Any idea what this is?

[flakey]

It started off really small on some live rock i bought but over the past year, its grown into this massive thing about 20cm diameter. it's dark grey and looks pretty nice i must say.
Just want to know what it is and if it's good or bad. thanks...

 

[SushiGirl]

Is it actually soft? It looks like a plating SPS.

 

[flakey]

yes it is soft, a bit leathery/rubbery.

 

[SushiGirl]

Wow, no idea but it's really cool looking!

 

[theitalianczech]

Cabbage leather?

 

[SushiGirl]

I've only ever seen pink & brownish/pink (like mine) cabbage leathers. That thing is just lying flat & has way too much texture on the surface.

 

[Rapide]

Oh man... I would have said some really sweet table Acropora, but if it's soft...
Sinularia dura is the only softie that looks anything like this, and even that does not look anything like that!
Have you tried to frag it? You could send a frag to me, and maube then I can tell what it is
Btw, is it actually a coral?! Could it be some macroalgae? Some of them look a lot like corals...

 

[SushiGirl]

Dang, I didn't think of the frag trick...LOL.

 

[Jim.mer]

Not sure but it's cool, I hadsomething similar but mine was orange and I thought Plateing Montipora, But I don't know.

 

[insanefishguy]

It's a plating sponge. I have a blue/purple one but I've read that they may be grey also

 

[jarrodsanborn]

Sponge. Not sure on the name. I have a otherwise identical purple one. Mostly harmless but fast growing like Xenia as an example.

 

[flakey]

it's definately not a cabbage coral as i have a few.
It does look like a sponge as it doesn't have any holes etc you would expect from a sponge.

 

[flakey]

Oh man... I would have said some really sweet table Acropora, but if it's soft...
Sinularia dura is the only softie that looks anything like this, and even that does not look anything like that!
Have you tried to frag it? You could send a frag to me, and maube then I can tell what it is
Btw, is it actually a coral?! Could it be some macroalgae? Some of them look a lot like corals...

lol...

 

[jwoyshnar]

It is a sponge. Not sure if is the right name for that one but if you do a search in google for chicken liver sponge and look at the pics you will see similar photos

 

[flakey]

It is a sponge. Not sure if is the right name for that one but if you do a search in google for chicken liver sponge and look at the pics you will see similar photos

Thanks very much jwoyshnar, I did a search and found that it is something called Collospongia Auris". Reading up on it, some people are warning it could take over the tank but from what i have in my tank, it looks pretty easy to control and it does look quite nice so i will keep it !!

 

[jwoyshnar]

It is really nice, I have one but it's very tiny compared to yours

 

[SushiGirl]

Thanks very much jwoyshnar, I did a search and found that it is something called Collospongia Auris". Reading up on it, some people are warning it could take over the tank but from what i have in my tank, it looks pretty easy to control and it does look quite nice so i will keep it !!

Wow, that is so cool, glad you figured out what it was! It's a beautiful piece.

 

[jarederaj]

is it a purple plating sponge?

 

[flakey]

is it a purple plating sponge?

its a Collospongia Auris