What is this?

I thought it was some type of algea that was growing but now it has what look like xenia fingers. It hiked in on my cup coral.

 

that kinda looks like aipstasia?

 

+1 Aiptasia

 

ditto, it's hard to be certain. it does kinda look like baby aiptasia

 

jeez, these kids are fast...

 

+1 Aiptasia
It does look almost definitely like aiptasia.

 

I'm not sure if it is. I have a copperband butterfly fish who should eat it right? This just really took of in the tank over the last week. I first noticed what looked like a brown algea growing then the fingers came in. If it is aptasia I guess joes juice wont work for this large of a take over. Any ideas.

 

That is aptasia, but it also seems to have roots going between all of them. Does anyone else see that?

 

It honestly look more to me like a form of clavularia (clove polyps) since it looks like it has a matting/root system.





In fact, MissionSix did a great COTM article on them. Look at the bottom of his post and you'll see a pic of the root system:

http://www.3reef.com/forums/610931-post1.html

 

well I took emergency evasive action to the spot! I took out the coral and scrubbed of the bad stuff. Then I took a rag and wiped off the wall of the tank it was growing on. I know that messing with aptasia can make it spead but I guess we will see. Thanks for the responses.