Those Sneaky Little Star Polyps

I learned my lesson long ago about putting star polyps on the main rock formations in my tanks. While I love star polyps to death, some species can quickly take over and push out other corals (one of the reasons I will NEVER put Xenia Elongata in any of my tanks ever again).

So in my current tank I took my first star polyp and put it in the sand leaning up against a solitary piece of rock. It quickly slimed over that rock so I kept adding rocks up stream of it to keep it growing. It has now grown easily 10x and one of the pieces I fragged and put on the other side of the tank is going nuts as well.

All along I've been very careful to keep it away from my main rock formation. Then earlier this week I noticed what I thought at first was a small aptaisia growing near the star polyps on the main rock formation. On closer inspection I saw that it was a star polyp! How could this be? There is easily 2-3 inches of sand separating the two locations. I got in to do some digging and found that this colony was attached to the main UNDER THE SAND. I've never seen that happen before... I'm not sure what I can do about it either.

At least star polyps are one of my favorites and this one in particular because it is the long-tentacled green that looks great blowing in the water flow. I'm hoping the Torch I've got just above where it connected will help keep it in check.

 

Sounds good, any pics?

 

Wow, that's kind of cool. Attached from under the sand bed?

x2 any pics?

 

I'll do so when I get home today.

 

Here is a pic... unfortunately with the way the water flows and the length of the polyps it is hard to see, but the second pic tries to point out where the stuff is. I may have over-estimated the 2-3 inches, but it is easily 1.5-2. The polyps are 1.5" long.

 

Here is another pic that I took this morning right after the lights came on.




Here is a close up of the area. Note the arrow pointing to the polyp coming up from under the sand.

 

A bit off topic but how long did it take the polyps to start growing after you got them? Mine seem to be doing fine but dont grow at the speeds some people post.

 

I have two different species in my tank. These are the long-polyp greens. They started growing almost immediately and haven't stopped. They have easily grown 10x in size in about a year, more if you include the frag I have on the other side of the tank.

The other species grows much slower. I actually put it on a spire connected to the main formations because it is a slow grower (relatively speaking). It didn't grow at all for about two months then started. It has probably tripled in size in the last six months.

 

I have it in 4 different areas of my tank...I also like them, so no biggie....but I just assumed it has been sniped off by a crab and just started growing where it lays....I have had luck just peeling it of the rock cutting with scapel and giving it away(I control its path this way)...it lays down just like a rug.
Cool photos...nice work K+ to ya
LG