. I tried to scrape it off a rock that had zoanthids on it. I didn't want it over taking the zoas. I could have sworn I got all of it. Couldn't see a speck left, but about two months later it was starting to grow back again! Maybe dip the rock in freshwater if there's no other coral on the rock.

LobsterOfJustice · 01/05/2009, 03:41 PM

I put 2 layers of black garbage back over the rocks in my tank that had the stuff on it, 2 weeks was long enough to take out most of it. I manually removed what was left.

sohal1025 · 01/06/2009, 02:52 AM

Someone has told me that they were nonphotogenic and would survice without light, so I think the bag thing may not work..

I will try to upload a pic of this stuff..

I was told that it was called encrusting gargonia.....

trippkid · 01/06/2009, 08:10 AM

I am using epoxy putty(the stuff you mount corals with) to get rid of a bunch of GSP in my tank, it would work for the Gorgonia (I have some of this too, doesn't bother me like the GSP, it kind of stays put for now). I just put the putty right on the coral, cover it completely, you should be able to remove the putty when you think enough time has gone by to kill it(my GSP's are still covered right now). Hope you find something that will work for you. Have a good day.
Matt

LobsterOfJustice · 01/06/2009, 08:17 AM

Unless you are feeding them, they are photosynthetic. This is the stuff I am referring to:

Ncastro1981 · 01/06/2009, 08:18 AM

pics please.

Ncastro1981 · 01/06/2009, 08:19 AM

that looks nice, you should frag it and give it away so we can all have this problem

jgln · 01/06/2009, 08:54 AM

Oh ok, now I know what it is. It is generically called Green Star Polyps around here. I have it too and can see where it can be a problem. It will even grow up the glass if you let it, but it much easier to get off glass than rocks. It looks pretty cool when it grows in strong current; the "tentacles" (for lack of a better word) get long and sway in the current.

LobsterOfJustice · 01/06/2009, 09:20 AM

Ncastro, I do frag it and give it away

But eventually everyone around you who wants some has some. And taking a razorblade to your rockwork every few weeks gets old. And you'll never get 100% of it, so the 2 polyps left start encroaching even closer to your other corals... etc.

jgln... looks similar, but it is different than gsp. It's straight tan/brown.

I fragged the colony above and then killed it off, put the frag on a isolated rock on the sandbed and now I can keep it under control. Every month or so I just run a razorblade around the base of the rock it's on.

thoth7 · 01/06/2009, 09:56 AM

Lobster, I would agree, this stuff is not like any GSP I've had before. I aquired this as a hitchiker on a SPS frag. It was fascinating how it grew. After a while, invasive was the only way to describe it. I finally got rid of it by disposing of all the rocks it overgrew and carefully scraped it off the glass. Unless you want a tank that this is the featured occupant, don't let this (whatever it is) get get established!

Ken B.

Gdevine · 01/06/2009, 11:30 AM

It looks like GSP in some ways but it's hard to tell with this photo. I'd frag a piece and put it in some water with a Fluke Tab and see if it dies. My guess, like Xenia and GSP, a Fluke Tab could kill it. I did this to kill Xenia and GSP that was taking over my tank and today...no more

Elysia · 01/07/2009, 01:50 AM

Green star polyp is Pachyclavularia violacea. Its in the same family as the pipe-organ coral, Tubipora. The coral shoal is referring to (if whoever you bought it from was correct) is, most likely, a gorgonian (suborder Scleraxonia) of the genus Briareum. The two are sometimes mistaken for one another. Some are encrusting. They are photosynthetic but can adapt to differing light levels. They will spread, and can be fast growing.

If you really want the coral to die, I would suggest pulling the rock, if possible. This gorgonian is suppose to be pretty toxic, so I doubt you'll find a fish that will like to eat it (although anything is possible.) It supposidly doesn't capture zooplankton, so you can't try to bring its downfall that way. Good luck -- the easiest thing would be for you to fall in love with it. Isn't it always the way that, once you love something, it doesn't do as well?

*leeinengland* · 01/07/2009, 01:59 AM

pics did help
if its growing as fast as you say it is your tank has good perams and is stable, this is a good bench coral for your tank perams, but its matting is dependent on iodine, try lowering your iodine levels you should see it start to slow down in growth, i had it on the back glass of a four footer years ago, i just keep a small amount in my 7 footer now just for a quick visualisation on how the tank is as if this stuff wont open theres something wrong with the chemistry, pulsing xienna is of the same family

lift a edge up and tare it off the rock and share it around with reefers neer by you,

a thank you and a smile doesnt have a price tag

01/04/2009, 08:25 PM	#1
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	No more gargonia, please Trying to get rid of it before it takes over the coral. I tried to scrub it from the rocks but still comes back. If the rock is removed and put in a bucket of saltwater without light, will that kill it?

01/04/2009, 08:27 PM	#2
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	Its the encrusting kind(short fine-hair rock covering) __________________ THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor

01/05/2009, 10:21 AM	#3
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	Looks like you all are stumped also. __________________ THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor

01/05/2009, 12:16 PM	#4
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	Sounds more like some type of algae...not a gorgonian. __________________ Fishlist: Tangs: Yellow, Vlamingi, Blonde Naso, Unicorn, Atlantic Blue Others: Maroon Clown(s), Foxface, Majestic Angel, Hawkfish and more.. Current Tank Info: 400gal Envision Acrylic reef started 04/07

01/05/2009, 03:24 PM	#5
jgln Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pedricktown,NJ Posts: 555	Gorgonian growing like weeds? Thats pretty good if the ID is correct. Can't you just frag them and sell them? I tried them many years ago with no luck but if they are growing like you say I guess they could be a nusance. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 125g reef with 30g sump/fuge

