Mystery Coral

DSinSoCal · 02/15/2018, 01:24 AM

Does anyone know what this is? It just started growing a couple months ago on the side of a frag plug (blue-polyp monti) that had been in my tank for about 7 months. I have no idea what it is or where it came from, but something has really kicked it into high gear over the past few weeks and it looks like it's starting to branch out. It literally seems to have grown from nothing.

pisanoal · 02/15/2018, 08:19 AM

Its a pocillopora. Fast growing, easy sps.

DSinSoCal · 02/15/2018, 10:46 AM

It's really odd that a coral can hide, dormant, for several months before it decides to start growing. I can only assume this was already attached, at a near microscopic level, and didn't start growing until 4 or 5 months after it was put into the tank.

I had a similar experience with some Palys. I separated a small colony that had started attaching to a rock and I guess it left some residue behind. About 3 months later I noticed a small brown patch on the rock, the size of a ballpoint pen... and 2 months after that the patch started growing a small polyp. I should have scraped it off when I first saw it but didn't have the heart. It's determination for life inspired me. lol

pisanoal · 02/15/2018, 02:02 PM

Some corals are better at survival mechanisms than others. Pocillipora is one of the best sps for it. They have been known to spread across tanks. I have a softball sized colony, that I moved from one side to the other. 3 months later, I noticed a new patch where it had been sitting. It was never attached there, just close to it. Its pretty cool to watch it grown from probably a single polyp.

outssider · 02/15/2018, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pisanoal

Some corals are better at survival mechanisms than others. Pocillipora is one of the best sps for it. They have been known to spread across tanks. I have a softball sized colony, that I moved from one side to the other. 3 months later, I noticed a new patch where it had been sitting. It was never attached there, just close to it. Its pretty cool to watch it grown from probably a single polyp.

be careful, over time you may start to see little spots all over your tank starting. it can be invasive.

pisanoal · 02/15/2018, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outssider

be careful, over time you may start to see little spots all over your tank starting. it can be invasive.

Yeah I know, my fiancee won't let me get rid of it. Maybe when the acros get bigger (fingers crossed)

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Daddi0 · 02/15/2018, 06:12 PM

I cannot get rid of it. It sprouts up all over my rock wall. Every month or so I cut them back, frag 'em, and give them away.
Cheers! Mark

DSinSoCal · 02/16/2018, 10:43 PM

Great info. Thanks everyone. Are Pocilloporas the ones who can eject their polyps when they're stressed in order to free-float and find a new home, or am I thinking of something different?

02/15/2018, 06:12 PM	#7
Daddi0 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Redwood City Posts: 1,354	I cannot get rid of it. It sprouts up all over my rock wall. Every month or so I cut them back, frag 'em, and give them away. Cheers! Mark __________________ 2x 65g displays with a 30g cryptic refugium and 30g sump - 55g reef 30g Bio-cube reef - I.M. 30g reef - 45g freshwater

02/15/2018, 08:19 AM	#2
pisanoal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 705	Its a pocillopora. Fast growing, easy sps.

02/15/2018, 10:46 AM	#3
DSinSoCal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 34	It's really odd that a coral can hide, dormant, for several months before it decides to start growing. I can only assume this was already attached, at a near microscopic level, and didn't start growing until 4 or 5 months after it was put into the tank. I had a similar experience with some Palys. I separated a small colony that had started attaching to a rock and I guess it left some residue behind. About 3 months later I noticed a small brown patch on the rock, the size of a ballpoint pen... and 2 months after that the patch started growing a small polyp. I should have scraped it off when I first saw it but didn't have the heart. It's determination for life inspired me. lol

02/15/2018, 02:02 PM	#4
pisanoal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 705	Some corals are better at survival mechanisms than others. Pocillipora is one of the best sps for it. They have been known to spread across tanks. I have a softball sized colony, that I moved from one side to the other. 3 months later, I noticed a new patch where it had been sitting. It was never attached there, just close to it. Its pretty cool to watch it grown from probably a single polyp.

02/16/2018, 10:43 PM	#8
DSinSoCal Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 34	Great info. Thanks everyone. Are Pocilloporas the ones who can eject their polyps when they're stressed in order to free-float and find a new home, or am I thinking of something different?