Hells Kitchen UFO Acan

[benihana]

Does anyone have experience with this Acan? I am getting a frag of it from one of my buddies. From what I am told about it, it is the most rare of the Acans. I just want to make sure if it needs any special care it gets it.

Oh, and I will DEFINATELY post pics after I get it!!


TIA

[Hormigaquatica]

OOPS... double post... :cool:

[Hormigaquatica]

Beware of anyone who claims the coral youre about to get from them is 'the most rare' anything. Its usually a BS marketing scheme... especially with a name like that ;) If you like the coral enough to pay for it Aside from its name and supposed status, then go for it, if you want it just for rarity factor- may want to think twice.

As far as special needs, assuming it is Acanthastrea lordhowensis, they dont require a great deal of special care. Tolerant of a wide range of lighting and flow conditions. They will feed heavily given a chance. They can also be very aggressive towards any corals they are close to- so give it a few inches of clearance at least.

BUT... post up pics when you get it!

[benihana]

I have a few different Lords in my tank, and have had a few different enchinata's and this is definately not either of them. It is not the Maxima either. It looks closer to the echinata's, but the entire coral is a bright red/pink color.

I do believe the talk about this being a rare coral as two different people in my local club told me this. One even talked about Tyree wanting this to turn into an LE coral.

I have no doubts about the claims, and would easily pay the amount for the coral with out it being "rare". I was more inquiring to see if anyone had this, or had dealt with it to see if it had any specific needs

Thanks for the response

[Echidna09]

I believe all that leaves is Bowerbanki or Roundoflora then... if it looks like an Echinata and isn't, it is probably Roundoflora... sorry if I spelled that wrong.

[benihana]

Rotundaflora it is!! Thanks for the blind ID! :)

http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/301-400/Species%20pages/384.htm

It looks very similar to the bottom left picture, just much brighter pink/red

[FastFish720]

Oh, btw I have a piece from the original colony. We actually call it Jerry's UFO. It's actually a very rare coral and I haven't seen one like it. Steve Tyree actually wanted the full colony to use as an LE.

Please do not contact me for frags. thanks.

[gastone]

...at this point I just would like to see a pic.

[benihana]

Here is the picture I was sent of the original colony....this thing looks better each time I see it!! :)

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee272/ben_hanson/HellsKitchenAcan.jpg

[ct_vol]

Its purdy for sure... :) Interesting growth pattern... I would be interested to see how it looks when its hungry... :D

[fierceseaman]

Some of those Rotundaflora look very much like echinophyllia. Even your picture looks a little bit like a chalice. Pretty weird.

[benihana]

I just talked to the guy I am getting it from and he mentioned that when he fragged it, he ended up with a couple extra...Since this is not the trading/selling forum, shoot me a PM

[PauChi]

Where is this Coral from .. . what part/region of the world is this from??


Thx,
Paul

[benihana]

I asked about the region and he was not sure...I guess it doesn't matter too much when it is this NICE!!

[Sheol]

That is one unusual Acan!

Matthew

[benihana]

Yes, it is! I am super stoked to get it...from the other people I talked to the rotundoflora is extremely rare

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11664789#post11664789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sheol
That is one unusual Acan!

Matthew

[KEEPERZ]

Benihana- I tried to reply -your box is full-it's a go-would like a pic-thanks

[benihana]

KEEPERZ - I passed your info on...Ben

[coralite]

I have seen tons of A. rotundofloras but never in any kind of red. I am pretty certain that the posted picture is actually an Echinophyllia, had one just like it back in the day. The polyp budding pattern at the growing edge is like Echinophyllia and not Acanthastrea.

Here is my crimsonite Echinophyllia I had long ago.
http://www.tidalblue.com/jake/crimsonite.jpg

[benihana]

Do you have any images that show the skeleton of your Echinophyllia? The skelton that is visible in the photo closely matches that of the skeleton shown here:

http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch...20pages/384.htm

The skeleton of Echinophyllia from what I have found, apears to be more round, and not as stretched out as this.

http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/101-200/Species%20pages/136.htm


Ben

[zeppelin]

Chalice have many skeletal patterns, even within the same genus. Echinophyllia, echinopora, oxypora, mycedium are all 'chalice', and there are a half a dozen or more different sleletal patterns within echinophyllia alone.

I'm guessing that is a chalice also. I'd like to see a pic of it eating.

[zeppelin]

Here is acan rotundo, from another thread.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee37/Reeferpnoy/012-5.jpg

[Hormigaquatica]

Afraid I tend to agree with some of the others on here- its a cool looking piece, but I doubt it is rotundoflora (or Acanthastrea at all for that matter). The little skeletal pattern I can see does not match that of A. rotundoflora, but I will admit its tough to really see key characteristics in the photo provided. Perhaps a clearer, closer shot of the exposed skeleton would help..?

What I can see does looks somewhat more like Echinophyllia. Assuming it is Echino, my first guess would be E. echinoporoides. (I would post up pictures, but Photobucket isnt working at the moment. Seach the CoralSearch Index for the coral if you want to check it out for yourself).
To quote the brief description from Veron's site:

Characters: Colonies are encrusting laminae, sometimes with nodules at the colony centre. Corallites are small (4-6 mm diameter), mostly immersed and are slightly inclined towards the colony margins.

Colour: Usually a uniform cream to dark brownish-green, but commonly brick red in Japan...

Habitat: Most reef environments but especially turbid water on protected steeply sloping substrates.

Abundance: Uncommon in Australia, common in the northern hemisphere.

Its a nice looking coral regardless of what it winds up being.

[benihana]

I am picking up my piece today, I will take a few photos when I get it and try to get a good one of it eating tonight as well

[benihana]

Looks like an A. Rotundo to me!

Thoughts???

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee272/ben_hanson/_MG_1189.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee272/ben_hanson/_MG_1192.jpg

[zeppelin]

Flesh looks too smooth for acan rotundo to me. I'm still guessing its a chalice of some kind. How about a top down shot of the frag?

[Justin74]

Characters: Colonies are encrusting laminae, sometimes with nodules at the colony centre. Corallites are small (4-6 mm diameter), mostly immersed and are slightly inclined towards the colony margins.

Thats exactly why it cant be an E. echinoporoides. The coralites on benihanas are much bigger than 4-6mm.

I do however agree this appears to be an Echinophyllia, especially lookin at benihana's frag pictures.

-Justin