Clove Polyp Question

[OKCorals]

I'm well aware of the dangers of adding Xenia or GSP to any rock in my tank as everything I've read says they will completely take over a tank. So my Xenia and GSP are both surrounded by sand (GSP is going on my back wall once the magnets come in), but I never heard there was a problem with clove polyps until yesterday. Currently I have 5 rocks in my tank, 4 large ones and a small one where I have a zoa garden growing. I placed the clove polyp frag I purchased onto the top rock in the tank, and after a day or two, one of the five polyps fell off the frag plug. It bounced around the tank a few days before I finally stuck it on the zoa garden rock and it has now died back and 4 other polyps have replaced it. The frag plug with the rest of the polyps has now sent "roots" out and is expanding rapidly, what was 5 polyps a month ago is now closer to 15. I can already see this becoming a problem, especially with how hardy these polyps appear to be.

So my question now, is should I immediately remove the polyps from the rocks if I don't want them taking over? Would covering the four polyps on the zoa garden rock with putty be a good or bad idea? I do not want them taking over the zoa garden. The clove polyps at the top of the tank are the only coral on that rock. I'm think about letting that one grow into a big colony and placing it in a larger tank down the road. But I also don't want to run the risk of them taking over the rocks below them where I do have other coral. Are these cloves going to become a major pest if I don't take proactive measures while they're still relatively contained?

 

[Tahoe61]

I would intervene.
What type of cloves?
IMO gsp on the back sounds cool in reality it becomes a pain. The gsp will grow to the other panels. Been there done that, would never do again.

 

[geddavis]

I would just use a sharp object to scratch them off the rock and then cover it in putty just to make sure.

 

[OKCorals]

I would intervene.
What type of cloves?
IMO gsp on the back sounds cool in reality it becomes a pain. The gsp will grow to the other panels. Been there done that, would never do again.

I'm not sure what type exactly. They have a green mouth with yellow lines coming up the feathery tips.

 

[OKCorals]

I would just use a sharp object to scratch them off the rock and then cover it in putty just to make sure.

The bad thing is that I really like them. They have great movement, fast growers, and are colorful. I have a 55 gallon tank that I plan to set up after I remodel my living room. Maybe I'll let the cloves take over the rock they're on, and maybe add a couple other color morphs of clove polyps and just have a gigantic colony that is isolated on that rock in the new tank.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

I'm not sure what type exactly. They have a green mouth with yellow lines coming up the feathery tips.

I have not experienced this plague of clove polyps, but it sounds like they like your tank so if you don't want them intervention now is your best bet. Don't wait.

 

[OKCorals]

I have not experienced this plague of clove polyps, but it sounds like they like your tank so if you don't want them intervention now is your best bet. Don't wait.

That's the thing though, I did want them, that's why I purchased them. I just had no idea at the time that they were just as bad as GSP and Xenia, so now I'm second guessing myself. Maybe I'll try and get them on a frag plug for now and remove them from the rocks so I can decide better what to do with them later.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

That's the thing though, I did want them, that's why I purchased them. I just had no idea at the time that they were just as bad as GSP and Xenia, so now I'm second guessing myself. Maybe I'll try and get them on a frag plug for now and remove them from the rocks so I can decide better what to do with them later.

So here is a thought...what are your plans for this tank long term? Do you want million dollar SPS in there? Million dollar zoa colonies? I am being totally serious... go with me...

 

[OKCorals]

So here is a thought...what are your plans for this tank long term? Do you want million dollar SPS in there? Million dollar zoa colonies? I am being totally serious... go with me...

It's quickly becoming a zoa tank. There's just so many awesome color morphs. I have a few SPS, but mostly LPS and softies. I plan on getting more SPS when I get a bigger tank up and running.

 

[Silent]

I'm not sure what type exactly. They have a green mouth with yellow lines coming up the feathery tips.

Those aren't the ones that everyone is afraid of taking over their tank. Usually when I hear of clove polyps taking over it is the small blue ones (Sarcothelia). If that is the type then yes remove them.

