Coral ID - In need of help

[ckmullin]

Soooo on a piece liverock I found at least 5 of these little guys. Aprox 6mm in length and starting to branch out. The overall color is a deep purple and the tips are all white. On my own search using uncle Google I came across the Lace Stick Coral which suits pretty well.



as to




Also curious about the little red guy in the center of my picture since they are all over a couple rocks but maybe that's another post! lol

thx for the help

[Nano]

Looks more like branching coraline algae to me
Reason being is the absence of polyps on it
Also branching coraline is not uncommon as compared to sps hitch hiking. But stranger things have happened

[ckmullin]

never even knew coraline could branch! heh

From what you know is this a typical image for branching coraline? (as in the segmented stocks) As whatever I have grows I'll pay attention to see if it segments.


pic from wiki

[Nano]

Wow lol never seen it go that crazy before! But I wouldn't doubt it. As said it could be lace but more likely coraline. It also comes in plating forms too like montipora capricornis but not as extreme

[kien]

It is really hard to tell with such a small specimen but I would vote for lace/fire coral. Used to have some of that myself and the tips looked just like that. Your orange/red growth looks like a sponge to me.

[NIVLEM09]

does look like a sponge but that branching coralline is really something...

[ckmullin]

/me bangs head on keyboard....saying why oh why must SW critters be so varied! LOL

[albert_dao]

Pink dude is a foraminiferan.

Edit: Article
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/rs/index.php

[ckmullin]

Here is a closeup of the closeup!