Lilfishie, I don't think I am describing it well. It is as if it is part of the rock. If it were not slimy I would think it was some kind of algae. The googled pics of echinophilia appear to be separate entities from the rock... though attached to the rock. This thing is like a part of the rock. If it looks sunken in, that's because that's what shape the rock is. It has uniform thickness all over, but is completely attached to the rock. There is no part of it that is not attached. It is exactly as it was the day I got it a few weeks ago. So far, the only thing that makes any sense to me is a sponge. Never saw one that covered such a large area before, but this came out of a 220 gallon tank that had been established for many years. The rock is real thin... almost like a shell.lilfishie said:Well, it doesn't look as closely to what has been suggested because it is sunken in and not real healthy at the moment. It looks like it can be saved. Given some time and good water parameters and feedings, it is going to change a lot and be better recognizable. I would bet it is an echinophilia. If it comes around and colors up for you, you might have a very expensive coral.
If it is an echinophilia, you will want to set it closer to the bottom a little further from the light. They tend to bleach out when set too close to the light.
"Slimy" may not have been a good adjective. It doesn't leave any slime residue on my fingers if I touch it... just feels slippery... kinda like a pealed peach, but not soft. So, at this point, I am going with the echinophyllia idea. If I care for it as echinophyllia, and it turns out to be that, then I win! If it is just a rock undergrowth and I kill it with the wrong treatment, I guess I haven't lost much. So far, I have not lost any corals (knock on wood!). I would like to maintain that record.unconv-reefer said:I just read both site, I have the same type of growth, wish I could tell you the name but it grows under rocks, more like a type of sponge, when I exposed a piece to light for a long period it disappeared.
I would get a picture but it's not in an area you can see since I rearranged.
If you hadn't said it was slimy I may have agrees with the other but............good luck on whatever you decide to do
By the way I have a echinophillia, it's not slimey even out of the water