Coral ID please

[farlsincharge]

Can anyone ID the two polyp looking soft corals under my zoas. I'm having a hard time with these and would love to relocate them off the rock. With out knowing what they are I dont want to make a foolish mistake and give a toxic dose to my tank.

Thanks for the help.

 

[justjosh]

I think they kinda look like plate corals.

 

[farlsincharge]

makes sense they do seem to have a stem that attaches them to the rock which is a old dust worm colony and makes it difficult to remove them.

any more suggestions out there or how I can remove them for better placement?

Thanks justjosh.

 

[cmof29]

I agree with plate corals. They do best near or on the sand.

 

[farlsincharge]

Here is a bottom view of their stem like attachment to the rock. I did slip and felt the top of one and he did have that cone like skeleton that plate/fungia have. My next question would be how do I remove them? it seems like the zoa's are impeding their growth.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I would use heavy cutters to trim the zoas away.

Do it outside the main aquarium. Avoid palytoxins!

 

[farlsincharge]

Thanks for the heads up! I'm trying to decide if I should keep the plates on the rock or remove them and place them in the substrate any suggestions?

 

[farlsincharge]

quick update!

quick update!

I found this on a Google search, once again thank you for all the help. P.S. after review of this copied text I will leave them attached to the rock lol.

"Plate coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Fungia repanda
Family:Fungiidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: Nearly any color

Needs:

Water current: low to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: yes to thrive
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: medium to high
Care level: easy

Likes meaty foods: yes
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Fungia repanda begins life attached to a rock, often in small colonies and then detaches itself with maturity. A very hardy coral for the aquarium the variety of colors is sure to please anyone."

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

definitely a Fungiid but I would question ID to species at this point. Note husbandry discrepencies submitted by Russellaqua. This type of coral DOES NOT require iodine supplements. It DOES NOT require any type of plankton.
They WILL detach from the rock if left alone on it and, (personally), this is what I'd choose to do.

Make sure to check out the URS Forum on RC

 

[farlsincharge]

To be honest I just google small Fungia a saw one one these guys that had similiar characteristics and just cut and pasted it. Glad I did the extra research instead of removing them.. phew! For the mean time I will just "baby" them and to some mysis spot feeding.

I have been browsing the URS Forum but I'm still kinda new to the whole Forum thing so I'm trying to see if there is any way I can tag myself or create a sort of external link that way I can easily find it.

Once again thanks for all the help and maybe I will get the chance to meet some of you URS' at the next meeting at ABC!

~Jason.