What is this?

[STLJam]

Anyone know what this is? My liverock has been in my tank for 30 days and it came up overnight.

 

[MoshJosh]

Some sort of soft coral/gorgonia. Where did the LR come from? Some of our resident experts can probably get pretty close to an exact species if we know where it came from.

 

[STLJam]

Some sort of soft coral/gorgonia. Where did the LR come from? Some of our resident experts can probably get pretty close to an exact species if we know where it came from.

Came from Tampa Bay Saltwater about a month ago.

 

[kevgib67]

Came from Tampa Bay Saltwater about a month ago.

You can contact TBS I’m sure you’ll get a quick response. They know about all the hitchhikers on the rock they sell.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Came from Tampa Bay Saltwater about a month ago.

If it's from Tampa Bay than it's probably a gorgonian, a kind of branching octocoral, though isn't invasive like xenia. From what I've seen they're the most dominant coral in shallow Florida reefs

 

[STLJam]

@LiverockRocks any idea?

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Look up Orange Tree Gorgonian to see if it matches.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Hiya,
Appears to be a thriving tan or purple candelabra gorgonian (Eunicea) possibly Plexaura flexuosa.
Great hitchhiker.