How much space needed to keep GSP from spreading?

[Hasted]

TLDR: How high would rocks need to be suspended off glass for GSP to not be able to spread on to them?

Edit: Wait. How did I post this in the SPS forum? I thought I was in general...

Please read more for whole question!

Ok, background! I am setting up a Waterbox 15g Peninsula Mini. I am going barebottom and want to have a GSP mat covering a good amount of the bottom glass. If possible...

I have 3 Marco Rock foundation rocks (perfectly flat on bottom) currently that are holding up a dramatic structure.

I realize that it will be a constant battle if I want to do this due to GSP going on the rocks. Which I do not want. I am attempting to find a way to prevent this or an easy way to trim them.

I have thought about square frag tiles either under the rocks or covering every inch of the glass. I could then cut around the tile and pull up the whole tile once the GSP is too close to rock. Repeat (and have easy frags of GSP!). Once the GSP grows in you wouldn't see the tiles anyway.

Another idea, which is what I am more worried about in this post, is cutting small lengths of an acrylic rod and having the entire structure sitting on them. 4+ or so per rock. Would allow detritus to flow under I would assume, also.

So, my question is this. How tall of a rod (so how much space between rock and glass) do you think would be ideal to prevent GSP from growing onto rocks. If at all?

I would hope it couldn't grow all the way under the rock, up the rod, upside down on the rock, and then up the actual rock...

Thoughts, opinions, other ideas, etc are all welcome!

This picture should give you and idea of how it is currently set up. Ignore that center front rock not attached to anything.

Used a pipe cutter to etch into the rod and clean, easy cut. Example of what I would use.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Let me get this straight, you want to raise your rocks up a bit so the gsp doesn't grow into them? Is that what your getting at?

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

I dont think its a matter of if it will get on the rock its a matter of when. Gsp can and will grow up that rod, under the rockwork and onto the main rock it might take some time but it will happen. I use aptasia x to keep my gsp off the rocks

 

[Hasted]

Let me get this straight, you want to raise your rocks up a bit so the gsp doesn't grow into them? Is that what your getting at?

Correct. Using acrylic rod to sit my rocks on top of so they are not touching the glass. This will hopefully make it harder for GSP to get onto the rocks.

(Or another solution, all ears)

I dont think its a matter of if it will get on the rock its a matter of when. Gsp can and will grow up that rod, under the rockwork and onto the main rock it might take some time but it will happen. I use aptasia x to keep my gsp off the rocks

If you had an option to do anything different to make it easier to maintain, what would you do? If raising it with acrylic rods isn't enough, what would be? I will gladly murder it with Aptasia X when it does get on the rock. Just trying to find a solution to make it happen far, far less often.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Honestly that gsp will be so easy to frag off of the glass bottom that I don't think you will have a problem (unless you neglect it for months)

 

[Hasted]

Honestly that gsp will be so easy to frag off of the glass bottom that I don't think you will have a problem (unless you neglect it for months)

Office tank so going to be right in front of me 3+ days a week for hours on end. Definitely will get some love consistently.

So you suggest just keeping up on cutting it off glass right before it reaches the rocks?

 

[MantisReef]

Very easy to scrap it off the glass, just don't let any little bits float around and get onto the rest of your rocks.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Also having your rocks lifted up a bit with some flow going underneath is just a great idea for keeping a clean tank. I've heard @Paul B has talk about doing something similar

 

[Hasted]

Also having your rocks lifted up a bit with some flow going underneath is just a great idea for keeping a clean tank. I've heard @Paul B has talk about doing something similar

That was definitely a side benefit I was hoping would happen. Wasn't sure myself if it would actually matter. Glad to hear it is a thing! The rods are very small so plenty of flow could potentially get through. In theory I guess.

 

[HB AL]

You have to completely isolate them on a rock away from any other rocks so they won't spread. Anything short of that if they are even close let alone touching they will spread onto the other rocks or glass etc...

 

[Hasted]

You have to completely isolate them on a rock away from any other rocks so they won't spread. Anything short of that if they are even close let alone touching they will spread onto the other rocks or glass etc...

Well. My goal is to have them on NONE of the rocks. Just the bare bottom. Makes it a bit awkward...

 

[Hasted]

Also having your rocks lifted up a bit with some flow going underneath is just a great idea for keeping a clean tank. I've heard @Paul B has talk about doing something similar

Went through his posts and was unable to find anything. I found a pic of one of his tanks and did not appear to be lifted and also had a sand/ crushed coral bottom. Any possible link or search term I could do to find where he talks about it?

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Went through his posts and was unable to find anything. I found a pic of one of his tanks and did not appear to be lifted and also had a sand/ crushed coral bottom. Any possible link or search term I could do to find where he talks about it?

Yes he does have substrate but I just recalled him mentioning having his rocks lifted up with flow going underneath it. Even discussed possibly setting something up so he could raise and lower them on a pulley.

I can't find the thread I was referring too but I did come across this old thread https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/base-for-live-rock.66963/

 

[Nick Steele]

Many people lift rocks to get flow going under. Sadly the gsp can and will grow into the rock. Cutting it back will be easiest way to prevent anything. Keep a good 1-2” clean spot around your rocks and shouldn’t be too hard to keep in check.

I had a friend with gsp isolated on a rock in his sand bed. He went to go frag it for me and low and behold it was growing under the sand bed reaching out to grab onto something. I took a frag from the portion under the sand bed and it was alive and green in my tank within a day.

 

[HB AL]

Well. My goal is to have them on NONE of the rocks. Just the bare bottom. Makes it a bit awkward...

That will look cool, I like gsp but can't keep it alive although every other type of coral thrives, go figure.

 

[Backreefing]

My opinion is to sit your rock structure onto pegs 3/4-1” tall but tuck them under the edge so they will be shaded underneath the rock . GSP will not grow underneath in the dark . As far as ditritis is concerned a quick blast from a power head or turkey baister will solve that .
Because it’s just 15 g do it be happy don’t worry , happy reefing

 

[Nick Steele]

My opinion is to sit your rock structure onto pegs 3/4-1” tall but tuck them under the edge so they will be shaded underneath the rock . GSP will not grow underneath in the dark . As far as ditritis is concerned a quick blast from a power head or turkey baister will solve that .
Because it’s just 15 g do it be happy don’t worry , happy reefing

Gsp will grow in the dark I’ve seen it bury itself in sand and continue to grow toward other rocks

 

[ApoIsland]

Gsp will grow in the dark I’ve seen it bury itself in sand and continue to grow toward other rocks

Yes. GSP absolutely does grow in the dark. I tried something similar with a large flat rock supported by 3 small skinny rocks elevating it about 2 inches. Within a year the GSP was deep under the rock and growing up the 3 support rocks.

Dilligent manual removal or continually applying f-aiptasia/aiptasia X or kalk paste or something similar as a barrier is the only way to contain it. I had to give quite a few rocks a bleach bath before I rid my tank of it.

 

[Backreefing]

You guys act like GSP is a plague.LOL To the poster , do what you want . At 15 gallons it can’t get away from you . Do whatever you want be happy and GSP is beautiful to .