Help with ID of Brown Crust on live rock

dmsprague · 11/06/2016, 08:59 AM

Hello to all. This is my first post here so hopefully its in the right area. I have searched here and on the net and haven't found anything quite like it. I bought the live rock out of and established tank that the owner was getting ready to tear down and this is the only piece that has the crust on it. It appears to like the light as the white part was covered by another rock that I moved just before taking the photo. There are also some fine strands coming out of several holes that almost look like feather dusters but don't actually have a head. Just need help with an ID on this crust to determine if its good or bad. I did put it in my backup /emergency/frag tank not my DT and it hasn't seemed to bother anything. Thanks in advance.

dmsprague · 11/10/2016, 01:00 PM

Wow is this stuff so rare no one has seen it before? ;-)

nmotz · 11/10/2016, 01:07 PM

My vote is that it is either an encrusting species of Porites (coral) or a sponge of some kind.

AlSimmons · 11/10/2016, 01:16 PM

Blue Ridge coral?

Mark9 · 11/10/2016, 02:02 PM

Whatever it is, its not that attractive.
Looks horribly browned out and dying.
Maybe with good water conditions and adequate light you'll end up with a 1/2 decent encrusting coral.
Good luck.

GimpyFin · 11/10/2016, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmotz

My vote is that it is either an encrusting species of Porites (coral) or a sponge of some kind.

+1. Looks kinda like the Porites coral part of christmas tree worms to me.

dmsprague · 11/11/2016, 08:12 AM

Thanks. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. It's in my spare / emergency tank so I will let it go and see what becomes of it. I moved it uo closer to the lights (t5 ho 10k with actinic) but I am just getting into the hobby with mostly fish in my DT with just a handful of zoa frags and a couple small xenia so not equipped for anything demanding

11/10/2016, 01:07 PM	#3
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	My vote is that it is either an encrusting species of Porites (coral) or a sponge of some kind. __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

11/10/2016, 01:00 PM	#2
dmsprague Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 139	Wow is this stuff so rare no one has seen it before? ;-)

11/10/2016, 01:16 PM	#4
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	Blue Ridge coral?

11/10/2016, 02:02 PM	#5
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	Whatever it is, its not that attractive. Looks horribly browned out and dying. Maybe with good water conditions and adequate light you'll end up with a 1/2 decent encrusting coral. Good luck.

11/11/2016, 08:12 AM	#7
dmsprague Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 139	Thanks. I wasn't sure if it was good or bad. It's in my spare / emergency tank so I will let it go and see what becomes of it. I moved it uo closer to the lights (t5 ho 10k with actinic) but I am just getting into the hobby with mostly fish in my DT with just a handful of zoa frags and a couple small xenia so not equipped for anything demanding