What is this?

[nadking]

We got a new shipment of live rock in and I took this piece home. I have no clue what this is or what kind of care it requires, somebody help me out.

 

[returnofsid]

Not quite sure what you're asking about. I see Halimeda algae. It's a calcerous algae that sucks up a lot of calcium. Nice to look at and not too aggressive. Just be aware that it does suck up calcium.

 

[nadking]

Im talking about the bright red cup thing that everything is growing on and in

 

[jgonzz]

sponge, is my guess.

must be from D&G. Florida aquculture

 

[nadking]

You got it. I just touched it and it felt pretty hard, so Im not really sure what it could be. The way it was growing appears like light is not something it cares about as the red part is all under the ridge.

 

[gh0st]

I saw this peice before he took it home.

It's not a sponge, it's texture is similar to a encrusting Montipora, but can't be a monti on Florida rock... and bright vivid red...

 

[returnofsid]

Are you sure it's not just a colorful coraline algae?

 

[nadking]

its not coraline if you look at what is this picture 1 you can see some coraline right next to it. The textures are completely different.

 

[nadking]

It isnt coraline if you look at what is this picture 2 you can see some coraline growing right next to it. They are very different textures.

 

[keith1ocean]

What you have is a bryozoan colony. Fairly certain it's Celleporaria magnifica, found throughout the Gulf of Mexico in hard bottom habitat.

 

[nadking]

Nice ID Ketih, now are these bryozoans something I should have in my tank? When I research them it is all very scientific, I can't find much info on them being kept in captivity. Do you have any suggestions on food, light, water flow, any other things I should know? Thanks

 

[keith1ocean]

I knew that question would be coming next. Not being an Ectoproct or Bryozoan biologist, take anything I say "with a grain or two of salt." They typically live from estuaries out to open ocean and most commonly feed on phytoplankton (and possibly many other kinds of food particles small enough to fit in their mouth, size being the main concern.) So they may survive for awhile in your aquarium but I wouldn't expect they would be a permanent or longterm inhabitant. I would think moderate water flow such that they don't get buried in silt. Light shouldn't be important as they're azooxanthellate. Shouldn't harm any other inhabitants. Other than that enjoy them while they're still around.

 

[nadking]

Looks like I need to load up on marine snow and cyclopeze. Thanks for the help