Can anyone I.D. this coral plz?

[Flow863]

Bought it at my LFS and cnt seem to identify it
:/

 

[Flreefer]

Need to post a pic!

 

[Sniperhank]

Saltwater Aquarium Corals for Marine Reef Aquariums: Waving Hand - Blue

 

[mr_X]

Anthelia. A close relative to Xenia.

 

[Flow863]

Thanx alot guys
Was searching all over and couldnt figure it out
=)

 

[Gregcoyote]

It's a type of octocoral (8 arms) and it grows like weeds in my system. I have two different brown varieties. The blue colored octocorals are much more difficult. It seems to be pretty tolerant of my other corals, but fights with my mushrooms for space. I have to remove big clumps of it occasionally or it would dominate the reef. I really like it because it adds movement to the tank and the clowns love to host it. I can't stand anemones (personal preference), so this is a good replacement for them.

 

[Gregcoyote]

Old picture, the colony is twice this size now.

 

[Flow863]

Mine is barely big enough to cover a frag plug
lol
what would u say is the growth rate?

 

[Gregcoyote]

Mine is barely big enough to cover a frag plug
lol
what would u say is the growth rate?

It is like a nuclear chain reaction...once it goes...it's gone. I fight it constantly as it grows on everything near it. I would guess it adds 5-10 polyps per day. I let it cover little sacrificial rocks then pull it out. But this is the brown varieties...I have no experience trying to raise the blue variety.

 

[ccCapt]

That's 1 way to describe it (I work at a nuclear power plant) and I have anthelia in my tank too. It is a nice coral but if not controlled it can take over the tank real fast.

 

[scottayy]

Would you say the anthelia grows well in sand? That's where mine is placed and I noticed initial growth but it is stalled and often I can see the flow kicking up the "mat" of sand at the bottom.

 

[Gregcoyote]

If it likes the flow, it will grow almost anywhere. Flow, as it turns out, is as important as lighting is to a corals propagation.

 

[Gregcoyote]

That's 1 way to describe it (I work at a nuclear power plant) and I have anthelia in my tank too. It is a nice coral but if not controlled it can take over the tank real fast.

I worked for a year at one myself...I enjoyed the experience.