Unknown SPS hitchhikers

[bethzb]

1 year ago I purchase a small piece of birdsnest coral to see how well sps would do inmy precominantly lps system. There were some small polyps attached to the same piece of rock the birds nest was on. Now, they are obviously some type of sps but I do not know what they are for sure. Any ideas what they might be (lower left and lower right).

 

[dnov99]

The SPS looks like pocillopora, it can grow very fast and take over your rock, so I would keep an eye on it. You also have some small aiptasia underneath them. It would be best to get rid of them.

 

[bethzb]

I know about the aiptasia. Been trying chemical removers for years with no success. New battle begins today with the very risky addition of a Racoon Butterfly. I'm hoping with a 125 gallon system with many large lps that the coral nipping will be spread out enough that no individual coral gets it too bad.

 

[Mattl22]

Looks like a pink and green poccilopora they grow fast I like them got them popping up all over my tank lol if u find it getting too big or popping up just frag it!

 

[Turbovr3six]

My buddy has a 120 with solar tubes and his green poccilopora spawned, and started growing on everything(loc-line included). I say unless you REALLY like it, take it out to avoid futher spreading. Just my .02.

 

[greybolt03]

I had a really bad outbreak of aptasia in my tank a few years ago and 5 pepermint shrimp took care of it in about 3 weeks haven't seen one since...

+1 on the poccilopora

You might want to consider a harlequin shrimp to get rid of all the astria stars too....

 

[bethzb]

Thanks for the ID. Looked at a bunch of images on google and it definitely appears to be pocillapora. As for the use of peppermint shrimp to remove aiptasia; I considered the shrimp but came to the conclusion that my bicolor psuedochromis (dottyback) would probably eat the shrimp before they could eat the aiptasia.