Exploding birdsnest

1fishkeeper · Sep 13, 2025

Well due to some medical issues I really haven’t been giving my tank the attention I should have. Well I was getting ready for a long over due water change and noticed I got houndeds of little 1/4” tall green birdsnests all over. On the rocks, glass, overflow, and I even noticed one on a snail. I guess something happened that caused a bailout or maybe a spawn in my tank. All of my other SPS are doing great other than one that RTNed about a week ago and I don’t know why. Other than no water change and skimmer not really working good back I dialed it way back for when I was in the hospital nothing else has changed. No I need to figure out of I wasn’t to start covering them with kale paste to kill them off or say screw it and turn my tank into a solid green birds nest tank. I know someone is going to ask and yes I tried to take pictures but I have a crapy phone and they are so small. Maybe I can get some in the next few days.

KrisReef · Sep 13, 2025

This is common for pocilliopora to fragment and spread in a reef. If you are struggling to keep up perhaps try and enjoy what is happening? I do this a lot lately as I also struggle to keep up anymore.

Dburr1014 · Sep 13, 2025

KrisReef said:
This is common for pocilliopora to fragment and spread in a reef. If you are struggling to keep up perhaps try and enjoy what is happening? I do this a lot lately as I also struggle to keep up anymore.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Pic would be nice but I don't think OP has a birdnest.

1fishkeeper · Sep 14, 2025

Here are some really really bad quality pictures taken with my phone that might be older than some of the people on here.

Once the snail moves that has on growing on it I will try to get a better picture of it but it cracks me up with it growing on it.

And I have tons more that I didn’t take pictures of.

Dburr1014 · Sep 14, 2025

1fishkeeper said:
Here are some really really bad quality pictures taken with my phone that might be older than some of the people on here.

Once the snail moves that has on growing on it I will try to get a better picture of it but it cracks me up with it growing on it.

And I have tons more that I didn’t take pictures of.

Metallic green Pocillopora
Spreads itself throughout the aquarium as you are describing. Many avoid this one species of green. The other colors are fine.

I have one and have been trying to kill it for a long time.
My latest attempt: an orange glove for 6 weeks. Didn't kill it but is bleached. Polyps still alive. Going to put the glove back on when I get home from vacation.

tigre44 · Oct 30, 2025

1fishkeeper said:
Well due to some medical issues I really haven’t been giving my tank the attention I should have. Well I was getting ready for a long over due water change and noticed I got houndeds of little 1/4” tall green birdsnests all over. On the rocks, glass, overflow, and I even noticed one on a snail. I guess something happened that caused a bailout or maybe a spawn in my tank. All of my other SPS are doing great other than one that RTNed about a week ago and I don’t know why. Other than no water change and skimmer not really working good back I dialed it way back for when I was in the hospital nothing else has changed. No I need to figure out of I wasn’t to start covering them with kale paste to kill them off or say screw it and turn my tank into a solid green birds nest tank. I know someone is going to ask and yes I tried to take pictures but I have a crapy phone and they are so small. Maybe I can get some in the next few days.

I would add suggest that you try to trade them to your lfs or give them away. I do both this hobby is expensive enough when we can help out fellow hobbyists I think we should.

bobnicaragua · Oct 31, 2025

Dburr1014 said:
Metallic green Pocillopora
Spreads itself throughout the aquarium as you are describing. Many avoid this one species of green. The other colors are fine.

I have one and have been trying to kill it for a long time.
My latest attempt: an orange glove for 6 weeks. Didn't kill it but is bleached. Polyps still alive. Going to put the glove back on when I get home from vacation.

I’ve been through this with a huge bubblegum digi that was outcompeting my acros. Break off all the branches. Turn off the flow and spray kalk paste over the coral. After a few rounds of kalk paste, epoxy over what’s left. Kalk takes time to kill, so it works best on flat surfaces.