What is this skeleton or nightmare fuel?

[Grimmj]

I just noticed this on my rock work. The rock has been in the tank for about 6 years. I did rearrange about 3 months ago though. Looks like a coral skeleton to me. The odd thing is I've never had a coral in that area.

 

[Steven Garland]

Skeleton of an old lps coral.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just noticed this on my rock work. The rock has been in the tank for about 6 years. I did rearrange about 3 months ago though. Looks like a coral skeleton to me. The odd thing is I've never had a coral in that area.

Old shell of a hammer coral

 

[Grimmj]

Old shell of a hammer coral

Could it have come that way out of the ocean? I had bought this a dry rock in 2014 when I first started reef keeping.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Could it have come that way out of the ocean? I had bought this a dry rock in 2014 when I first started reef keeping.

Possible but generally happens when the hammer has a polyp bailout and leaves the crater empty

 

[Grimmj]

Possible but generally happens when the hammer has a polyp bailout and leaves the crater empty

I haven't had a hammer in my tank. Pretty wild that this came to me like this

 

[Steven Garland]

Its nowhere near rare,honestly.