Please Help ID

[pjcvsi]

I appreciate any help on this one as I recently resetup my 100 gal tank after having it dry in my basement for 10 years! I purchased around 110 lbs of live rock from 2 local LFS. One store had "gulf rock" that I bought and included a single live rock about 14" long covered in something I cannot id, but was too cool to let go.

Please help me ID this. Thx in advance!

 

[pjcvsi]

Let me know if you need a better picture!

 

[n8ureman]

From what I can see it looks to be a Hydnophora sp. ( a.k.a Horn coral) as to the exact species it will be hard to tell as the branch structure seems poorly developed in the pic. FWIW be careful as to placement as these guys have a reputation for being somewhat aggressive.
Hope this helps.

 

[pjcvsi]

Thanks for the feedback. I actually have it on it's own side of the tank, but it is about 4" from a whip Gorgonia. Please let me know if you think I should move it further away.

 

[n8ureman]

I would watch it very carefully. Even that distance might not be far enough!! To illustrate how aggressive they are here is a pic I got from another site, it shows a Hydnophora attacking a Kenya Tree coral!

I want to reiterate these are not my pics...the string-like filaments are sweeper tentacles the coral uses to attack it's neighbors to gain more real-estate for itself. ( I've heard the range of the tentacles to be 5+ inches depending on water flow!!)

 

[pjcvsi]

Thank you. I will make sure it is separated.