GSP overgrowth

kenter16 · #1 08-20-2010, 02:16 AM

I was just wondering how to control the growth of my GSP... It is taking over my tank, quite literally. When i purchased a frag of it last christmas it was about 4" by 4", now it takes up almost half of my ~95 lbs of live rock. I used to have a ton of cracks and crevasses where i would put other frags there. It grew right over a couple frags of zoas. I was hoping there was a fish or invertebrate out there that will snack on it. Not that I want it gone, just if I keep letting it grow uninhibited it will cover everything. I was thinking of buying a couple corals that pack a good punch, like a frogspawn and setting up a perimeter. Is that a good idea? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

intarsiabox · #2 08-20-2010, 02:47 AM

I don't know of anything that eats or kills GSP but I do know that GSP will also overgrow frog spawn. Physical removal is the only way I know, some even use a butune torch to make sure that all of the material is off the rock they are trying to remove it from.

Tom R · #3 08-20-2010, 02:49 AM

Like a number of coals or shall we say weeds, GSP can quickly spread.

Getting rid of it is almost impossible. GSP is very hard to get rid of. I have seen patches of GSP in FOWLR tanks doing just fine.

I sometimes just turn the rock over so that the GSP is face down into the sand. The GSP however will be back within a month or two.

You can also move a rock into your sump if dark and leave it there for a few months and the GSP will slowly disappear.

Tom R

mark · #4 08-20-2010, 03:13 AM

Got the same problem. It's a constant battle peeling it off with a dental pick and also have a fair bit of rock in the sump. Stuff in the sump been there probably close to 6 months and though haven't seen the polyps in months, fleshy part is holding on. Sure it will come back if I show it light.

bignose · #5 08-20-2010, 03:20 AM

I've thought about taking a rotary tool and gouging it off on my rock. Not sure if that's safe though.

Wingin It · #6 08-20-2010, 03:32 AM

Why is it I seem to be able to kill this stuff easy!!??!

Myka · #7 08-20-2010, 03:38 AM

I use boiling water to tame any that gets out of control on me. I have it growing up most of the back glass on my reef, and sometimes it creeps across the sand and gets on my rocks when I'm not looking so I have to get it with the boiling water. It takes several treatments though over the course of a couple months. I use a length of rigid airline tubing on the end of a big 200cc syringe. Always gotta be onnit. Best thing I have figured out so far.