something growing on my rock...algae? caluerpa? aliens?

[Hookemhorns_98]

anyone Id this? good or eeeevil?

Gracias!

 

[steve-s]

In the second pic (stuffonrock2.jpg), the circled area in the foreground looks much like a foraminiferan but the one at the back is rather unclear. It moreso resembles a coral or tunicate but I cannot tell which.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Hookemhorns_98]

they're both the same stuff, but the light makes them look a little different. The pics are fuzzy, but i'll take a few more and hopefully it'll help.

thanks

 

[steve-s]

Pretty sure they are forams of some type...

Cheers
Steve

 

[hotskate]

they are good right?

 

[steve-s]

Most are harmless although there are a few that can cause problems. Those in the pics above do not look like will be an issue. Have a read....

Foraminiferans by Ronald L. Shimek, Ph. D.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Hookemhorns_98]

hmmm...seems that the forams are perhaps a little small. The piece of "stuff" in the picture is about 2 inches wide and 1 to .5 inches tall. They are growing extremely fast. That you see is maybe 1 month of growth. There is actually a small piece growing on my bird's nest coral. It feels very rubbery, and is difficult to pull off the rock.

 

[hotskate]

huh

 

[steve-s]

Without better (focused) pics it's hard to be sure. The pinkish ones in the forefront of the pictures do seem to be forams but as I said I am unsure of the one near the back. It does not look similar to a foram.

As to thier size, I have several forams in my tank that are quite large. They are not always small especially if there are no natural predators.

Cheers
Steve