Help with ID, sorry no picture...

[dbpeeples]

Hi all. I'm new to reefs (and reefs.org!), however, I have kept a FOWLR for almost 10 years now. I finally took the plunge and have started a reef tank. It's a 30G, 4" DSB, 2x96w PC (1-10k and 1 actinic), and 60# aquacultured live rock. The tank has now finished cycling, and the algae control critters have been ordered.

All during the cycling I was wondering what these things were, but now that the water is in good shape, they've become absolutely beautiful. They are small (approx 1/8" diameter) little holes in the rock with what appear to be hard white lines radiating out from the hole (out to about 1/4" dia.). Now the the water is OK they have sprouted these clear tentacles with white dots on the end of them.

Is that a good enough description? I know it's not aiptasia, 'cause I've got a couple of those, and they look like a weed!

Anyway, thanks in advance!

 

[Anonymous]

Hidden Cup Coral maybe, just a WAG. Try feeding it a small meaty piece of seafood and see if it will eat. Are the tentacles sprinkled with tiny white dots?

Here's a hitchhiker thread ---> http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=61261 try looking at pictures & see if you recognize anything.

 

[dbpeeples]

Ahhh! It's a disc coral from those photos. Although, those photos didn't show the tentacles.

And yes, the tentacles are sprinkled with lighter white dots. I'll see if I can "borrow" a digital cam from work...

 

[Anonymous]

Try a web search on "Phyllangia". Your description of this coral fits very well.

 

[Mihai]

By the way, Guy, are you positive on the Diadema urchin id on the hitchhiker page? I have one of them, but I don't think they're Diadema (not sure what, perhaps Strongylocentrotus purpuratus?).

I believe that in Fenner's and Calfo's reef invertebrates, they said that there are three types fo Diadema, all three with the characteristic anus.

M.

 

[Anonymous]

By the way, Guy, are you positive on the Diadema urchin id on the hitchhiker page? I have one of them, but I don't think they're Diadema (not sure what, perhaps Strongylocentrotus purpuratus?).

I believe that in Fenner's and Calfo's reef invertebrates, they said that there are three types fo Diadema, all three with the characteristic anus.

M.

I'm pretty sure it's not Diadema. I'd think it's a Echinometra sp. though.

If you can find out for sure I'll go back & change the ID.