Feather duster issue?

[SmilingTurtle]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the hobby, and I finally got my very first coral! I decided to start with a simple Zoanthid because I read that they're a good beginner coral.
Maybe I'm just overreacting because I'm new and inexperienced, but could someone please tell me if what I'm seeing is normal or if I should be worried?

The first numbered photo was taken on the day I bought it and placed it in my aquarium. The second and third numbered photos were taken on the second day. At first, I didn't notice anything unusual. I assumed it was just adjusting to the new environment, so I wasn't concerned that the polyps were opening and closing throughout the day.
Now it's been about five days since I added it to my tank, and it started looking less healthy. The polyps stay retracted for longer periods and seem much more shrunken than before. I spent some time watching it closely and noticed that the frag is covered with lots of tiny tube-like worms (at least that's what I think they are). When I blow on them gently with a pipette, they immediately retract into their tubes.

My question is: is this considered a lot of them? I honestly didn't notice them when I bought the frag, and I wasn't specifically looking for them either. Are they a problem? Will most of them eventually die off on their own, leaving only a few that I can remove manually, or is there a more effective dip or treatment for them?

Speaking of dipping, I already dipped the coral according to the instructions using Fauna Marin The Dip before adding it to the tank.

While searching online, I found suggestions to cut the colony off the frag plug. The problem is that I think I can also see these tiny tube-like worms on the base of the colony itself, not just on the plug. In addition, many of the zoa heads have already grown onto the frag plug, so cutting it off would probably mean sacrificing quite a few polyps.

I'd really appreciate any advice on how to deal with this while giving the zoanthid the best possible chance of survival.
For some background, my aquarium has been maturing since February. It has contained water and rock since then, I've been dosing bottled bacteria, and I've been doing weekly water changes.

Current water parameters:

• Salinity: 1.025
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0.01 ppm
• Nitrate: 8 ppm
• Phosphate: 0.0 ppm
• Alkalinity: 6.8 dKH
• pH: 7.8 (I know this isn't ideal. I recently installed a CO₂ scrubber on my protein skimmer, so I'm hoping it will improve.)

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[rayadog]

They look like a different type of coral to me. The polyps, if they are coral, are quite small yet so it’s hard to tell what exactly. But they could be anything from clove polyps/Clavularia, possibly even Sarcothelia, to Pachyclavularia (green star polyps), or Anthelia.

All would be guesses as it’s really hard to tell since they are so small and second hand viewing via image.

So take every recommendation with salt because not everyone has the same desired outcomes. But this could be a coral that will grow off the plug with the zoas and not bother them… it could also be equally or more likely the grow off and throughout the plug and the zoas might get a bit peeved; possibly out competed.

It might be safe to try to pry the main piece of rubble that the zoas were attached to when they were glue to the plug and you might be able to get all or most of the zoa heads with it. You could then save that plug and see what comes of it or pitch it. It’s really hard to tell you specifically what to do as you have 1 (well 2 corals now) and you might like what the other grows in to. Some people don’t mind fast growing/outcompeting corals (if that’s even what it is and I’m not saying it is!).

You might be able to return it to the store with this valid reason. You don’t want a clear hitchhiker without knowing remotely what it is.

In any case, your tank being new might take the zoas a bit to actually appreciate the tank. Being so new… I’d make sure they have enough flow so algae films/mats aren’t congregating on their stalks which might be evident already. You can simply blow this off hopefully with a pipette or something.

Sorry this post has been a big maybe but hopefully helped with some direction. Heck I could be dead wrong. But they don’t seem to be worms in my opinion.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would quarantine it or return it as suggested. To me it also looks like polyps, I think clove polyps which would be very bad . Actually any of the corals mentioned by rayadog would be bad, I would get that out of the tank before it has a chance to spread. I speak from experience, its not fun when one of these pest corals takes over your tank.