I purchased this as a clove from a local store but recently I am unsure. Over the past week I have two growths show up that look similar to the clove but they are located on completely different rocks in the tank. From reading I was not aware that cloves spread by releasing “floaters”.
The feathery tentacles of clove polyps make them popular soft coral additions to reef tanks. But read on to get all the details of their care.
www.saltwateraquariumblog.com
Clove Polyp Reproduction and Fragging
Courtesy of the web-like structure of the stolon, clove polyps can spread over – almost anything. New polyps bud and settle on a nearby structure. (And that’s why you want to avoid gravel or rubble near your rockwork) The edges of the colony’s mat are the most popular places for budding to occur.
Other species produce planula larvae along the surface of the colony. The planulae then drift with the current to settle and metamorphose. As they build up a calyx and stolon, a new colony results.
Thanks for the link. I had been searching but had not found that article.
this coral has been quite a eye opener for me. If you look in the middle of the picture under white light there appear to be a different type of coral attached to it. Now this. Always learning.
It’s hard to tell what the middle thing is, but if I were to guess, I would say it s a type of hydroid. I recommend getting rid of that because they can spread quickly and be a nuisance.