Killing/controlling GSP without raising PH

[dvgyfresh]

Razor blade I think is the best youl get or replacing rock all together. Another crazier option is buying aggressive coral like bubble , galaxea , ect that will prevent GSP growing too close

 

[bstodds15]

As others mentioned, your best bet would be to move that rock and get a new rock for the scape.

If you want to try to remove it, the main way would be taking a razor blade and cutting it back (you still have to peel/scrub it off which can be tedious).

Another possible option would be boiling water - I know people use this method for Xenias. Basically just get a turkey baster, fill it with boiling water and then spot blast the edges of the coral. GSP is pretty hardy though so idk if it would work.

Last idea - place some stinging corals around the edges of the GSP so it can't grow out further. If you did some hammer corals around the GSP, it might stop if from growing those directions down the rock.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Razor blade I think is the best youl get or replacing rock all together. Another crazier option is buying aggressive coral like bubble , galaxea , ect that will prevent GSP growing too close

Even with aggressive coral nearby, the mat will still grow and will cover anything they run into the polyps just won't extend often.

 

[bstodds15]

Even with aggressive coral nearby, the mat will still grow and will cover anything they run into the polyps just won't extend often.

Yeah - that's why that was my last suggestion. The GSP will still encrust wherever it can.

Great coral, huge pain.

 

[ScubaFish802]

I was going to suggest just take the rock out and nuke it or manually remove it all.. but from the initial pic it looks like that is potentially the only/main rock in the tank, so I would be worried about the effect on the tank cycle in doing that..

 

[bstodds15]

You could just let the GSP take over and go for a GSP only tank - obviously not as cool as having multiple corals, but would still look awesome.

 

[taricha]

This would be a perfect use if the Reef Delete actually worked as hoped.
https://reefbuilders.com/2022/04/12/reef-delete-review-sound-in-concept-but-not-in-practice/

 

[Roli's Reef Ranch]

I'm sure you can find someone, maybe an LFS willing to swap it out for some new dry rock. Although GSP is a "beginner coral" it is beautiful. I just needs to be kept in solitary confinement. I keep some in my tanks and still enjoy it.

 

[rmorris_14]

This would be a perfect use if the Reef Delete actually worked as hoped.
https://reefbuilders.com/2022/04/12/reef-delete-review-sound-in-concept-but-not-in-practice/

Yes that would have been perfect if it actually worked as intended. BUMMER!

I'm sure you can find someone, maybe an LFS willing to swap it out for some new dry rock. Although GSP is a "beginner coral" it is beautiful. I just needs to be kept in solitary confinement. I keep some in my tanks and still enjoy it.

Thanks but this really is an option though because it is the largest piece of live rock I have in a not so big established tank. Taking it out and adding dry rock would create a big problem.

 

[rmorris_14]

I can tell you how much kalkwasser paste is ok, but it will take a lot of treatments and may not work before alk gets too high.

I’m not sure what’s in aiptasia X.

Would it be better if I took the entire rock out... smeared the paste all over the GSP mat and then rinsed it off before putting it back in the tank? Could this have any negative effects on the water chemistry?

 

[Aqua Man]

Would it be better if I took the entire rock out... smeared the paste all over the GSP mat and then rinsed it off before putting it back in the tank? Could this have any negative effects on the water chemistry?

If rinsed really well it shouldn’t. If/when the GSP dies is when the negative effects would happen.

Removing that one rock for a few days to treat, kill and clean that rock would be ok. You have sand, other rock and other surface area that is established with bacteria. Removing and adding back that rock will be ok. May have an algae outbreak on that rock though. Since it will be “sterile”

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Would it be better if I took the entire rock out... smeared the paste all over the GSP mat and then rinsed it off before putting it back in the tank? Could this have any negative effects on the water chemistry?

I agree with the above comment. There would be no negative effect on water chemistry, except from the dead coral decaying.

 

[Synthgp]

I am out of my element here as a newbie, but what if you just bleach it to kill everything on the rock, let it dry, and then reintroduce it to the tank?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I am out of my element here as a newbie, but what if you just bleach it to kill everything on the rock, let it dry, and then reintroduce it to the tank?

If you are willing to remove rocks, bleach certainly kills everything just fine.