I recently just got a green sea mat and i was wondering if anybody had any inside knowladge on green sea mats. thanks

I recently just got a green sea mat and i was wondering if anybody had any inside knowladge on green sea mats. thanksWithout a scientific name or a more specific common name or better yet, either name with a picture, it's difficult to determine what exactly it is that your are referring to.

As a new hobbyist it's easy to simply buy something and then come to the forums and ask questions. But, you must do better than that. You are responsible to educate yourself before making purchases. That's what being a responsible hobbyist is all about. If you were going to learn to fly an airplane, you couldn't/wouldn't just jump in one and take off. You'd "crash and burn" for sure.

It's not a lot different being a hobbyist. As a hobbyist we are responsible for the life and death of our critters. Death comes all too easily for many of our charges because of poor husbandry, poor conditions at the LFS or lack of understanding the needs of our critters. Too many of them "crash and burn" because of ignorance. Educate yourself first, then provide the proper conditions before you go out and buy on impulse. You'll save a ton of money in the process. Look up the species in your reef library. You do own at least one good book, don't you?

If you think I'm coming across too critically, I'm sorry! In reality I'm just trying to make you become a better reefer. There isn't an endless supply of reef inhabitants for us to squander. It's our responsibility to police ourselves before some government agency steps in. I'll guarantee you won't like their policy!

That said, can you give us a picture?

Plasticreefer, first of all welcome to Talkingreef. You will definitely find very intelligent people with many years of experience in the Reef Keeping hobby to help guide you along the way of becoming a veteran Reef Keeper. I have to agree with Amphibious on this one. In this hobby with such beautiful creatures to choose from it is very easy to make an impulse buy before following the proper procedures in educating yourself on possible purchases before walking into a local pet store and walking out with something because the price seemed right or as many of us can account to "it was pretty so I had to get it". Impulse buys can not only lead to possible monetary lose but even worse can lead to the death of a creature that could be alive and should be alive. Please post a photograph of this "Green Sea Mat" I'm very sure that other members will chime in shortly to lend you a helping hand.

Plasticreefer,

I am one of the dumber guys here, but I suspect you have an encrusting green star polyp colony.

What is it that you need to know?

We have nothing to work with in order to dispense advise. Perhaps you can tell us about your tank in some detail to start. And then a description of the specimen in question.

Keep in mind that I have seen such things as a green carpet anenome and green algae described as "green sea mat".

A)
http://www.reefcorner.com/images/GreenSalmonSeaMat.jpg

B)
http://www.coralreefecosystems.com/images/17100/starpolyp_green_ctr.jpg

C)
http://www.fromunderthesea.com/images/grn%20carpet.JPG

D)
http://www.seabay.org/images/pic_092001_640.jpg

E)
http://kierf.net/images/green%20monster%20and%20banana.gif

http://kierf.net/images/green%20monster%20and%20banana.gif

:shout: :wow: :o :sick: :mrgreen:

Tanks every one i do think that in veriann's picture test i have "B" and it sounds like it actually is an encrusting green star polyp colony and any expierence with these would be great.

I personally love these little guys. I have mine in medium flow and low light. I see the munching on some brine every now and then. Also i think the success with mine is i have them growing up hill. They love it.. they are always open and very happy. Also in my opinion they are a pain to frag. There base is like a vine and is hard to peal away from a rock that isn't smooth. I think they really bring out a tank as well. Good luck with yours :)

Hey Plasticreefer,

My green star polyp was the first coral I ever bought in my first tank (29 gal.) and is still around today in my 100 gal. setup. I agree with wwest: they like to creep up and they are difficult to peel off rocks once they have taken hold. I keep mine on its own rock in medium current in a corner but it managed to stretch itself to move on other rocks. It's always out at first sign of light. It was recommended to me as a good "beginner" coral because of its hardiness.

Good luck with your new coral.

I would agree with Ann and Wes - this is a fairly straightforward coral. They like moderate flow, moderate lighting and don't have to be spot fed. Mine almost got suffocated from a bout of cyanobacteria that I had, but it has since come back to be more brilliant than before. You'll enjoy!

Welcome to TR, by the way!

thanks so much

one last thing, how long will it take to grasp onto the rock (i just got it) and how fast does it grow?

Under my old PC lighting mine grew about an inch a month i believe. My lighting stunk though. Also i always Super Glue Gel mine down. If you let it attach on in own i would have to say 5-10 days maybe?

also with this coral can i frag it? if so how?

The picture is so small its kinda hard to see, By chance do you have a larger picture?

also with this coral can i frag it? if so how?
yes, just cut or rip a piece of the mat of and rubberband it to another rock until it attaches, which is usually quite quick..


