[Samper]

The more my system matures and things grow the more I learn about selection of animals/placement. For instance I will never ever put Xenia sp. or Parazoanthus sp. in an sps reef ever again. I say Parazoanthus meaning Yellow polyps but am under the impression that they haven't been classified with a definate name or genus yet as per this article. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...003/invert.htm If they have please correct me but for the sake of this thread I'm talking about what most call "yellow polyps". Anyway, The Xenia grow so fast that they can shade other more light requiring corals very quickly. They can also take up space needed by the other corals to encrust or branch out. One problem I'm having right now is controlling both of the corals I mentioned. My Yellow polyps have grown so fast and sent out a few satellites to other areas of the tank, they are starting to worry me. One example would be that some of them are too close to a small piece of Montipora Digitata. Over the last few days I've noticed that the digitata isn't too happy and the polyps on the side of the coral nearest to the Parazoanthus aren't coming out any more. I don't know how to control them. I've read that there is a nudibranch as well as some predatory snails out there such as Heliacus spp. that will consume them but that they wouldn't think twice about also consuming some of my much loved Zoanthids. The fish that might consume them aren't suitable for my system so....what do I do cut them from the rock with some pliers or something? I selected the title that I did for this thread because I really feel that both of these are beautiful yet they have a down side. Most newcomers to the hobby are advised that these are very hardy which they are. They also have a movement/color appeal that many people enjoy only they aren't suitable for all types of systems. I no longer feel that they are suitable for mine.

[kevinpo]

Both Peppermint and Camel shrimp will often eat them. The downside is that there may be other corals that they will like but you want to keep.

Regards,
Kevin

[Poseidon]

I understand your plight.. I have overcome and removed all but 2 stalks of Xenia, but the yellow polyps and Green Star Polyps are a real PITA. I have been just removing whole rocks covered in Yellow or GSP and trading them in at a LFS for rocks WITHOUT them.

[Samper]

I would try the shrimp but my Neocirrhites armatus would take em out real quick.

[kevinpo]

The other side to ornamental shrimp is that many things like to eat them too. It's a jungle out on the reef

Kevin

[Poseidon]

Ya... I have the same problem with my Odonus Niger.

[vtec si]

I have the same problem with finger leathers!! I swear that they grow faster than weeds. I should just take my weed eater to them!

Martin

[Samper]

I still haven't figured out a good solution to this problem. I'd take the rocks in and trade em out but some of my more prized corals are encrusted on them also. Breaking them isn't really an option either unless I wanted to make things look like crap for a while. I've thought about slowly using vinegar or boiling water injections to kill maybe 2-3 of the yellow polyps a day but there's atleast a hundred of them in various places. A buddy of mine here in Arkansas has something in his aquarium that is eating his Xenia real fast and it's driving him crazy. I told him if he could find whatever it is I'd take it provided we could get a proper id and I determine that would be the only thing it would consume. Other than those 2 things I'm stumped.