What am I???

**Poseidon** · 11-15-2003, 06:28 PM

Okay I have 2 corals I can't name. 1 I purchased from Tropicorium, it is some sort of SPS the other was on a rock I bought. The "creeper" has almost tripled in size since I bought it.

Here they are...

Thanks, Mike

***zhenya*** · 11-15-2003, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Okay I have 2 corals I can't name. 1 I purchased from Tropicorium, it is some sort of SPS the other was on a rock I bought. The "creeper" has almost tripled in size since I bought it.

Here they are...

Thanks, Mike

Hi Mike,

The first one appears to be an encrusting type Porites colony(I have one as well that came on some rock and has been growing well).

The second seems to be a Stylophora pistillata colony or cats paw.

Then again I could be wrong

**Poseidon** · 11-15-2003, 08:28 PM

Thanks Gene, I'll have to right that down...

the CAts paw also has very well I have several "accidental" frags that are nearly the same size as the parent now!!!

***zhenya*** · 11-15-2003, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poseidon

Thanks Gene, I'll have to right that down...

the CAts paw also has very well I have several "accidental" frags that are nearly the same size as the parent now!!!

It must love your tank and grows really well for you

I wish I had room in my tank I would have ask you for a frag

**kevinpo** · 11-17-2003, 11:14 AM

Mike,
The first one is a Montipora sp. and the second one is a Pocillipora (most likely damincornis sp.). The Pocillipora appears to be a bit bleached this can be from too much or too little light. Try moving it to a couple of different lighting levels and see if it changes color. Both are fast growers. The second one can multiply by polyp bailout resulting in many small colonies appearing throughout the tank.

Regards,
Kevin

***zhenya*** · 11-17-2003, 01:00 PM

Thanks Kevin for setting me straight

Here's a pic that was Id'd by Eric B. as porites about a year ago and couple of the Pocillopora damicornis that I have got from SueT about a year or two ago.
Do you think I got a wrong ID before? I sure like to make a correction in my log,if possibile. Its hard to make correct ID when both are from the same family and are Pocilloporids

Mike,sorry I gave you the wrong ID's

**kevinpo** · 11-17-2003, 03:30 PM

Gene,
It is very difficult to distinguish either of those corals but here are a couple of tips that usually work (but not always)

Don't you love this hobby?

The main difference between the Pocillipora and the Stylophora is in the shape of the skeleton. When you touch the coral and the polyps retract on the Pocillipora the branches are much more fine and on the Stylophora they are like the end of your finger with no real branching kinda like well....a cats paw

Porites has a very unusual smell to the coral other than that I can't really tell them apart (once you smell it you will never forget it). Often encrusting Montipora comes as a hitchiker on live rock Porites seldom does. They both can have flower like polyps and be very fuzzy or small polyps and appear smooth. Both can form a waxy coat and shed it. So you could be quite right about the ID.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: Sorry if I sounded like I was critical or knew what the heck I was talking about

**Poseidon** · 11-17-2003, 04:30 PM

Thanks Kevinpo!!!

Both pictures were taken from the top down, the Pocillopora actually is darker from the front and the tips of the coral, just recently turned pinkish... Is that the bleaching? the coral has been in the same spot for over a year. The biggest change as of late has been the salt. I went to Crystal Sea Bio Assay from Reef crystals. It seems everything in the tank is doing well since the change, of course I did a couple small water changes so far is all. I did 1 5 gallon change, the other was a "normal" 20 gallon change. So total I have only used 25 Gallons worth of the new salt mix.

I was planning another 20 gallon change this week, should I ease back to a 10 gallon change instead?

Thanks for the help, Mike

***zhenya*** · 11-17-2003, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinpo

Gene,
It is very difficult to distinguish either of those corals but here are a couple of tips that usually work (but not always)

Don't you love this hobby?

The main difference between the Pocillipora and the Stylophora is in the shape of the skeleton. When you touch the coral and the polyps retract on the Pocillipora the branches are much more fine and on the Stylophora they are like the end of your finger with no real branching kinda like well....a cats paw

Porites has a very unusual smell to the coral other than that I can't really tell them apart (once you smell it you will never forget it). Often encrusting Montipora comes as a hitchiker on live rock Porites seldom does. They both can have flower like polyps and be very fuzzy or small polyps and appear smooth. Both can form a waxy coat and shed it. So you could be quite right about the ID.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: Sorry if I sounded like I was critical or knew what the heck I was talking about

Thanks for the tip on the id reference,Kevin

,and you have nothing to be sorry about,you do know what you are talking about

**kevinpo** · 11-18-2003, 06:36 AM

Mike,
How far down in the water do you have the Pocillipora and how high are your lights off the water?

Kevin

**Poseidon** · 11-18-2003, 08:41 AM

My Lights are 7" off the surface and the Pocillipora is 12" below the surface. I am using 2 250W 10K AB bulbs and this coral is directly underneath 1 of them. I also have a single 6 ft VHO actinic Blue, for color.

**kevinpo** · 11-18-2003, 12:01 PM

IMO/IME that sounds like an ideal location.

Regards,
Kevin

**Poseidon** · 11-18-2003, 02:04 PM

Must be the salt then!!!

does this cure itself thru acclimation or should I go back to IO/RC salt?

