Got coral unexpectedly!

[Shatodavis]

So I purchased a couple pieces of live rock from LFS. After. Couple of days in my tank I noticed a green star polyp, small xenia, and a couple small zoanthids. Wasn't really ready for corals as tank is very new. Was planning on running a few months without lights to avoid ugly algae as tank matures. Now I have corals and feel.like I need to turn on lights.

Thoughts?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Turn on the lights and get through the maturing stages. You were going to have sooner or later, lights or no lights. Algae blooms and bacteria blooms will pass.

 

[Philly Reefer]

Well.. if I were you, I would kill both GSP and Xenia. (Kalk paste over them)
The zoa... do you know what kind? If you are lucky, it might be an expensive one. If it's a regular one, leave it and keep your light off. Maybe it will survive.
But if it's an expensive one. how do you keep it alive...

 

[ScubaFish802]

I also personally would remove or kill the GSP and Xenia. Some people like to let them take everything over though, so it depends what you want in the long run I guess

 

[Shatodavis]

Well.. if I were you, I would kill both GSP and Xenia. (Kalk paste over them)
The zoa... do you know what kind? If you are lucky, it might be an expensive one. If it's a regular one, leave it and keep your light off. Maybe it will survive.
But if it's an expesive one. how do you keep it alive...

Wife likes the gsp so it stays.. happy wife

 

[Shatodavis]

Pics

 

[Philly Reefer]

Wife likes the gsp so it stays.. happy wife

I would separate that rock from the rest then. Cause it can takeover all your rocks.
Btw, you can probably keep the lights off still. GSP is too resilient to kill. LoL

Do you know what kind of zoa do you have?

 

[Shatodavis]

Pic

 

[Philly Reefer]

Wow.. that's lot's GSP already. LoL
Looks like a paly instead of zoa.
Can you describe the color? Looks all purple to me.

 

[Shatodavis]

Wow.. that's lot's GSP already. LoL
Looks like a paly instead of zoa.
Can you describe the color? Looks all purple to me.

In lfs gsp was just purple didn't have the green tentacles. I thought it was really thick coraline (I'm new).

Zoa/ paly is green in center purple at edges. Xenia is reddish.

Crazy thing is I bought this because it was a cool flat rock with quite. Bit of purple. $5.99 per lb. I have a feeling the salesman wasn't supposed to sell it.

 

[Nick Steele]

If you plan on using the rock that has gsp on it as a main rock work instead of an island I would try and remove it and place it on a smaller rock you can use as an island.

 

[Philly Reefer]

In lfs gsp was just purple didn't have the green tentacles. I thought it was really thick coraline (I'm new).

Zoa/ paly is green in center purple at edges. Xenia is reddish.

Crazy thing is I bought this because it was a cool flat rock with quite. Bit of purple. $5.99 per lb. I have a feeling the salesman wasn't supposed to sell it.

LoL ty.. I should say describe the paly/zoa only.

Hm.. it's harder to look.... Maybe if you can get better color photos.

 

[ScubaFish802]

Can you post a clearer/close up of the xenia? Something about the first pic almost struck me as Aptaisia but it was hard to make out

 

[Udest]

Well lucky find anyway good way to start a softie dominated system.

 

[Shatodavis]

Vid

 

[Philly Reefer]

Xenia can jump over rocks and easily takeover the tank.
GSP is easier to control. They don't jump over to other rocks.. as long its not connected

 

[Philly Reefer]

Vid

Try it with white lights or orange filter if you have one. Or if your phone cam have a pro version, change the white balance(WB) as high it can go. (10k)
The blue light washed over the color on the video clip/pictures

 

[DeniseAndy]

Very nice rock!
The gsp is fine. I actually like gsp in the right placement. The other is hard to tell if it is xenia or a baby kenyan tree. Either way, if you want softies, those are easy ones and nice flow to them too. Just keep under control.

The palys I would be concerned about. They look like the green/brown pest type. They do contain the toxin (if they are the ones I am thinking). I had them and they are impossible to kill and will take over.

Not trying to scare you. Just may want to take the rock out and cut away the part with the palys. Wear full cover on eyes and hands and face if you can. Or use a syringe to douse the palys with either vinegar, h2o2, boiling water. Just be careful!

 

[Shatodavis]

Try it with white lights or orange filter if you have one. Or if your phone cam have a pro version, change the white balance(WB) as high it can go. (10k)
The blue light washed over the color on the video clip/pictures

Sorry best I can do.

Green in the center. Purple edge and tentacles

 

[DeniseAndy]

The palys to most concern are more pale to brown under full white spectrum. Green under more blue spectrum. I will try to find pics of mine, but not sure I have any. Good luck with the corals. Those are hardy and should do fine.