purple fuzzy stuff I.D. help

[willray]

I first noticed a small patch about a month ago.It's encrusting.

 

[dz6t]

gorgonian

 

[ReeferMedic]

Probably a Gorgonian. You might want to move that rock away from your main structure. It will continue to encrust on anything that is touching it....

 

[willray]

Cool, the color is much deeper than the pic.

 

[willray]

closed

This is what it's like closed.Still think it a gorgonian?

 

[ReeferMedic]

This is what it's like closed.Still think it a gorgonian?

Yep........

 

[dz6t]

Yes, it is

 

[frank180reef]

It will spread everywhere

 

[Troubleman]

Looks like my bed of green star polyps, yours aren't as green tho.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I would break that part off if you can and put it in a place surrounded by sand..........

 

[willray]

I already moved it. thanks.
Can it spread w/o contact to another surface.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I already moved it. thanks.
Can it spread w/o contact to another surface.

I'm not sure about that one........

 

[Triax]

I have some yellow stuff that looks just like that - is it a nuisance thing should it be removed or just isolated ?

 

[Moe_K]

Looks like my bed of green star polyps, yours aren't as green tho.

Check into your green star polyps.
I believe what you have is the green polped variety of an encrusting gorgonian.
Check out The Reef Aquarium and Borneman's Aquarium Corals.
I think one of the species is Pachyclavularia, and the other is something like Brairia.
The true GSPs have a dark purple mat.

 

[Troubleman]

Yes the mat of mine is purple, didn't know how true color was in photo, his is a quite a pale purple. Also, I did know gsp and encrusting gorgonian were so similar except for the color.

bob

 

[willray]

I didn't look at the pic of it closed b4 I posted.Not a good one at all.My bad.Not only out of focus a lot but coloring is way off.It is a rich deep purple when closed.And I just noticed in the 1st pic it's resting on a flower.... shroom or anemone?

 

[Moe_K]

I checked out the difference in GSPs versus Gorgonians...
Pachyclavularia are true GSPs.
Briareum is the encrusting Gorgonian that resembles the GSPs.

 

[Ifferfish]

I would agree with Moe. I have what looks to be the same thing as in your photo, but your look light deprived. Mine have a very dark purple mate and very green polyps. JMHO

 

[Greg Hiller]

Looks to me like an encrusting gorgonian. That particular one I've found to grow under VERY low light, and be particularly toxic to anything it comes very close to. I don't think it's likely to branch at all, but just remain a mat. Don't let it onto your main rock structure.

 

[~Flighty~]

Yup, not the same as GSP. I have both on the same rock and the GSP seems to win the toxic chemocal turf battle most of the time, but that could be due to the GSP being on top and getting more light.