GSP on back wall...good idea or no way

Burrito · Nov 29, 2018

my back wall in my 100g INT tank is acrylic and i cant clean it with a magnet. its more or less the only place i get some brown filmish algea growing and my foxface and snails graze all day on it, so not really a problem that i have to clean it or anything.

that said, i'm debating getting a tiny frag of GSP or maybe a stylo/pociilipora and putting it on the back wall to start taking over. thoughts? playing with fire?

anyone try this or have images?
current FTS

thanks

James M · Nov 29, 2018

I would stay away from the gsp but the stylo and pociilipora doesn’t sound like a bad idea

Mykesocalreef · Nov 29, 2018

I had GSP grow up the back wall of my old tank. Looks awesome... But its a real pain once it starts spreading. Started to encroach on the side glass as well as the overflow. The other issue I had was the film algae would start growing on the mat which would cause the polyps to close.

fermentedhiker · Nov 29, 2018

Cephastrea or chalice might be easier to manage.

mitch91175 · Nov 29, 2018

fermentedhiker said:
Cephastrea or chalice might be easier to manage.

+1 for Cephastrea. I have 4 on my overflow a cannot wait for them to completely encrust. Gonna suck if I ever break down the tank or upgrade the tank, but hey I can enjoy the view while I can.

Chuk · Nov 29, 2018

I did it and I think it looked awesome. It added a lot of that bright green color and movement.
That being said the GSP grew really well out to the sides and up but not down. So if you want to cover the whole tank back you should put it as close to the bottom as possible as, at least mine, didn't grow downwards at all hardly. Another caution is that it can be difficult to keep it from curling around to the side panels so make sure you keep on top of the trimming and maintenance.

saltyhog · Nov 29, 2018

fermentedhiker said:
Cephastrea or chalice might be easier to manage.

This. I would add an entrusting month.

I would avoid green pocillipora at all costs. You will have colonies cropping up everywhere. It was a nightmare to get rid of in my tank.

Burrito · Nov 29, 2018

saltyhog said:
This. I would add an entrusting month.

I would avoid green pocillipora at all costs. You will have colonies cropping up everywhere. It was a nightmare to get rid of in my tank.

i got a duplicate frag of sunset monti in my last wwc shipment, maybe ill try that out instead. i have a dime size portion of green pocillipora that is growing from who knows where, i though my rock had a bit of algae on it but seems a former frag left some spores and its growing. for some reason my wife gets a kick out of this and its her favorite "frag" in the tank

could look nice

Sorcha2 · Nov 29, 2018

Personally I think corals growing on the back glass look really nice, gives it a filled in look.

Super Fly · Nov 29, 2018

Inappropriate Reefer had it on his frogfish tank and this youtube link has good comments about how to control spread of GSP
But like others said, GSP can easily get out of control so some folks will never put them in their tank.

JBKReef · Nov 29, 2018

Burrito said:
i got a duplicate frag of sunset monti in my last wwc shipment, maybe ill try that out instead. i have a dime size portion of green pocillipora that is growing from who knows where, i though my rock had a bit of algae on it but seems a former frag left some spores and its growing. for some reason my wife gets a kick out of this and its her favorite "frag" in the tank

could look nice

When you say duplicate frag. Did they send you two, or how did that happen?

cromag27 · Nov 29, 2018

i like it.

saltyhog · Nov 29, 2018

This is what can happen with GSP.

Bob Lauson · Dec 2, 2018

Can't you just cut it back if it grows too far?

mfinn · Dec 2, 2018

I think it looks cool with gsp growing on the back wall of a tank.
I had a 180 a few years ago that the gsp grew over the back wall.
When it got to the water surface it started growing in layers back down.
It was probably 3" thick and hung down 3"-4".
If left uncontrolled on your rock work it can really be a pain but that's on you to watch it and stop uncontrolled growth.

Slim_Okrug · Dec 3, 2018

I grow it on back and look cool. As for glass control it is not a problem but if it hit your rocks it could be. It killed my large colony of ricodea yuma i was so proud of. Grow it on back yes but as for rock coral i do not recommend it is it to hard to take off and it gets out of control. Here are few pictures in my tank.

biecacka · Dec 3, 2018

Slim that looks great!

Corey

Slim_Okrug · Dec 3, 2018

biecacka said:
Slim that looks great!

Corey

Thanks Corey. You see part of rock where is bubble it was covered with ricodea yuma and i mad on myself why i let gsp get my rock. It doesent bother bubble. I noticed when you have tantacles corals gsp do not come near it also sinularia corals seems like nice wall stop. Anyway theme is back wall

and i love it on back

Katrina71 · Dec 3, 2018

I'm about to do it to mine

timrocks311 · Dec 3, 2018

I bought some GSP a couple weeks ago from the LFS. I was a decent size chunk. I just cut it up this weekend and glued it to the back in several places. I'm not worried about it spreading as my rock is away from the back wall. I think it will look great eventually. I also just picked up two Cyphastrea frags this weekend. I plan to glue those on the back as well, on the other half of the tank. Hopefully they all take off and cover well.