A guide to growths on my rock? - newb

[atxchris1234]

I am trying to figure out if the growing things on my live rock are good or bad. They are almost like tiny little trees poking up from the purple areas, they're very small, but long enough to swoosh back and forth in the current.
You guys know im a total newb, so rather than yammering on in an attempt at describing something to which I know nothing about... I was hoping someone could provide me with a link to somehing which shows visually how to tell the difference between growths on live rock.

Thanks!!!!!

[erikharrison]

look up aptasia on google, or try glass anemone. Well, just look here... http://www.melevsreef.com/id/

[atxchris1234]

Nope, nothing on there looks like my growth.Thanks for th lead though. Thats a good website and has been commited to my bookmarks for later use.
Any other common growths out there? This one is purple, and just sprouted out in the past few days.

Almost like..... fur? Very short, half an inch in length.

[erikharrison]

http://maast.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40716

If it's not that, maybe you could post a picture?

[reeferRob]

It sounds to me like it could be GSP Green Star Polyps, which if it is then it is a fairly desireable coral.

Rob

[atxchris1234]

Its neither the GSP's or the other mentioned by erik.

Was hoping I wouldn't have to take pics, as my only camera is an iphone, with no real way of uploading (or zooming for that matter)..

The purple listed is a bit too purple.. These are more of a pinkish transparent purple.... whatever than means. almost like little bitty palm trees.... only the "palms" point up, not out. To think about it... the coloration of the rock from which they've sprung is purple, but the little guys themselves are more of a pinkish hue.

My emorald crabs could care less about them. (if that helps)

[erikharrison]

xenia? Take a pic and email it to me.

[atxchris1234]

AHA!
Now we're getting somewhere.....
http://www.aquariumarts.com/xenia.html

Its similar to this, only it does not have a large stock at the bottom, it does however look like about 50 smaller versions of this, and the color is much more pink than this greyish brown shown here.

[erikharrison]

xenia is pretty pink, can't get much more pink than xenia.

[atxchris1234]

I assume this just simply came with my live rock, and after the initial indroduction to my system has began to grow up a bit. It was initially just a small purple coloration all over the top of one of the rocks, but in time it has seemed to "sprout" into these little things.

Water Current: Xenia require at least moderate water flow. They are one of the few corals that seem content to be right against the strong output of a powerhead.

This describes that particular rocks placement. the current is shooting directly onto it, yet it still seems to flourish.

Just making sure it wasn't going to cause a problem.

[MissT]

could also be "clove" polyps.
Chris, next time you swing by RCA, look in the BioCube that's in the back tank room. There's a piece of tonga branch in there at the top with some cloves on it...