North Liberty Posts/Points: 301/395
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| 07/26/2012 3:03 PM |
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Unfortunately I had a base rock with a small amount of star polyps on it when I set up my 180g SPS tank. After about a year it has gotten out of control and is starting to approach corals I don't want it to approach. Removing this base rock is absolutely out of the question at this point... so I'm interested in hearing some ideas. Some ideas so far:
Fluke tabs (supposed to knock out all star polyps/xenias/probably some other stuff)... I'd rather not nuke my tank with a chemical if I can avoid it though. Also hard to get since they stopped selling the US apparently.
Kalk paste... I've heard very mixed reviews. It doesn't seem like it does a good job of knocking them out long term, it just kind of angers them for a while. It would also take a ton of kalk for as large of a section as these are now covering.
Try to place rocks on top of some of it and hope it grows up onto the rock which I can then pull out (this worked well for Xenias). The problem is it's growing vertically on the rock so this would be a challenge.
Peeling with a scalple. I've heard mixed reviews with this approach... it seems like it doesn't work well if you have a porous rock that they're on.
Try to direct a chocolate chip starfish. I would try to cage it around this base column rock with egg crate and net and just hope for the best. If it escaped I'm not sure what kind of damage it would do, but I think it would probably devestate my cleanup crew, possibly my clam, and maybe some zoas that I wouldn't mind getting rid of either. It doesn't sound like they would care much for my acros.
Any other ideas? I wouldn't mind something that would completely destroy all polyps and softies... I don't want them in my tank anyway. Is there some kind of "pest" nudabranch or anything that comes to mind? |
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Lighting: 108 3w CREE LED's, Skimmer: H&S A150, Ca Rx: Aquatic Systems Design, Kalk Rx: Precision Marine, Chiller: JBJ 1/5 HP Titanium, 55g sump, BioPellets running in modified Zeovit reactor, 4 Vortech MP40's. |
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Pleasant Hill (DSM) Posts/Points: 843/991
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| 07/26/2012 3:30 PM |
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I had a large pencil urchin that started devouring all my softies. I think they leave harder corals like SPS alone. So, if you want to kill off your softies, you could try this route. I had a kenya tree colony that he litterally devoured overnight. I had 7 stalks about 8 in tall and overnight, he ate 6 down to short tiny stumps. So, he had to go. I have heard they also eat polyps and other softies. I new I was in trouble when I put him in the tank and he made a bee-line to the closest softy he could get to.
He was a pain to get out though. lol! |
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Private Posts/Points: 129/149
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| 07/26/2012 3:59 PM |
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Laser. |
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Private Posts/Points: 4775/5923
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| 07/26/2012 4:21 PM |
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Interesting.
I've been pondering the same question because my tank is overgrown with purple mushrooms.
I though about going the chocolate chip starfish route, but my main concern is that it would go after my Saebe Anenome.
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| GIRS Webmaster & MACNA 2011 Survivor
Follow me on Twitter: @jbrunken |
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Private Posts/Points: 436/510
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| 07/26/2012 5:14 PM |
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Posted By rbp4135 on 07/26/2012 03:59 PM
Laser.
+1 on the laser  I would scrap off what I can then use kalk past, just use small amounts at a time. |
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| 350 gallon Miracles in-wall Reef. ReefKeeper Elite Controller, LumenMaX Elite MH-T5-LED all-in-in one fixture, Reef Octopus 6000sss skimmer, Korallin C40002 CaReactor, 2 Eheim 1262 returns, Custom 24" x 60" sump, 2 Vortech MP60's, 2 MP40's |
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North Liberty Posts/Points: 301/395
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| 07/26/2012 5:45 PM |
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Posted By OceansWonders (Jamie) on 07/26/2012 05:14 PM
Posted By rbp4135 on 07/26/2012 03:59 PM
Laser.
+1 on the laser
I would scrap off what I can then use kalk past, just use small amounts at a time.
You have no idea how much I want to go the laser route. I'm even starting to convince the wife on the concept as she's been noticing the star polyps slowly advancing towards the acros. If there was a good way to encase the laser so it could be submerged and pointed right up next to the target I would be on board. I'm just nervous about point through the acrylic and in a path that a fish could swim through. |
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Lighting: 108 3w CREE LED's, Skimmer: H&S A150, Ca Rx: Aquatic Systems Design, Kalk Rx: Precision Marine, Chiller: JBJ 1/5 HP Titanium, 55g sump, BioPellets running in modified Zeovit reactor, 4 Vortech MP40's. |
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Private Posts/Points: 4775/5923
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| 07/26/2012 5:54 PM |
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Would you consider angry sea-bass? |
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| GIRS Webmaster & MACNA 2011 Survivor
Follow me on Twitter: @jbrunken |
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Monmouth Posts/Points: 124/132
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| 07/26/2012 6:09 PM |
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I just took the rock that were covered out one at a time, and let them bake for a couple weeks, and the polyps died off. Put them back in the tank, let it do a little cycle time, and then pulled out the next rock. |
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des moines Posts/Points: 921/1249
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| 07/26/2012 6:21 PM |
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maybe cover the rocks with something that will block light for awhile might kill off the star polyps |
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Monmouth Posts/Points: 124/132
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| 07/26/2012 6:23 PM |
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Oh..you don't want to remove them, NM
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East Moline Posts/Points: 3591/4179
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| 07/26/2012 6:36 PM |
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I read a thread on a guy that used fluke tabs to eliminate star polyps and xenia from is tank. he posted pics of his results and it did not effect anything else in his tank but totally eliminated the gsp and xeia. |
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Private Posts/Points: 129/149
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| 07/27/2012 11:54 AM |
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I really don't know how pratical the laser is, but they do make waterproof ones aparently. I was reading the thread over on RC and laughing my butt off! We fish nerds certianly are a unique breed. |
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Aledo Posts/Points: 210/242
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| 07/27/2012 12:41 PM |
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The laser method is very effective as long as you have a HIGH power laser, but you have to be very careful not to hit any fish with the laser and make sure the laser will not reflect off of any surfaces. If the laser is able to burn through coral just think what it would do to you or your fish. |
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| Quad Cities Trustee, 300g Reef System |
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Iowa City Posts/Points: 20/22
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| 07/27/2012 4:14 PM |
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Put an empty frag plug next to the rock they're on and leave an eviction notice. Star Polyps are nothing if not respectful of the landlords wishes, I'll come by and pick up the plug tomorrow and provide them a new home. |
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urbandale Posts/Points: 358/458
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| 07/27/2012 4:42 PM |
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Your first 2 options ive never tried. The rocks on top is a waste of time been there done that. Peeling will not get rid of them, depending on how close they are to your sps it will keep them from over taking them(which they will been there also). You just have to keep on top of it and scrap peel as much as you can and as far back as you can. choclate chip star fish seems like it might work if you can contain it,also the urchin idea seems good also. I am one for using chems as a lat resort. Good luck i feel your pain.
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ankeny Posts/Points: 382/554
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| 07/29/2012 5:49 AM |
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superglue them |
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