How can I kill star polyps

[James w Lewis]

I liked them at one time now they are everywhere taking over everything like weeds. How can I kill them without killing the other things in the tank.

 

[vic5hands]

They multiply rapidly. If you try to break them off. They come back ..good luck

 

[drstratton]

Harlequin shrimp will do the trick. The only problem is they will eat all your starfish and die when there's no more to eat.

I'm sorry, but don't Harlequin shrimp only eat starfish! I don't think that they will eat coral! I think the OP is talking about GSP, but I could be wrong, it's been known to happen! ;)

 

[DanConnor]

I used to shade encroaching encrustings with big clam shells.

 

[TheEngineer]

GSP is really hard to beat back. That stuff will just grow out of anywhere even if you cover it. You can go after it like aptasia with kalk paste, but that's going to be quite a process and you will need to do it over a long period of time.

 

[Platehead]

time to find new rock

 

[143MPCo]

I'm no expert on Fenbendazole ( @twilliard ) but it has been reported to work on green star polyps.

Blog Post:
"For those wanting to eliminate invasive soft corals from their tanks; I can report that I successfully eradicated Blue Clove Polyps and Xenia from my tank using the canine de-wormer medication Fenbendazole (without harming my biological filter or killing invertebrates – minus Bristle worms and certain snail types). I think depending on the dosage and treatment time, this should kill the above mentioned corals, plus green star polyps, hydroids and aiptasia. Hopefully more experienced aquarists will provide their input on using Fenbendazole and the risks involved."

 

[twilliard]

Fenbendazol will absolutely wipe a tank out of GSP's
It is used in the same way as treating for Digitate hydroids.
I have a write up on it here
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/here-it-is-fenbendazol-use-against-hydroids.214950/
If you have any questions please feel free to ask.
Also I have found a product that is much cheaper than Safegaurd so no separating needed.

 

[Clayalaleona]

Star polyp nudi

 

[riverview reefer]

I have learned that if you have a living reef you might as well call it your yard. So you have to keep things where you want them and make sure they don't reappear anywhere else. I use a toothbrush and just scrub them off the rock. Mind you this is more of a maintenance thing than a whole tank thing. For a whole tank you might want to look at new rock.

 

[Rotten2thecore]

Would taking out the rock and pouring boiling hot water over the GSP section you want gone work? (Caution while doing this as some corals release toxic vapors when hated).

 

[Pete polyp]

Kalk paste will probably take care of them

 

[geaston]

I actually had an Emerald Crab that ate all of mine. It was a love/hate thing with GSP. They look great in flow but absolutely engulf everything. This is actually more common then people think with Emerald Crabs eating this stuff in a tank. He never did touch any of my blue cloves or zoas in the tank. I also saw him pull a 4 inch bristle worm out of a rock and eat it. Between him and my coral banded I have no bristle worms either. Long story short try an Emerald! Hope this helps.

 

[BrianGriff]

I'm jealous I can't get anything to grow, my xenias and GSP are still practically the same after months of having them. I want them to take over the tank, but they are just there.

 

[WetWhistle]

A course plastic or metal brush works great and scrub the crap out of them. They don't take to damage of the main body and polyps very well. A lot of the time if you damage the polyps itself with the brush the fibrous mat that connects all the polyps breaks down. Sometimes you might have to do it a few times but it works.

 

[FL_Reefer]

Bleach! I have left rocks full of GSPout of the water for 2 weeks and it still came back. I would just remove the Rock and trade it in to your LFS.

 

[earthbound]

Tiger cowrie

 

[Fin]

If you are going to keep them, keep them isolated on a rock well away from everything else and keep them trimmed.

 

[dieselkeeper]

I had them when first started reefing. They took over the rocks as well. I traded them at the LFS.

 

[Luna]

Sell them many people like them. I like them, but every time I buy a frag the don't come out and in a few months they disappear (die). [emoji26]