The purple mat is a good sign. Keep an eye on the plugs so you don't lose them. They should grow back.

 

My GSP was looking good and some hair algae started growing on it. It closed up for about a week. I decided to pull the rock and work it over with a toothbrush. After, the purple mat stayed, but it still didn't open up. Another week or so and it started to open. It has been spreading and looks good now. I think GSP is pretty hardy. Give it some time and it will probably start looking good.

 

Ok great. I just was unsure since there is no polyps anymore. Just a purple spot on the plug. I just wanted to know if I could remove the plugs from my tank, but if there is a chance it may regrow I will wait and see what happens

 

The purple mat is also part of the GSP - it's what the polyps come out of. You'll see them retract into that mat when the lights go out or they're stressed by something. When it spreads, the purple mat attach and spread over the rock they're on, so make sure it's somewhere that you're okay with that happening as they can smother other coral.

 

My goal is to get it to grow on the back wall.

 

The back wall is a great idea. Not to mention it would make it easy to frag if you ever decided you had to much of it. My GSP is a tiny piece I brought home from the LFS. The mat is the important part of you see that dkh ringing then ur in trouble. Mine have been in the tank for a couple months and have yet to return to the size they were at the LFS. Just keep an eye on them pick a spot for them and let them alone.

 

I thought I had lost my small frag of gsp from a friend but after moving a rock today I found it and its still purple so I hope it makes it. I'm guessing since the cuc didn't eat it that it should still be alive.

 

Nice to hear that is still coming back. I just got a small rock with some polyps and a good size of purple mat on the rock , right now I'm assuming is stressed out so is all closed. hope in few days it will open. This is my second coral in my new tank set up. The lady at the LFS told me that I need to dose Iodine every week , is that right or what you guys feed your GSP?

 

Weekly?! Wow, no. Do not dose iodine. Any you need will be in your salt mix and replaced each water change. Iodine can be toxic and is rarely recommended to be dosed. You should also never dose anything you don't test for.

I believe the purple "tubes" on the GSP mat hollow out when they're dead, so if they're intact and just closed then I'd just give them time. Also make sure there's no algae building up on them by using a turkey baster and a soft toothbrush. Algae can smother them.