Branching Green Star Polyp dead?

[Backtolifemassage]

Hi I’m not sure where to post this question? I’m new to this hobby. I bought this rather expensive Branching Green Star Polyp. I’m not even sure that’s what it is. It was gorgeous when I bought it from lfs. It hasn’t open since. I read somewhere that it’s still alive if there is purple on it. It has a bit of a fishy smell. Any takers?

 

[Duncan62]

Hi I’m not sure where to post this question? I’m new to this hobby. I bought this rather expensive Branching Green Star Polyp. I’m not even sure that’s what it is. It was gorgeous when I bought it from lfs. It hasn’t open since. I read somewhere that it’s still alive if there is purple on it. It has a bit of a fishy smell. Any takers?

I'm curious. Is that a skeleton?

 

[Duncan62]

I'm curious. Is that a skeleton?

Or a rock?

 

[Duncan62]

How long did it live in your tank?

 

[Stevesreef225]

Branching green star never dies. It might of just not been happy in the spot that you had it. It is as hardy as they come tho.

 

[WorkingHands]

Let’s see a picture of the tank. Also, what are your parameters?

 

[C. Eymann]

More than likely what you have there is Briareum stechei or B. cylindrium, a bit different from your normal pachyclavularia violacea (normal encrusting GSP) but they are still very resilient octocorals , if it's unhappy / not opening up, first step is give it more flow, these shed, just like leather corals and not providing enough flow during this process can leave it more susceptible to bacterial infections.

However, still, these are very resilient and even if they close up for weeks / months they will come back usually
hope this helps

 

[Backtolifemassage]

I'm curious. Is that a skeleton?

Not sure

 

[Backtolifemassage]

How long did it live in your tank?

I had it in my tank for about 3 weeks. It is currently living in that bowl in the picture. I had a basic thermometer and I set up my tank by a window. I never paid much attention to the fact that the window gets evening sun. This particular day in Florida the temp spiked and I lost 2 frags and i bleached out another coral. I’m so new to this that I’m not even sure what those were called.

 

[Duncan62]

I had it in my tank for about 3 weeks. It is currently living in that bowl in the picture. I had a basic thermometer and I set up my tank by a window. I never paid much attention to the fact that the window gets evening sun. This particular day in Florida the temp spiked and I lost 2 frags and i bleached out another coral. I’m so new to this that I’m not even sure what those were called.

Typically as long as there is purple mat the green star is alive. I had one consumed by hair algea. I scrubbed it with a toothbrush and tap water rinse. It stayed closed for a month. Since then it's been cut up for several different tanks. I'm curious about what killed this one. There must be something out of wack to kill a star polyp. Have you started testing ? Maybe ammonia spike. Check the basics. Good luck. Don't give up!

 

[Backtolifemassage]

Let’s see a picture of the tank. Also, what are your parameters?

It is a 32g biocube. Temperature spiked to 80+ degrees. I freaked out. I lost 2 anemone, 2 clowns, a shrimp. I went way too fast and was not patient, went hardcore on stocking the tank. The only thing that survived was a peppermint shrimp, cardinal fish, and a lawnmower blenny. I took my trigger to a lfs that actually quarantined him for me! My lfs explained to me that my tank was going through the last part of the nitrogen cycle. Ms. Impatient right here, killed clown fish that are supposed to be the hardiest. Great store.
My levels have now improved enough that I brought my trigger home and added a sandsifter goby. This coral is living in a bowl currently. I change out the water every 2 days. I have since added more flow. A digital thermometer and two Hygger wave makers. I have 4 biosphere balls, about 20 lbs of liverock, live sand. This is teaching me some serious patience. I still want to add an anemone and 2 clowns. I have kept a 55g freshwater tank for close to 15 years and it has been mostly on auto pilot so I’m not used to babying a tank like I have with saltwater.

 

[Backtolifemassage]

Typically as long as there is purple mat the green star is alive. I had one consumed by hair algea. I scrubbed it with a toothbrush and tap water rinse. It stayed closed for a month. Since then it's been cut up for several different tanks. I'm curious about what killed this one. There must be something out of wack to kill a star polyp. Have you started testing ? Maybe ammonia spike. Check the basics. Good luck. Don't give up!

So you think it is dead? I did a brush and rinse too it had algae on it as well.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

The only help i could offer is to advise you to stop buying corals for a little while.

They are very difficult animals to keep alive, and if you dont even know the names of the corals you are buying then you have no way to research them and they will die.

Corals need a very stable tank to survive, and we all normally do a lot of research before buying anything in this hobby, to give it the best chance to survive.

 

[WorkingHands]

It is a 32g biocube. Temperature spiked to 80+ degrees. I freaked out. I lost 2 anemone, 2 clowns, a shrimp. I went way too fast and was not patient, went hardcore on stocking the tank. The only thing that survived was a peppermint shrimp, cardinal fish, and a lawnmower blenny. I took my trigger to a lfs that actually quarantined him for me! My lfs explained to me that my tank was going through the last part of the nitrogen cycle. Ms. Impatient right here, killed clown fish that are supposed to be the hardiest. Great store.
My levels have now improved enough that I brought my trigger home and added a sandsifter goby. This coral is living in a bowl currently. I change out the water every 2 days. I have since added more flow. A digital thermometer and two Hygger wave makers. I have 4 biosphere balls, about 20 lbs of liverock, live sand. This is teaching me some serious patience. I still want to add an anemone and 2 clowns. I have kept a 55g freshwater tank for close to 15 years and it has been mostly on auto pilot so I’m not used to babying a tank like I have with saltwater.

First, get better test kits. Like RedSea or Salifert. The test kits your using are not the best. Then test the water again, look at the results. Then step back, and take it SLOW….

 

[Backtolifemassage]

So you think it is dead? I did a brush and rinse too it had algae on it as well.

Is there any tell tale signs: smell, coloring, texture?

 

[Backtolifemassage]

The only help i could offer is to advise you to stop buying corals for a little while.

They are very difficult animals to keep alive, and if you dont even know the names of the corals you are buying then you have no way to research them and they will die.

Corals need a very stable tank to survive, and we all normally do a lot of research before buying anything in this hobby, to give it the best chance to survive.

Is there a go to app or another resource to research and learn to identify them? Is there basic list? I purchased one name pickachu, the store told me it was a starter frag, very easy to grow.

 

[Backtolifemassage]

Is there a go to app or another resource to research and learn to identify them? Is there basic list? I purchased one name pickachu, the store told me it was a starter frag, very easy to grow.

 

[WorkingHands]

Is there a go to app or another resource to research and learn to identify them? Is there basic list? I purchased one name pickachu, the store told me it was a starter frag, very easy to grow.

This forum is probably your best resource. But, I think confirming your setup is stable should be your priority in my humble opinion.

 

[WorkingHands]

Was it Pikachu Zoanthids they sold you? It looks like they are closed up.

 

[Duncan62]

Is there any tell tale signs: smell, coloring, texture?

It looks gone in the last pic. Get your parameters in check. You might have a cycle from dead stuff. When you get your parameters in good shape get a gsp frag. Not a costly colony. Some zoas. Maybe a kenya tree. These can really grow fast. Make your own colony. Then acans and a duncan or other hardy lps. It take time but it's very satisfying to see growth in your tank. Oh. Maybe a rfa. No bta or other nems for a while.