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Green star polyps were the first coral I’ve got for my reef tank. Based on my own research and other people’s opinion, the green star polyp was the perfect beginner coral for a new hobbyist to try.
It’s a soft coral, can tolerate a wide range of conditions, and is pretty forgiving, making the green star polyps perfect beginner coral.
However, some local fish stores are not telling you that green star polyps can spread fast. And when I say fast, I mean very fast. Of course, in coral terms.
How to stop the green star polyps from spreading and keeping it under control?
There are several ways in which we will be discussing them in this article.
Let’s get started.
Contents
Keep the Green Star Polyps on an isolated rock
The first and the most obvious way is to keep the GSP on an isolated rock. However, many beginners make this mistake, including myself, and put the green star polyps on a rock where they can quickly spread.
If you don’t act, it will find a way and spread all over the rocks. If you recently bought the coral, there’s still a chance to move to a separate island. If it’s already spread, proceed with the following technique.
Peel the Green Star Polyps off
Peeling GSP from the rock is a technique some people have done it successfully, but I personally haven’t tried it. Maybe in the future, who knows.
Take tweezers or a razor blade if the surface is smooth and slowly try to peel the mat off.
Don’t worry; you won’t hurt the coral. Green star polyps are pretty indestructible. When the procedure is done, attach the coral where it can’t spread quickly.
Attach the Green Star Polyps on the back wall
Some people glue their green star polyps on the back wall, and when the GSP spreads, it looks astonishing. I see this as an excellent technique for those who want a beautiful bright and green background.
Apply long term view
One of the biggest mistakes we, as reefers, make is not planning long-term. I know the urge to buy every coral you think is nice initially, but it might not be wise if you see the big picture.
If you want to keep more demanding corals such as SPS in the future, buying a GSP is maybe not a good idea. Visualize your ideal reef tank and start from there.
If green star polyps don’t fit in that picture, don’t buy it. There are other beginner-friendly corals that won’t spread as fast as the green star polyps.
Start Over
Starting over is the hardest thing to do if you ask me. However, we learn something new with every mistake we make.
If your green star polyps went out of control and started bothering your other corals, it may be time for a fresh start.
Final Thoughts
Green star polyps can spread fast and populate your reef tank in no time. But maybe that’s not a bad thing as we as reefers want to represent.
Personally, I would like my Gsp to spread all over the rocks. I think it looks cool. I don’t plan to keep more demanding corals in this system, so letting the GSP out of control won’t be such a bad thing.
Or maybe I am wrong, and I will regret this decision in the future. We will see.
