coral ID?

[robert_hollis]

I recently started my first SW tank. See viewtopic.php?f=6&t=20346 for the write-up.

So, one of my small pieces of LR seems to be growing a baby coral. I think it's a mushroom coral, but I know next to nothing about coral. Looking at pics online makes me want to say red mushroom coral, but it's so small, and well... Like I said... I's ignant! When I saw it, I moved the piece to the top of the LR so I could better watch it and see if it flourishes or dies. If anyone's a good enough expert to ID it for me, I'd love to know what all I need to do for it. It's about the size of a pencil eraser.





Thanks,

-Rob

[Mek0ng]

looks like a tiny mushroom, kinda hard to tell.

keep us updated.

[Pufferpunk]

A closer/larger clear pic would make ID easier.

[robert_hollis]

That's about as good as it's gonna get for the moment. Those were taken with the camera up against the glass, or right over the water. It's just that small. I'll try to borrow a better camera, but that may take while.

Thanks,

-Rob

[Pufferpunk]

Try getting a magnifying glass & pout it up to the lens to take the pic. Works great!

[robert_hollis]

hmmm... I never woulda thought of that... I've done it with a microscope before, in college. Sadly, I think the only magnifying glass I have is on my swiss army knife.

-Rob

[crazedpuffer]

looks like a small red mushroom. You'll probably see some more soon too.

Sorry to go off topic but is that picture in your avatar a picture of your chameleon on your finger or one you found on the internet?

[bauk]

No idea what the real name is in Englisch, but i think its an elefants ear.. Actinodiscus spec..

Soft coral that grow easely.

[robert_hollis]

The pic is from the internet. It was on a chameleon breeders website, and I liked it, so I stole it.

-Rob

[Sponge bob]

Shroom

[robert_hollis]

I went and looked at some red Mushroom corals at my favorite LFS today, and they looked just like it, except 100x bigger. I also noticed some tiny feather duster type tube worm is alive on the same piece of rock. I knew the tubes were on there, but hadn't thought any were alive. Looks like only one is, though.

Thanks for the input on the coral. I hope it survives, and grows. I'm starting to get ansy on putting small stuff (snails and hermit crabs) in there, but I'm also trying to wait til some of that dead rock starts to look alive. I dunno why, but right now I'm more interested in having a cleaning crew than I am in stocking the tank with any fish.

-Rob

[Jivenjune]

Cleaning crews are really fun to watch IMO.

[Mek0ng]

its a trade off, have crabs and shrimp or have the little dusters and such, as most hermits and shrimp will eat select micro fauna.

Get some astrea, cerith and a few turbo snails to start with.

[robert_hollis]

Yeah, I was totally interested in getting some shrimp, then I read about what all they'll eat, and was like 'Doh!' I dunno, if I'd be losing much if I had hermits and snails, cause I only see the one teeny tiny duster, and I don't even know if it's a type that can reproduce asexually... I'm holding back on buying anything, but patience isn't one of my virtues. I did go buy a new saltwater Master test kit, as the one I inherited with the tank was very old, and empty on some of the bottles...

-Rob

[robert_hollis]

so... Since I'm a total newbie on the whole saltwater thing... What do I need to add to my tank to keep the single coral and duster happy? I mean, I go by the store and look at the row of different bottles of additives and this sends me into a zombie-like trance from which I don't recover until I find myself back in my Jeep. Seriously, though. I'm confused... Since I don't have some huge reef tank, and just the two tiny life forms, I don't even know if there's any need for an additive.

-Rob