GSP going berserk. Any suggestions?

[eraserhead187]

Of course when I started this tank I had to get some GSP because they were so pretty and easy. Like so many others, they have gotten a bit out of control. I did have them on their own rock perched atop another rock. Went to move it one day and they had spread a little to another rock. From there, they have just been going a bit nuts. I read about a purple laser that some people use to blast aiptasia. Think that will work on these guys? What are the chemistry implications? Any better suggestions? I don't want to remove the rock to scrub them off, there is a lot of other stuff on that rock. Plus, the little turds have spread to surrounding rocks as well. The anemone has parked on top on a group of them and is keeping them at bay, so I'm not worried about that rock. Anyone ever tried wrapping them in something to block their light out for a few weeks? I'm all ears! And GSP apparently.

 

[VSVP bet]

There are a couple options.

The best option is probably attempting to remove the rocks and to chisel the GPS off. This is the sure way to remove the coral from your system.

You could attempt to smother it, however, when the GSP begins to die, it will decompose. I do not think GPS is toxic like palys, but the though of something decomposing in a tank makes me uneasy.

You can rob the GSP of light. This will cause the GSP to very slowly recede. Since GPS is a filter-feeder, this process will take a little bit. The GSP will still be feeding in the absence of light, but eventually it will shrink away and die. I know this because I broke a piece of rock with GSP on it and placed it in my sump. A bit of GSP survived for a long time with little to no light. However, eventually the polyps shrunk and it faded to nothing. It kind of calcified and looked like coral line when it looked dead. I just left it in my sump, but I wonder what would have happened if I returned it to favorable conditions. Im guessing it would have opened up again.

 

[eraserhead187]

Thanks for your reply. I don't want to disturb the anemone, but that rock doesn't have anything else on it, so if it gets to be a problem there, I can remove it easily. The big patch is on the support for the big rock and the nem rock. But I may be able to bust it up a bit while it's still in the tank, and at the very least block its access to the rest of the rock. It's encroaching on my big rock that I don't want to remove, so maybe that is the rock I will try something else with. It's amazing how this crap grows. Even in areas that are very poorly lit, it's just going to town!

 

[VSVP bet]

And that is the nature of GSP. The only sure way to get it out is to remove it. I like GSP but not its tendency to take over. I have a GSP rock on my sandbed isolated from other rocks, this way it will not spread.

 

[eraserhead187]

And that is the nature of GSP. The only sure way to get it out is to remove it. I like GSP but not its tendency to take over. I have a GSP rock on my sandbed isolated from other rocks, this way it will not spread.

Yup, won't be making that mistake again. Beautiful but drives you nuts sometimes. Just like my wife.

 

[eraserhead187]

Question, do you think my torch will keep it at bay if I move him up a bit, or will it irritate the torch?

 

[VSVP bet]

The torch will irritate it, but management of the spread of GSP should not be conducted by placing aggressive corals near it. This will keep the GSP at bay, but could reduce the growth and color of the torch. Immaging if you were fighting 24/7. The torch will do better if it is not using energy to fend off GSP.

 

[eraserhead187]

The torch will irritate it, but management of the spread of GSP should not be conducted by placing aggressive corals near it. This will keep the GSP at bay, but could reduce the growth and color of the torch. Immaging if you were fighting 24/7. The torch will do better if it is not using energy to fend off GSP.

Yeah good point. I won't put my torch through that. He's too cool.

 

[VSVP bet]

That being said. The best way is to straight up chisel it off. May be annoying now, but if the GSP really takes hold, it will be 10 times as annoying 4 months from now.

 

[eraserhead187]

That being said. The best way is to straight up chisel it off. May be annoying now, but if the GSP really takes hold, it will be 10 times as annoying 4 months from now.

Guess I'm heading to the hardware store.

 

[madweazl]

Remove the rocks, it's the only way. I had cyphastrea do the same thing.

 

[roberthu526]

You can peel GSP off fairly easily. Just start from on end and it should lift like a piece of rubber.

 

[VSVP bet]

Remove the rocks, it's the only way. I had cyphastrea do the same thing.

I wish I had that problem, just added a meteor shower last week.

 

[madweazl]

I wish I had that problem, just added a meteor shower last week.

Keep it away from everything else; worse than locusts!

 

[VSVP bet]

Keep it away from everything else; worse than locusts!

I eagerly await it to over grow! I think Ill treat it like my GSP then, isolated rock on the sand bed.

 

[madweazl]

10 months later...

 

[VSVP bet]

10 months later...

The growth is real. Not to hijack this thread. 1st thing when I get home is to give my frag an isolated home.

 

[madweazl]

Yes; it's the same for GSP, xenia, encrusting montis, etc. We rarely think about how large everything gets; it's easier to cut back things like branching torches, duncans, acroporas, etc. so they're easier to maintain but the creeping plague is a pain!

 

[hockeyhead019]

completely unrelated to OP, but man is that meteor shower cool! Lol will it grow along the sandbed? or will it do ok on an isolated rock?

 

[VSVP bet]

completely unrelated to OP, but man is that meteor shower cool! Lol will it grow along the sandbed? or will it do ok on an isolated rock?

My guess is it will do fine on an isolated rock as long as it has good flow, light, etc. My second guess is that if it covers the rock, it will start plating over the sand bed. However, this would likely make for easy fragging.