[Phayes]

Have a few pictures here requiring some ID expertise!

1.

In this picture the 1st arrow is pointing at something that has just started growing over the past day... no idea what it is.. the picture is not the best, but it seems to be some type of flatter looking polyp with a tiny opening pointing outwards.
The second arrow is pointing at what looks to be a corraline algae of some sort, however, I find it odd that it is actually growing outwards (probably has grown about 1/2 cm away from the rock), instead of covering the rock like I have seen most of the corraline algae do. No idea what is occuring, hope you guys have some info.

2.

These might be a bit easier to ID... They started growing from the corraline algae overnight, and have made massive growth just over the course of the day alone... zoanthids possibly? I'm not really sure.

[thelastmucci]

well I can't really see the 1st arrow that well to take a shot..however the second arrow seems to be cyano...but don't quote me on that and please don't take only my word for it. If it is Cyano you seem to have a couple of options.

1) syphon the cyano off the rock work with a turkey baster
2) add more flow to this area..sometimes cyano can be an indicator of a poor flow aread
3)starve it out. While this is probably the longest of the options it might just be the best. Cyano is usually linked with excessive nutrients, (ie overfeeding) if you are feeding say every day cut back to once every other day. Also try shortening your light cycle some...if you have MH only turn those on for about 4-6 hours vs 8. If your using VHO or HO try cutting those down to 10 hours a day...leds and PC shouldn't cause excessive light.

[Phayes]

Before we come to the conclusion that it's cyano, I should add that this LR has just been added 2 days ago, (65 lbs of it, and starting my nitro cycle). Also, there is a 300gph powerhead thats been point almost right on it for the past 2 days. I could only describe this as a sponge looking material (looking at it close up, does seem to be some porous nodules on it).. I'm just not 100% sure that it could be cyanobacteria... thought cyano was more likely to be a slimey/sludge type material in deadspots of a tank.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

The third pic is one of the finest crops of aptasia I have ever seen.You are going to have a fun time with that.I would suggest the immediate aquisition of some peppermint shrimp or a bergia nudebranch.Whatever you do......do it now.

[Phayes]

Should I really invest in aiptapsia control if I am still expecting my tank to go through its cycle? Any chance that a ammonia peak will kill off the aiptapsia? *crosses fingers*

[NATIVEVAMAN]

You might try taking the rock out of the tank and washing it.The amonia wont hurt it even a little.

[Phayes]

You know Dale, I was actually excited when I saw those little things... But now you've gone and made me sad lol. I always thought aiptasia was a little more uneven looking. But then again I've never seen aiptapsia at their primitive growth states.

[dfurbee]

I think the purple stuff looks like greenstar polyps. I have these in my tank, but they are thicker. The little white dot in the middle looks the same. I would not take that off, it is good to have, the polyps will increase and will look nice. I do see one aiptasia, on the top of the rock with the polyps.

[Phayes]

After doing a bit of research, I found out that they are likely star polyps as well (8 little tentacle thingies with white center). However, that thing that looks like aiptasia is actually a featherduster (at least it lives in a little white calcium tube that it continues to build... At least i hope its a featherduster... has the mesh type of head.

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Actually I dont mind being wrong about the aptasia.I wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy.OH wait.....can I think about the for a minute?lol

[Phayes]

I have to be honest.. I had sweat out an olympic size swimming pool when you told me that it was the largest batch of aiptapsia you have ever seen. Really. At least you could have told me to get 911 on the line and told me to make sure that there was a defibrillator nearby. Glad to have come to the concensus it's only star polyps though... relief!

[NATIVEVAMAN]

I was going to call 911 for you but I dont have the international code.

[dfurbee]

I was looking at my Coral book and this looks like an encrusting gorgonia, if fact it looks exactly like Erythropodium, which is out of Indonesia. Very cool looking coral.

[jimw369]

If its got a purple mat its GSP not encrusting Gorgonia.

[Phayes]

GSP means what? I'm not familiar with all the fancy acronyms. But in terms of a purple mat... its not really a overly surface... the entire thing looks somewhat like a sponge, growing outwards with porous crevisces. I guess I can always wait a month and see what it looks like over the course of that time and repost pictures for further evaluation.

[Ganrin]

It looks to me like somewhat receded green star polyp (GSP) in the second picture rather than aptaisia or encrusting gorgonian.

Encrusting Gorgonian (in front of blue ricordea mushroom)

[jimw369]

Sorry Phayes...GSP=Green Star Polyps

[Fishhead Junkie]

those are clove polyps arent they? very similar to star polyps, but what the heck do i know, i still consider myself a newbie!!

i must really live on the wild side because i really dont hate aptasia that much...i think it looks cool..its like having a lil amenome in your tank. then again..i have only ever had a few of them, its never gotten out of control..i have 2 of them right now. i would probably reconsider i suppose if the stuff went beserk on me and just infested my tank but after a year of running, only 2 remain.

good luck with the tank.

steve

[DEWAYNE]

I have these GSP's in my tank they are doing really well, good luck to you