 

[Glott3133]

The only clove polyps that I know can take over and grow very fast are blue clove polyps. And they will simply take over your tank. I have a set of clove polyps, that I put on an island rock. They have more than doubled in size and polyps. But I would definitely keep them isolated if possible. My GSP are also on an island rock to prevent them from taking over my tank.

 

[OKCorals]

Those aren't the ones that everyone is afraid of taking over their tank. Usually when I hear of clove polyps taking over it is the small blue ones (Sarcothelia). If that is the type then yes remove them.

Okay, that makes me feel a little better. But these things are growing so fast that I'm still a little worried they will take over the tank. I think there are 15-20 polyps when there were just 5 a month ago.

 

[OKCorals]

This isn't my picture, but this looks nearly identical to my clove polyps.

 

[Silent]

They can grow fast but you can sell those. You can't even give away gsp or xenia.

 

[Loggerhead]

Just an FYI, xenia will detach stalks and let them float around the tank to latch on other places. It can easily wind up across the tank if you aren’t diligent about upkeep.

 

[Leslie Tabor]

It's quickly becoming a zoa tank. There's just so many awesome color morphs. I have a few SPS, but mostly LPS and softies. I plan on getting more SPS when I get a bigger tank up and running.

Ok so you are an SPS guy. So plan your tank around that. Don't add things that will mess up that plan.
I see people mentioned the little blue clove polyps, I have them. I love them. I have pulsing Xenia and red xenia, and 3 different cespitularia (which are fancy xenia), I have pink star polyps and gsp... my tank is a softy tank. I LOVE how things look growing together. They aren't killing each other off. I monitor my tank...if I see some star polyps getting a little friendly, I pull some out. I just sucked a mushroom out this weekend because it was over growing my paly gradis...gasp! I have LOTS of the "weed" palys too. Lol
My point is, if you pay attention to what is happening you can react. I don't care what anyone says, these things don't go plague proportions overnight. Yes, they can become an issue if not addressed. If you know it is going to stress you out, don't do it. Reefing should be fun and relaxing. Have your mental picture of what you want and enjoy it.

 

[OKCorals]

Just an FYI, xenia will detach stalks and let them float around the tank to latch on other places. It can easily wind up across the tank if you aren’t diligent about upkeep.

Lol that's exactly what happened with the clove polyps. There were 5 polyps on the frag plug I purchased and one came off within the first day or two and floated around the tank for a few days before I stuck it on my zoa garden rock. I'll probably remove those ones at least so I can keep that rock as all zoas. I'll make sure to keep an eye on the xenia, but I haven't noticed any of that yet. The xenia and GSP aren't growing nearly as fast as the clove polyps are. But they're both isolated as well so they don't have much room to grow anywhere for now.

 

[Glott3133]

Ok so you are an SPS guy. So plan your tank around that. Don't add things that will mess up that plan.
I see people mentioned the little blue clove polyps, I have them. I love them. I have pulsing Xenia and red xenia, and 3 different cespitularia (which are fancy xenia), I have pink star polyps and gsp... my tank is a softy tank. I LOVE how things look growing together. They aren't killing each other off. I monitor my tank...if I see some star polyps getting a little friendly, I pull some out. I just sucked a mushroom out this weekend because it was over growing my paly gradis...gasp! I have LOTS of the "weed" palys too. Lol
My point is, if you pay attention to what is happening you can react. I don't care what anyone says, these things don't go plague proportions overnight. Yes, they can become an issue if not addressed. If you know it is going to stress you out, don't do it. Reefing should be fun and relaxing. Have your mental picture of what you want and enjoy it.

Your tank sounds amazing, can you post a quick pic?

 

[Leslie Tabor]

Your tank sounds amazing, can you post a quick pic?

Click on my build thread banner, then you can see all of them starting with my 120 gal as I moved it to my 380 gal.

 

[Glott3133]

Very nice. My dream tank.