Need info please

[josh88]

Ok so I'm a bit confused on how these guys got here, at first when I got this piece of live rock, it look like purple algae on it with holes, I even looked over it and most def didn't see these guys.

And there wasn't that many holes. So I was moving the rock around. I flip it over and bam these guys all opened up under the live rock. So I placed it back facing the light, and on my water testing, I tried to give the rock back to my buddy, but he already took his tank down.

I'm actually worried because my tank is only 2 months old. I can't even see how these guys are a live, much less open

HTC EVO

 

[Derbird]

Nice score, looks like some kind of zoa or pally. I had some come on my live rock when I fist started my tank as well along with some GSP and mushrooms. I also thought they were gonners But they all survived the cycle and are thriving to this day Don't sweat it too much the softies are tougher than we give them credit for.

 

[josh88]

Ok that's good. I was worried.

HTC EVO

 

[SaltwaterNoobs]

You know, a lot of people are actually "cycling" their tanks with hardy softies, like xenia and those palys you've got all over that rock. Those particular palys are super hardy, too, at least from my experience and from what I've seen/heard from others. They're actually considered a "pest" to some because they are so difficult to kill I say woo for unexpected coral!!!!!

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
They are most likely a soft coral Protopalythoa sp. of the genus Palythoa. They're probably the most common soft coral to survive on newly imported live rock.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[josh88]

Nice, so they seem to spread very fast, which I can see why some consider them that way, I think I'll leave them be for now, and later on try to clean some of them out

HTC EVO

 

[senji]

just to let u know how hardy they are when i first got into this hobby i bought a tank on craigslist and all the live rock was in a rubber maid container. and i hauled them from tumwater to south hill in the back of my old ford pickup. then but them in my garage for 3 days no light heat or pumps or skimmer. then i learned about the cycle proccess and added heat powerheads and a skimmer to the container. 1 day later i tested amonia and was off the charts like baby poop green. and these guys still survived that and the complete cycle to thrive to this day.

 

[josh88]

Well here they are all open up, and yeah they are hardy, I had them in a bucket with a 5 gallon submers heater. For 3 days as well. Still staid open.

HTC EVO