Another "What Is It" Question

[rickswika]

Hello again. My tank is now about 11 weeks old and there are things popping up all over that I can't identify. A small feather duster popped-up out of nowhere and is growing at the base of some rock. I'm assuming they aren't pests so am leaving it alone. My tank now has 9 different kinds of coral, growing and healthy so far. I'll post some full tank photos soon.

I was wondering if anyone knows what this might be? It came on the rock and seems to be regenerating. I haven't seen tentacles yet. Is this some kind of live coral or just a dead skeleton? There is some much to learn.

Thanks for all the info.


Rick

[Demogarr]

I believe that is some species of porites, if you didn't mean to buy it, then it is a nice score!!
It is deffinately a live coral, and it appears to be repopulating its old skeleton( the grey area) I have a porites that is doing the exact same thing. I put the old skeleton in the refuge, and about 2 or three months later noticed it was growing back!! This skeleton was way overgrown with algae and stuff too, pretty amazing.

[Spanky]

Live coral. Is that Florida rock? Because it looks like Siderastrea radians.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Hey Rick did we get the same LR? I have a small patch of that growing as well!

[tkjeffrey]

I am curious also becuase I got a real nice growth of that on some fiji live rock I got from Marine Depot

[rickswika]

Aye...Siderastrea radians...listed as a 'tough to kill Caribbean species" in my edition of 'Aquarim Corals'. It looks like the picture.

Funny tho, Spanky, it's not Flordia rock; it was advertised as being from the South Pacific..."Select Lalo Live Rock, uncured" to be exact.

The rock was top notch. There's a few different kinds of skeletons on different pieces...but this is the first to regenerate. After 10 days of curing in my new tank, NH3/NH4 was pratically 0. After three weeks all readings were nominal. N03 has lingered around 2.5 ever since. Ca has droped to around 350, so I'm started my first kalk drip this weekend. I'm thinking about a calcium reactor.

Finally, something good I didn't ask for. The feather duster happens to be at the base of the same rock.