Mystery hitchhiker

[Resendes Reef]

Good morning. I am new here. Have a new led bio cube. Going on week four now. Tried searching to see what this could be, but coming up empty. It's about 1/2" tall and swaying in the current. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Tahoe61]

Could be remnants of a soft coral that is attempting to make a come back, or sponge, could even be a faded macro algae.
Most likely harmless, you'll just have to see if the unknown colors up or show some distinct structures.
Did you start with live rock?

Welcome to Reef2Reef .

 

[Resendes Reef]

Thanks.

Yes I started with live rock. Just put a clean up crew in Thursday.

 

[Tahoe61]

If I had to guess I would say a sponge type which is harmless.

 

[Resendes Reef]

If I had to guess I would say a sponge type which is harmless.

I hope so.
I also have some glass anemone too.
They're already spreading. Have one peppermint shrimp in but haven't seen him since he went in and doesn't look like he's eating any of them. May need to get another shrimp in there

 

[Tahoe61]

Here are some helpful ID links.

http://www.lionfishlair.com/hitchhikers-guide/
http://www.melevsreef.com/node/141

 

[Reefapprentice]

Looks like a soft coral, maybe a xenia or clove polyps assuming it doesnt have a base hidden by the rock.

 

[Nibejeebies]

I hope so.
I also have some glass anemone too.
They're already spreading. Have one peppermint shrimp in but haven't seen him since he went in and doesn't look like he's eating any of them. May need to get another shrimp in there

Make sure it's an Atlantic peppermint. The ones from the pacific don't seem to go after them well

 

[erinmegan85]

Kind of looks like Xenia to me. They're a pretty hardy coral, so it would surprise me if they stuck around through a cycle and what not.