New SPS... ID please?

addict · 04-07-2004, 08:20 PM

Well, I scored this awesome coral last night at the LFS. It was a local trade-in from somebody that had been keeping it under VHO lighting. They also had a couple of frags of it, but they wanted almost as much for them as they wanted for the whole colony... so I decided the colony was going home with me.

Only problem is that I'm not 'positive' on the I.D... I really want to identify it as a Montipora capricornis, but the vertical growth on it is making me second-guess myself (especially after Playa told me my encrusting Montipora was in-fact an Echinophyllia

).
So... if anybody can positively ID this thing for me I'd be grateful... or if you could even point me to a site that has a coral ID section I'll figure it out myself... either option works for me.

The color of it is a pinkish-brown at the moment, with white underneath, but I'm hoping that it colors up under the halides... the colony is about 6" diameter, and is the new centerpiece of the tank.

Thanks.

addict · 04-07-2004, 09:05 PM

Here's a shot from the front of the tank showing where I placed it... it overhangs the entrance to the sandspit that separates anemone island from the rest of the reef.

Montanareefer · 04-07-2004, 09:12 PM

Looks awesome in your tank Dave! Are those BSP in the background on the right side!

jks1 · 04-07-2004, 09:22 PM

Dave, couldnt find an ID quick- I'll keep lookin though- it is a great looking coral though

addict · 04-07-2004, 09:29 PM

Thanks Johnny, and yes... that's my BSP colony.

I have two more in the growout... maybe I'll have to send some.

Thanks John... I appreciate the help

TDEVIL · 04-07-2004, 10:05 PM

well Dave, it will be hard to tell, right now, atleast for me

here is a site that i visit a lot, http://www.reeffrontiers.com/photos_corals/

and there is a coral ID search engine, but i cant find the link, maybe Curt will see this, im sure he still has that link

Jay

wooddood · 04-07-2004, 10:08 PM

great new addition dave, an encrusting monti maybe. pm luis he'll know for sure. it looks awesome though congrats.

Cosmic · 04-08-2004, 12:10 AM

Acropora efflorense (sp?) is my guess based on growth pattern.
AKA "efflo's".
Nice find I'd say

Cos

Playa · 04-08-2004, 01:14 AM

David that is a beautiful shape on the acro. I cant find any acropora that looks anything like that. Do you see polyp extension already?

The closest thing I can come up with is either an Efflorences or a Solytariensis. The thing is that when either is in a smaller state of growth, it makes it even harder to distinguish between them.

Luis

addict · 04-08-2004, 01:33 AM

Thanks for the site there TDevil... that'll help a bunch in the future.

Thanks for the input wooddood.

Thanks for the ID there Cosmic... looks like we have a winner.

Hiya Luis. Yes, the polyps are already extending... my wife said they were out pretty full earlier this morning, but right now you just see little bumpy rings all over it.

I've been reading up on Acropora efflorescens and mine pretty much fits that description, with most corallite growth on top, though there still are polyps showing underneath (though no color or bumps... it's flat).

I'll look into Solytariensis and see if the description fits better.

It was quite the score... when I saw it I just had to have it, and it fit perfectly in the first spot I picked out in the tank... looks like it was meant to be.

I'll see if I can get a closer shot in the morning... only the actinics are on right now....
actually, I have a shot of it in the bag when I was acclimating it... maybe that might help.

Thanks again for helping me ID this thing everybody.

addict · 04-08-2004, 01:35 AM

One other thing... the more I look at it the more I realize I completely jumped the gun even thinking that it was a Montipora species... I guess I just saw a plating coral, and assumed the rest.

Boomer · 04-08-2004, 06:52 AM

Well go ahead and jump right in there ra, I think it is a Montipora turtlensis

Look at image 2 and click on it to make it bigger

http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch...0pages/277.htm

I don't see any nodualr upgrowths in any of the mentioned acro's. I also agree with Playa, I can't find one that really looks like yours, there is always something not right. Was this a home-grown coral.

Maybe it is to early in the morning and I'm not awake yet

Boomer · 04-08-2004, 07:05 AM

Like I said to early in the morning, just found a close up of a turtle, in my old Veron, nope not it.

Playa · 04-08-2004, 08:42 AM

Now that I have a different view of it from the top and a closer look at the bumps on the surface I can take a much better guess.
Luke David I was thrown out with the plating look of the first picture from a front angle.

Now, this no longer looks like an acropora to me:-)

It looks more like a Montipora Danae:-)

JMHO

You should get some sort of purple polyp from this coral and it should start turning a little more yellowish overtime.

Luis

Curtswearing · 04-08-2004, 10:03 AM

Montipora verruculosus???

