rock overgrown

[dgpilot]

Hey guys, the LR in the center of the tank is nearly overgrown with plants and hard corals. I have no idea what they're called, but the green plant needs cutting every weekend as it grows branches that extend to other rocks at an alarming rate.

So basically I need an ID for the green plant, the purple coral and the last pic that is a cup shaped growth.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Magma]

green kinda looks like HALIMEDA or the start of GRAPE CAULERPA
Xtalreef

 

[mr_X]

you have some Caulerpa mexicana, Caulerpa peltata, or Caulerpa taxifolia, and i believe the cup shaped growth (if it feels hard to the touch) is a form of coralline algae- Mesophyllum mesomorphum.what does that purple looking stuff feel like? is this rock originally from florida?

 

[Jaybird]

The cup-shaped growth kind of reminds me of lobophora, but it usually doesn't turn up so much.

 

[dgpilot]

It feels like plastic when touching. The branches also really feel like plastic. There is so much growing that I took some out and let my wife touch it, she thought it was fake, plastic coral.

Not sure where the rock is from though, I know for sure it's not Fiji

 

[mr_X]

it's just that i've seen the most diversity on florida live rock (hitch hikers i mean). that purple macro that seems hard on the left pic. i'd like some of that if you still have it in the spring. also the red cup-shaped stuff too. where are you located?

 

[Jaybird]

I've never seen anything like that purple macro. The small green ones to the left of it look like mermaid cups

 

[dgpilot]

I'm in Northern California.
So thats pretty interesting. Thanks very much for the info guys! When spring time comes along just send me a PM and I'm sure it wont be a problem.