Uh... what is that?

[Gobi-Wan]

I went through a real rough patch that killed a lot of my corals. Super low nutrients, unsure of lighting setting after tank upgrade... etc. Now my rainbows in Spain, which somehow clung to life, is starting to get colors again and now... this thing??? At first I thought it was an asterina star rating algae off the dead sections but now it’s too fat. What is it and is it munching on my acro?

 

[CMMorgan]

 

[Gobi-Wan]

here i took one with a real camera.... still kinda looks like a starfish to me but i've never seen an asterina near this fat

 

[alpha199]

Starfish

 

[Gobi-Wan]

Starfish

Just an enormous asterina? Will it eat my acro? I have had a ton of asterina for a long time and never noticed any coral munchinf

 

[Alexopora]

Just an enormous asterina? Will it eat my acro? I have had a ton of asterina for a long time and never noticed any coral munchinf

I have heard of some asterinas that may prey on coral tissue. It also could be that asterina is just munching on some algae that have settled on the dead parts of the acro.

 

[Gobi-Wan]

I have heard of some asterinas that may prey on coral tissue. It also could be that asterina is just munching on some algae that have settled on the dead parts of the acro.

Ok, thank you. There are plenty of dead parts with algae. Hopefully that is it, I’ll keep an eye on it for now