04-07-2004, 08:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	New SPS... ID please? Well, I scored this awesome coral last night at the LFS. It was a local trade-in from somebody that had been keeping it under VHO lighting. They also had a couple of frags of it, but they wanted almost as much for them as they wanted for the whole colony... so I decided the colony was going home with me. Only problem is that I'm not 'positive' on the I.D... I really want to identify it as a Montipora capricornis, but the vertical growth on it is making me second-guess myself (especially after Playa told me my encrusting Montipora was in-fact an Echinophyllia ). So... if anybody can positively ID this thing for me I'd be grateful... or if you could even point me to a site that has a coral ID section I'll figure it out myself... either option works for me. The color of it is a pinkish-brown at the moment, with white underneath, but I'm hoping that it colors up under the halides... the colony is about 6" diameter, and is the new centerpiece of the tank. Thanks. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-07-2004, 09:05 PM	#2 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here's a shot from the front of the tank showing where I placed it... it overhangs the entrance to the sandspit that separates anemone island from the rest of the reef. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-07-2004, 09:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	Dave, couldnt find an ID quick- I'll keep lookin though- it is a great looking coral though __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

04-07-2004, 09:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks Johnny, and yes... that's my BSP colony. I have two more in the growout... maybe I'll have to send some. Thanks John... I appreciate the help __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon! Last edited by addict : 04-07-2004 at 09:39 PM.

04-07-2004, 10:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	well Dave, it will be hard to tell, right now, atleast for me here is a site that i visit a lot, http://www.reeffrontiers.com/photos_corals/ and there is a coral ID search engine, but i cant find the link, maybe Curt will see this, im sure he still has that link Jay __________________ my web site <-- needs updated

04-07-2004, 09:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Looks awesome in your tank Dave! Are those BSP in the background on the right side!

04-07-2004, 10:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	great new addition dave, an encrusting monti maybe. pm luis he'll know for sure. it looks awesome though congrats. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

04-08-2004, 12:10 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cosmic Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 173 View Gallery Karma Komment	Acropora efflorense (sp?) is my guess based on growth pattern. AKA "efflo's". Nice find I'd say Cos __________________ ReefKeeping FAQ'S

04-08-2004, 01:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
Playa Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Posts: 1,451 View Gallery Karma Komment	David that is a beautiful shape on the acro. I cant find any acropora that looks anything like that. Do you see polyp extension already? The closest thing I can come up with is either an Efflorences or a Solytariensis. The thing is that when either is in a smaller state of growth, it makes it even harder to distinguish between them. Luis

04-08-2004, 01:33 AM	#10 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the site there TDevil... that'll help a bunch in the future. Thanks for the input wooddood. Thanks for the ID there Cosmic... looks like we have a winner. Hiya Luis. Yes, the polyps are already extending... my wife said they were out pretty full earlier this morning, but right now you just see little bumpy rings all over it. I've been reading up on Acropora efflorescens and mine pretty much fits that description, with most corallite growth on top, though there still are polyps showing underneath (though no color or bumps... it's flat). I'll look into Solytariensis and see if the description fits better. It was quite the score... when I saw it I just had to have it, and it fit perfectly in the first spot I picked out in the tank... looks like it was meant to be. I'll see if I can get a closer shot in the morning... only the actinics are on right now.... actually, I have a shot of it in the bag when I was acclimating it... maybe that might help. Thanks again for helping me ID this thing everybody. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-08-2004, 01:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	One other thing... the more I look at it the more I realize I completely jumped the gun even thinking that it was a Montipora species... I guess I just saw a plating coral, and assumed the rest. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-08-2004, 06:52 AM	#12 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,607 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well go ahead and jump right in there ra, I think it is a Montipora turtlensis Look at image 2 and click on it to make it bigger http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch...0pages/277.htm I don't see any nodualr upgrowths in any of the mentioned acro's. I also agree with Playa, I can't find one that really looks like yours, there is always something not right. Was this a home-grown coral. Maybe it is to early in the morning and I'm not awake yet __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

04-08-2004, 07:05 AM	#13 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,607 View Gallery Karma Komment	Like I said to early in the morning, just found a close up of a turtle, in my old Veron, nope not it. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

04-08-2004, 08:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
Playa Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Palm Beach Gardens, FL Posts: 1,451 View Gallery Karma Komment	Now that I have a different view of it from the top and a closer look at the bumps on the surface I can take a much better guess. Luke David I was thrown out with the plating look of the first picture from a front angle. Now, this no longer looks like an acropora to me:-) It looks more like a Montipora Danae:-) JMHO You should get some sort of purple polyp from this coral and it should start turning a little more yellowish overtime. Luis

04-08-2004, 10:03 AM	#15 (permalink)
Curtswearing Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 2,597 View Gallery Karma Komment	Montipora verruculosus??? __________________ In memory of Fluffy, please pause before hitting enter---being nice is free. Click for ReefKeeping FAQ'S Click for Product Reviews Click for Photo ID Gallery http://curtcpapfs.com/downloads/1Curt.jpg

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