**kevinpo** · 11-19-2003, 09:15 AM

The coral shows good polyp extension and looks healthy so it becomes a matter of personal preference IMO. I would move it down 4" or so for about a month and see if it darkens up.
One Note:
There can be a very wide color variance in this coral. From light pink to dark purple with blue tips.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: The salt that has worked best for me over the years is I.O. I have used Kent and Red Sea also without problems.

**kevinpo** · 11-19-2003, 09:42 AM

Here is a picture of one of my Pocillipora colonies. I got this in a trade as a small frag 4-02.

Regards,
Kevin

**Poseidon** · 11-19-2003, 01:07 PM

WOW!!!!

I have never seen one that color around here!!! Mine used to be a shade darker with green tips, now I have the Pink.... Go figure.

It is getting close to replacing my Bulbs, they will be one year old in Feb. This could have alot to do with the color shift in this coral right?

Thanks for sharing that pic!!!

Mike

11-15-2003, 06:28 PM	#1
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,540	What am I??? Okay I have 2 corals I can't name. 1 I purchased from Tropicorium, it is some sort of SPS the other was on a rock I bought. The "creeper" has almost tripled in size since I bought it. Here they are... Thanks, Mike __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike Last edited by Poseidon; 11-15-2003 at 06:33 PM.

11-15-2003, 08:28 PM	#3
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,540	Thanks Gene, I'll have to right that down... the CAts paw also has very well I have several "accidental" frags that are nearly the same size as the parent now!!! __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

11-17-2003, 11:14 AM	#5
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Mike, The first one is a Montipora sp. and the second one is a Pocillipora (most likely damincornis sp.). The Pocillipora appears to be a bit bleached this can be from too much or too little light. Try moving it to a couple of different lighting levels and see if it changes color. Both are fast growers. The second one can multiply by polyp bailout resulting in many small colonies appearing throughout the tank. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-17-2003, 01:00 PM	#6
*zhenya* Owner Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: new jersey,usa Posts: 7,874	Thanks Kevin for setting me straight Here's a pic that was Id'd by Eric B. as porites about a year ago and couple of the Pocillopora damicornis that I have got from SueT about a year or two ago. Do you think I got a wrong ID before? I sure like to make a correction in my log,if possibile. Its hard to make correct ID when both are from the same family and are Pocilloporids Mike,sorry I gave you the wrong ID's Attached Thumbnails __________________ Kind regards, Gene. Last edited by zhenya; 11-17-2003 at 01:03 PM.

11-17-2003, 03:30 PM	#7
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Gene, It is very difficult to distinguish either of those corals but here are a couple of tips that usually work (but not always) Don't you love this hobby? The main difference between the Pocillipora and the Stylophora is in the shape of the skeleton. When you touch the coral and the polyps retract on the Pocillipora the branches are much more fine and on the Stylophora they are like the end of your finger with no real branching kinda like well....a cats paw Porites has a very unusual smell to the coral other than that I can't really tell them apart (once you smell it you will never forget it). Often encrusting Montipora comes as a hitchiker on live rock Porites seldom does. They both can have flower like polyps and be very fuzzy or small polyps and appear smooth. Both can form a waxy coat and shed it. So you could be quite right about the ID. Regards, Kevin PS: Sorry if I sounded like I was critical or knew what the heck I was talking about __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-17-2003, 04:30 PM	#8
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,540	Thanks Kevinpo!!! Both pictures were taken from the top down, the Pocillopora actually is darker from the front and the tips of the coral, just recently turned pinkish... Is that the bleaching? the coral has been in the same spot for over a year. The biggest change as of late has been the salt. I went to Crystal Sea Bio Assay from Reef crystals. It seems everything in the tank is doing well since the change, of course I did a couple small water changes so far is all. I did 1 5 gallon change, the other was a "normal" 20 gallon change. So total I have only used 25 Gallons worth of the new salt mix. I was planning another 20 gallon change this week, should I ease back to a 10 gallon change instead? Thanks for the help, Mike __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

11-18-2003, 06:36 AM	#10
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Mike, How far down in the water do you have the Pocillipora and how high are your lights off the water? Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-18-2003, 08:41 AM	#11
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,540	My Lights are 7" off the surface and the Pocillipora is 12" below the surface. I am using 2 250W 10K AB bulbs and this coral is directly underneath 1 of them. I also have a single 6 ft VHO actinic Blue, for color. __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

11-18-2003, 12:01 PM	#12
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	IMO/IME that sounds like an ideal location. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-18-2003, 02:04 PM	#13
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,540	Must be the salt then!!! does this cure itself thru acclimation or should I go back to IO/RC salt? __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

11-19-2003, 09:15 AM	#14
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	The coral shows good polyp extension and looks healthy so it becomes a matter of personal preference IMO. I would move it down 4" or so for about a month and see if it darkens up. One Note: There can be a very wide color variance in this coral. From light pink to dark purple with blue tips. Regards, Kevin PS: The salt that has worked best for me over the years is I.O. I have used Kent and Red Sea also without problems. __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-19-2003, 09:42 AM	#15
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,460	Here is a picture of one of my Pocillipora colonies. I got this in a trade as a small frag 4-02. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

11-19-2003, 01:07 PM	#16
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,540	WOW!!!! I have never seen one that color around here!!! Mine used to be a shade darker with green tips, now I have the Pink.... Go figure. It is getting close to replacing my Bulbs, they will be one year old in Feb. This could have alot to do with the color shift in this coral right? Thanks for sharing that pic!!! Mike __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

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