i just noticed this thing growing on the live rock

Anybody have any ideas what this thing is? My best physical description would be that it looks similar to a rose. The color is purple(ish)/red. It does not look anything like any of the coralline in the tank, and it appears to have a funny shape to it. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
~Will

 

Its a type of macroalgae with what looks like red slime on it.

 

Do you ever see any "webbing" around it like a spiders web, especially after stirring the sandbed or scraping the glass? If so its a Vermitid snail.

They are considered to be beneficial for removing wastes from the water column, but their webs can cover corals, preventing polyp extension and thereby smothering the coral. I tried to leave them alone and they just got to be too many (both the worms and my coral habit ) so I removed them. The shells are very hard and you will need to use something like needlenosed pliers to crunch the shells.... if that's what they are.

Good luck

 

Hmmm.. I can't say that i have, it just seems to be getting larger and larger.

 

some form of macroalgae! I'd say it was Lithophyllum!

 

After looking at some pics, I believe that you are correct. I believe that I am pretty lucky to have it (it must've been a hitchhiker).

 

Yes, you are lucky as it is great to find and grow various species of macroalgae! These will help to control the less desireable forms of microalgae by competing with the same nutrients obtainable in your waterr column.