SPS ID

[Brit’s Fish]

Not sure type of SPS this is - Montipora probably? But does anyone know the type/name? I got this about a year ago and moved it a couple times until I found its happy place. My friend also gave me the frag that she had and decided she didn’t want. And finally, I had a tiny piece that broke off and I just stuck it to the overflow.

I feel like it used to have more of a green base with dark polyps in the beginning which made me think it was Spongodes.

 

[Bpones]

No clue but hopefully some more experienced coral folks will chime in.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

No clue but hopefully some more experienced coral folks will chime in.

Thank you for the bump!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not sure type of SPS this is - Montipora probably? But does anyone know the type/name? I got this about a year ago and moved it a couple times until I found its happy place. My friend also gave me the frag that she had and decided she didn’t want. And finally, I had a tiny piece that broke off and I just stuck it to the overflow.

I feel like it used to have more of a green base with dark polyps in the beginning which made me think it was Spongodes.

Looks like galaxea coral and not SPS

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Looks like galaxea coral and not SPS

Hmm… it may look like galaxea, but I assure you it’s not. I’ll try to maybe get more closeups but it’s definitely SPS.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Looks like galaxea coral and not SPS

The first two photos are from when I very first got this coral about 1 year ago exactly. The next pic is from last August after it colored up more.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hmm… it may look like galaxea, but I assure you it’s not. I’ll try to maybe get more closeups but it’s definitely SPS.

Also look up alveopora coral and cyphastrea

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Also look up alveopora coral

Thanks for taking a look but its definitely not alveopora or branching cyphastrea either. This is a branching, hard skeleton coral that is encrusting onto the rock at the base as well. I know that Bernardopora will do that as well but I am 1000% positive it’s not that either. The polyps are very fluffy but there is no extension past being fluffy.
I’ll see if I can get more pictures.

 

[BOYERZ]

Cyphastrea ?​

JF Fender Bender Cyphastrea Coral

WYSIWYG – you will receive the exact piece shown. All frag plugs are 3/4" - 1" unless otherwise stated.

topshelfaquatics.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Thanks for taking a look but its definitely not alveopora or branching cyphastrea either. This is a branching, hard skeleton coral that is encrusting onto the rock at the base as well. I know that Bernardopora will do that as well but I am 1000% positive it’s not that either. The polyps are very fluffy but there is no extension past being fluffy.
I’ll see if I can get more pictures.

Additional pics may help . Only other I cam think of is rarely seen Stylocoeniella and a polyp coral known as knopia

 

[vetteguy53081]

Cyphastrea ?​

JF Fender Bender Cyphastrea Coral

WYSIWYG – you will receive the exact piece shown. All frag plugs are 3/4" - 1" unless otherwise stated.

topshelfaquatics.com

already ruled out

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Here are two of the branching pieces and the one from my last set of pictures. My giant zebra turbo just touched the two branching ones a minute ago while grazing so their polyps are a little closed up. And attaching a photo of Spongodes for reference since the polyps look the same to me. I just don’t have the neon green base, probably because I have higher nutrients than SPS prefer.

 

[BOYERZ]

I've seen these before, old trade name. Can't think of it.

 

[DaJMasta]

The polyp shape and extension definitely reminds me of a montipora spongodes, but they may not be the only ones that get that dense looking, and mine typically starts with a greenish tone flesh and browner polyps. Growth pattern fits some kind of branching monti too.

Maybe could be an anacropora, but I haven't seen some with so dense/wide polyps - just a similar shape and growth pattern.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Maybe these are better? Unfortunately, my apex is disconnected at the moment so I can’t shut my pumps off and they’re right under the flow.

 

[Brit’s Fish]

The polyp shape and extension definitely reminds me of a montipora spongodes, but they may not be the only ones that get that dense looking, and mine typically starts with a greenish tone flesh and browner polyps. Growth pattern fits some kind of branching monti too.

Maybe could be an anacropora, but I haven't seen some with so dense/wide polyps - just a similar shape and growth pattern.

I did get this piece from a local guy who brings in a lot of wild coral. Actually, I just found this picture from when I very first got the branching piece. I had to cut it because the coral had encrusted around an old worm tube and it was filled with Montipora Eating Flatworms & pretty bleached out. It then recovered and had the bright green base with whitish growth tips for a little while before the polyps turned as bushy as they are now. TBH, I never expected this coral to make it as I didn’t think I could even keep anything like this.

Edit: I had forgotten about the Monti flatworms but I think that’s why I was pretty certain that’s what it is. I cut it in half so I could use a pipette to shoot the coral dip down the “tube” and make sure I got them all

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a pic like this I swear is galaxea coral

 

[Brit’s Fish]

Its a pic like this I swear is galaxea coral

I know, I totally get what you mean. I promise it’s not though. Unless there’s a magic galaxea that never ever has sweepers… this is the farthest the polyps ever extend.
Is it possible that the polyps are trying to be as big as possible to get as much light as possible since my lights are not super bright? The PAR reading I’ve gotten around the areas I have the frags in is probably 150-180?

 

[Brit’s Fish]

There’s also no real separation in the segments of the polyps.
I’m sorry, I feel like I’m being a pain now… I’m not trying to be but now I’m extra curious! I really do appreciate the help!!

 

[tbrown]

Not a Leptastrea?