star polyp question

[helcat17]

ok my tank has been set up for about a year and a half and we have decided to start putting some color in it starting with this star polyp my question is does it have to be on live rock to take hold? also does it do better in direct water flow like just in front of a power head or away from?

[droth335]

Star polyps are very hardy and will thrive in about any situation. To get them started I assume they will be on a plug or a piece of rubble so you can put that about anywhere and they will quickly spread. If you do not want them to become overly invasive (and they will) you can put them a bit isolated like on a rock "island" so they won't spread over your entire tank. I would suggest medium flow as a starting point.

[hollister]

Place them in a medium flow medium light spot on some LR and they will grow out the direction they prefer the most.

[helcat17]

yeah there on a small piece of rock and i put it on an isolated rock but i only have 2 t5 54w bulbs on a 65 gal tank so i wouldnt expect them to take off to fast or am i wrong in that understanding?

[helcat17]

also do i need to watch any levels in the tank for these to strive?

[ReeferBill]

I have noticed that when my stars have not opened up it is due to a low PH and after adding buffer the get happy...:dance:

[Nicholas41]

If you want you can let them carpet the back of your tank wall. That's what I love.

[trukgirl]

I've had my GSPs about 6 mos, started as a 2"x2" cutting. Just threw it on the sand in the middle of my tank, and now it looks like below!! Inlcluded FTS for size reference, I believe its around 6"x10" now.

I have a 65g also but I have a 4 bulb Aquaticlife fixture (4x39w), 2 actinic, 2 day. Also, mine do get quite a bit of flow.

Nicholas, that is a cool idea, a back wall of GSPs!

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/trukgirl/FISH/07a717c4.jpg

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/trukgirl/FISH/385ed47c.jpg

[trukgirl]

Double post, whoops!

[Nicholas41]

Yeah it beats looking at the plumbing by far! lol

[RealReef7]

Gsp are one of my favorite coral. Cheap, hardy, looks nice and spreads fast under right conditions.

[Nicholas41]

And glow under the atinics in the morning and evening. You really can't beat them!

[Matthew91]

I have mine on the top with high flow and it is growing like crazy. My plan is to get the gsp to spread on the entire rock. I think it would look great

[Brando8719]

I've decided to get a gsp and put it on a rock island at the one end of my 55gallon so it wont spread and take over my tank. The only problem is that it is a low flow area. I have an extra koralia 425gph so I was thinking of stationing it to point directly at the gsp (6in or so away). Would this be sufficient flow or should I be looking at putting it elsewhere?

Thanks!

[Brando8719]

Sorry. Double post.