Wes, keep an eye on yours, they might not light those brighter lights... ;)

I have them hiding under the overflow box right now :) they seem happy. I might have to make them a little umbrella to live under lol :)

This stuff is chemically noxious. One of the worst evidently. I never knew that until recently. I had always heard they were chemically peaceful but were aggressive in their ability to smother/takeover.... not so.

This stuff is chemically noxious. One of the worst evidently. I never knew that until recently. I had always heard they were chemically peaceful but were aggressive in their ability to smother/takeover.... not so.

Can you elaborate??

Chemically noxious corals participate in allelopathy. Allelopathy is the inhibition of growth in one species of corals (or macro... or whatever "animal" is involved) by chemicals produced by another species.

Leathers are horrible for this... and evidently so is GSP.

When I put GSP in my SPS tank, my SPS growth rates (on the colonies nearest the GSP) slowed. I was told the same. One poor coral (birds nest) was between a leather coral and the GSP's...didn't have a chance. I wouldn't put them in an SPS tank. Not only due to the allelopathic battles, but just due to the sheer agressiveness in the spread of the GSP mat. They cover EVERYTHING.

I always suggest keeping them as an "island" in the sand. This way, they can't spread on to adjoining rockwork. What's better, is the "mat" will actually spread over the sand for easy fragging ;)

Dave

oh ok well cant i just frag it when it grows to much?

Pretty funny, my GSP never opened and subsequently died. However my dendronephthya is alive and well. Go figure!

oh ok well cant i just frag it when it grows to much?

GPS is a BEAR to peel off of rock. Some folks put shells, rubble, tile, or frag mounts near the colony and let it grow onto that. Otherwise, it will creep onto other rocks and continue to "mat" over the rockwork.

Others have reported that by placing a powerhead, facing the colony, that the mat will grow away from the flow. I guess you could do this to ensure that it grew where you wanted it to.

Dave

just so I'm clear - are we talking about Clavularia viridis or Briareum?

A green sea mat thats wat were chatting about, but anyway mine is a bear to get to attatch its been 1 week now and it always falls off the rocks!!! how do i get it to stay???

I use both crazy glue gel...AND wrap it with an elastic for a week or more. When it attaches, you'll know...then simply snip the elastic.

D

Another question what is the average spread rate of an average Mushroom?

I'm not sure average is a word that could be considered in a salt tank and with mushrooms lol What type of mushrooms are they?

Under my old lights ( 65watt 10k PC, 65watt actinic PC ) i think i was getting maybe a new mushroom every month to month and a half..

Under my new lights ( 175watt 15k MH, 65watt actinic PC ) that i have been running for about two weeks i have doubled the mushrooms on what i like to call mushroom rock.

Do you have a picture of the mushrooms?

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/beyondthereef/Corals/mushrooms.jpg

Here is one picture i have, I cant find the others lol

I cant get a picture right now my fiend is using my camera! sorry but i will get some pics ASAP

No big hurry. If they are just Basic mushrooms then you should be able to use a rubber band or even a leg stocking. I have heard great success with the stocking i just havnt tried it yet..

HIJACKING THREAD FOR A SECOND

Wes, Ineed one of those shrooms, you look like you could spare one. I will swap you for a red one. I will be in Athens on the 7th of December.


http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i233/wildeone/P1010012-1.jpg

PLEASE RESUME

What is that coral in picture "C". Anyone?

No problem, I can spare. message me and we can work out the details.

What is that coral in picture "C". Anyone?

Possibly a green carpet anemone.

Yes picture C is green carpet. Very cool anemone.

I thought it was bu wasn't sure. I want one off those now. I don't think I can have one with my BTA though can I?

I wouldnt put one in my tank period. a friend of mine has a blue carpet and that thing is the size of a man hole cover and it has eaten alot of his live stock.. i just dont like them i guess lol his is about 21 inches right now..

Hi Plasticreefer and welcome to Talkingreef!:party:

"just so I'm clear - are we talking about Clavularia viridis or Briareum?"

Christi, I think we are talking about the Clavularia sp. - ?

If so, I currently have a nice thick matt of it growing on a large flat rock near the top third of my tank. They absolutley love my metal halide lighting and have grown quickly to cover this rock and flourese in the lunar lighting all night long. :clap:

PlasticReefer, I would use a turkey baster to blow the detritus off these little fellows every couple of days - otherwise the "matts" can become necrotic, and will rot away. As for fragging them, if you can get a small piece of the matt separated from the mother colony, I would use some underwater epoxy to stick it to another rock/surface. :up:

As for feeding, I use a turkey baster to waft a combination of oyster eggs, brine shrimp and cyclopeze. Typically, the polyp closes and then reopens in a couple of minutes afte ingesting the goodies. :eat:

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the tips great news thanks!