ANTHELIA coral colony for $30 good deal?

Hey guys I purchased a live rock that is about 6-8 inches long with about 30-50 individual heads. Total price $30 of off craigslist.

Good deal?

 

:-/

IMO, it is a terrible deal.

I have a small overflow box free hanging in my tank. I have some anthelia on that (so it can't spread to anything else).

the cup is about 6 inches tall and maybe 3 inches wide per side. About every other month I cut all but a row about 1/2" wide from the bottom (i.e. about 75% of the anthelia is removed).

this gets thrown down the garbage disposal. it grows insanely fast and will overtake a tank in no time.

IME, I would make sure the rock it is on is not touching any other rock or glass as the anthelia will go out of control.

 

+1 You couldn't pay me to take them

 

Anthelia is a weed.

 

Sorry, but you can usually get it for free from other local reefers. You live and learn.

 

Damn guys this sucks. Should I place the rock in the sand so it does not spread ?

 

yes... or throw the rock away :-/ it is pretty insidious.

 

thats a good idea montecarloz but IME it wont stop it spreading

I had a colony that A stretched and seemed to deposit parts of itself on rock it could touch
I had a small colony appear remotely from main colony possibly due to actions of CUC dragging bits of it about after breaking them

this coral seems extremely well designed in terms of survival and ability to extend its territory

its a nice looking coral and IMO worth trying what you suggested, just be prepared you may need to manage it some time in the future

Steve

 

It's pretty IMO if controlled. I would keep it on the sandbed or put it somewhere you won't mind it taking over. It really is invasive. It can even take over other corals.

 

For the size of the rock it's on, it's a great deal IMO. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all, so as long as you are happy with it, then you shouldn't feel bad at all. They are great looking weeds