01/05/2009, 03:28 PM	#6
seafansar Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Deltona, FL Posts: 1,023	Sounds like the kind I have. I tried to scrape it off a rock that had zoanthids on it. I didn't want it over taking the zoas. I could have sworn I got all of it. Couldn't see a speck left, but about two months later it was starting to grow back again! Maybe dip the rock in freshwater if there's no other coral on the rock. __________________ -Sara Current Tank Info: mixed reef

01/05/2009, 03:41 PM	#7
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	I put 2 layers of black garbage back over the rocks in my tank that had the stuff on it, 2 weeks was long enough to take out most of it. I manually removed what was left. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/06/2009, 02:52 AM	#8
sohal1025 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Elyria Ohio Posts: 1,737	Someone has told me that they were nonphotogenic and would survice without light, so I think the bag thing may not work.. I will try to upload a pic of this stuff.. I was told that it was called encrusting gargonia..... __________________ THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor

01/06/2009, 08:10 AM	#9
trippkid Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lewisberry, PA Posts: 913	I am using epoxy putty(the stuff you mount corals with) to get rid of a bunch of GSP in my tank, it would work for the Gorgonia (I have some of this too, doesn't bother me like the GSP, it kind of stays put for now). I just put the putty right on the coral, cover it completely, you should be able to remove the putty when you think enough time has gone by to kill it(my GSP's are still covered right now). Hope you find something that will work for you. Have a good day. Matt

01/06/2009, 08:17 AM	#10
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Unless you are feeding them, they are photosynthetic. This is the stuff I am referring to: __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/06/2009, 08:18 AM	#11
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	pics please. __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

01/06/2009, 08:19 AM	#12
Ncastro1981 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vermont- The Green Mountain State Posts: 363	that looks nice, you should frag it and give it away so we can all have this problem __________________ Float like a Cadillac Sting Like a Beemer (my 2.5 y/o son's favorite quote) Your the foam left on the beach after high tide Current Tank Info: 48 x 24 x24 Reef with a 24 x 12 Sump Attached to a 30 x 13.5 Refugium: 2 150 w mh 2/96 w PC Aqua c ev-120 skimmer with mag 7. CHAETO and 200 MICRON Bag, phosphate/carbon reactor,120w pc lighting over refug.

01/06/2009, 08:54 AM	#13
jgln Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pedricktown,NJ Posts: 555	Oh ok, now I know what it is. It is generically called Green Star Polyps around here. I have it too and can see where it can be a problem. It will even grow up the glass if you let it, but it much easier to get off glass than rocks. It looks pretty cool when it grows in strong current; the "tentacles" (for lack of a better word) get long and sway in the current. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 125g reef with 30g sump/fuge

01/06/2009, 09:20 AM	#14
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Ncastro, I do frag it and give it away But eventually everyone around you who wants some has some. And taking a razorblade to your rockwork every few weeks gets old. And you'll never get 100% of it, so the 2 polyps left start encroaching even closer to your other corals... etc. jgln... looks similar, but it is different than gsp. It's straight tan/brown. I fragged the colony above and then killed it off, put the frag on a isolated rock on the sandbed and now I can keep it under control. Every month or so I just run a razorblade around the base of the rock it's on. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

01/06/2009, 09:56 AM	#15
thoth7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 18	Lobster, I would agree, this stuff is not like any GSP I've had before. I aquired this as a hitchiker on a SPS frag. It was fascinating how it grew. After a while, invasive was the only way to describe it. I finally got rid of it by disposing of all the rocks it overgrew and carefully scraped it off the glass. Unless you want a tank that this is the featured occupant, don't let this (whatever it is) get get established! Ken B. __________________ Ken B.

01/06/2009, 11:30 AM	#16
Gdevine Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pompano Beach, FL Posts: 1,232	It looks like GSP in some ways but it's hard to tell with this photo. I'd frag a piece and put it in some water with a Fluke Tab and see if it dies. My guess, like Xenia and GSP, a Fluke Tab could kill it. I did this to kill Xenia and GSP that was taking over my tank and today...no more __________________ What's good having a monkey if you can't play with it? Current Tank Info: 65g Mixed Reef - 35g Fuge - EcoSystem Method

01/07/2009, 01:50 AM	#17
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	Green star polyp is Pachyclavularia violacea. Its in the same family as the pipe-organ coral, Tubipora. The coral shoal is referring to (if whoever you bought it from was correct) is, most likely, a gorgonian (suborder Scleraxonia) of the genus Briareum. The two are sometimes mistaken for one another. Some are encrusting. They are photosynthetic but can adapt to differing light levels. They will spread, and can be fast growing. If you really want the coral to die, I would suggest pulling the rock, if possible. This gorgonian is suppose to be pretty toxic, so I doubt you'll find a fish that will like to eat it (although anything is possible.) It supposidly doesn't capture zooplankton, so you can't try to bring its downfall that way. Good luck -- the easiest thing would be for you to fall in love with it. Isn't it always the way that, once you love something, it doesn't do as well?

01/07/2009, 01:59 AM	#18
leeinengland Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: yorkshire uk Posts: 109	pics did help if its growing as fast as you say it is your tank has good perams and is stable, this is a good bench coral for your tank perams, but its matting is dependent on iodine, try lowering your iodine levels you should see it start to slow down in growth, i had it on the back glass of a four footer years ago, i just keep a small amount in my 7 footer now just for a quick visualisation on how the tank is as if this stuff wont open theres something wrong with the chemistry, pulsing xienna is of the same family lift a edge up and tare it off the rock and share it around with reefers neer by you, a thank you and a smile doesnt have a price tag