Could anybody ID These Three Corals ?

[AcroSteve]

Hopefully, they are large enought for a rough guess.

Thanks in advance.


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown3a.jpg

This one is very tolerant of low flow and light. Looks like porites of some sort.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown2a.jpg

And lastly, here are two colonies of the same coral.

This is the original mother colony.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown1b.jpg

And this one is the result of two large frags growing together.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown1a.jpg

[trueblackpercula]

very nice corals
#1 SPS
#2 SPS
#3 SPS
HEHEHEHE JUST KIDDING :)

[LeftCoast]

#3 is A. sarmentosa

[AcroSteve]

Can anybody else help out here?

[damienkee]

#1= should be valida

[TexasTodd]

Just a guess

1. A. Cerelius (spelling?)
2. Got me
3. Ditto on A. Sarmentosa.

Todd

[gflat65]

I was thinking valida on #1, but the coralites have a little more to them than what I am used to seeing (as well as being different from my cerealis). I just got a garf coral that is similar to that form... I'd guess a porites (or monti?) on #2. Saramentosa on #3.

[cward]

#2 looks like digitata that isn't getting very much flow. I had a branch of digi that fell off into a crevice and grew just like the one you have pictured.

[AcroSteve]

The polyps on it are closer to a porites. Smaller than my digi's.

[SunnyX]

I have #4 and would also like to know what it is.

During the day polyps are hidden, at night they are fully extended.

[AcroSteve]

Here is a top-down of the A. Sarmentosa in the 3rd pic.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Sarmentosa.jpg

[AcroSteve]

How about this one I picked up from SeanT?

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/SeanTYellowTort.jpg

And the one on the left in this pic also came from SeanT's tank.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/SeantTortBlueTipMilli.jpg

[AcroSteve]

What the heck. I don't know what this one is either.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown3.jpg

[SeanT]

Man I had some nice corals back then. :lol:

The yellow one some have called a Acropora yongeii.
Not sure though.

[OCDP]

im a pretty big SPS newb still so these are just guesses..

the one in the last picture looks like a. millepora (sp)
and the very first picture, it looks like a blue tip stag

guesses!

Scott

[Mariner]

Yep, I've got one just like that yellow one...been trying to identify it for a couple of years. It is either A. yongei or something very close. Commonly called a "slimer" although another similar coral may have the same name.
FWIW,
Mariner

[AcroSteve]

Thanks for checking in Sean.

How about this pink table I got from you? So far, it has been a slow grower.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Seant-PinkTable.jpg

[AcroSteve]

Still wondering about some of them.

Anybody?

[LeftCoast]

The pink table looks like A. divaricata.

[drake66]

#1 purple tip valida, it'll color up REAL nice purple at the tips, i've got one of those :)

[AcroSteve]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6766184#post6766184 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drake66
#1 purple tip valida, it'll color up REAL nice purple at the tips, i've got one of those :)

That's two for the A valida, I hope you are right. But it kind of looks like a A nasuta. Page 184 "Corals of Australia and The Indo-Pacific. Thoughts?

It has been tan/brown for so long. Like over a year. In the past couple of months, I have been getting most of my long-term brown corals to color up.

[drake66]

mhm...maybe.. b/c my valida colored up real nice after 3 months so its probably a. nasuta

[AcroSteve]

Didn't mean to disagree, but I got my book out to verify the ID, and noticed the nasuta a few pages away.

However, the natusa in Coral of the World-V1, does not look as close.

Alas, the technicalities of an online ID.

Still, I like to call it something faily close rather than "that coral over there". Therefore, the reason behind most ID threads.

Here's a full tank shot to keep the interest up.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Full-Tank-Shot.jpg

You hardcore SPS guys go easy on me. Just overlook the softies in there. :D

[jgleach]

AcroSteve...I know it's been awhile since you first posted this and I have no way of knowing if you've gotten your colonies identified yet but going back to the original pics, number two sure does look like a Heliopora or "blue ridge" coral to me....

Jeff

[AcroSteve]

Thanks, but definitely not a heliopora. I have one in the tank. It is on the right side of this photo.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/24153Candy_Cane.jpg

The polyps on the #2 photo are nowhere near as large as the Blue Ridge polyps, which are retracted in the photo above.

The shape is similar, and the photo is poor. I may try to get a better pic sometime.

[AcroSteve]

Here is a better pic of the #2 coral.

Anybody?


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4264.jpg

Let's add this one to the mix.

Some sort of tort, right?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2589.jpg

[LeftCoast]

The first looks like a Porites species (maybe annae or cylindrica). The second is definitely A. tortuosa.

[AcroSteve]

Any idea on a variation? I do not think it is an Oregon, but maybee a Cali?

[Sk8r]

The 1 is likely valida, I agree. I think the one with the lighter u shaped shelves and fuzzy sides is millepora.

[LeftCoast]

I don't think it is any specific type, but it could be considered a Cali tort.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Hello All,

Not to burst anyone's bubble but I think photo #1 is an A. proximalis. Two things pointed me in that direction, first was the long tubular radial corallites and second was the long thing branches (unlike a A. valida which is bushier).

Your "Tort" which can be lots of things dependent upon the mood, is in my opinion a A. exquisista which has similarities to A. tortuosa but differs with much longer radial corallites.

I also agree that #2 is a Porites, more specifically a "monticulosa" which has incredibly small corallites of 0.5 to 0.7mm in diameter.

I hope this helps, enjoy your corals they look beautiful.

Chris @ RM

[LeftCoast]

I'm pretty sure Chris can own all of us at IDing corals. :o

[AcroSteve]

Wow!

Thanks Chris.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

No Worries,

Anymore you would like me to make a shot at?

Have a good one,

Chris @ RM

Oh and I totally agree with the ID on photo #3 (A. sarmentosa).

[LeftCoast]

Woot! Score one for me! :lol:

[deansreef]

I have a coral that looks like that brown one, it is a native coral her in NC, I will get a pic when I can

[AcroSteve]

Originally posted by ReeferMadnessUS
Anymore you would like me to make a shot at?
Well... since you offered, I might as well. :D


I posted this one on the 1st page, but never got anybody to take a guess. Someone might have mentioned a milli, but I think I disagree from the 1st pic beacuse of the slightly random layout of the coralites. But the 2nd one does look like it could be.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown3.jpg

And a more recent shot of the same coral.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4236.jpg

This one? Not the best angle, but right now it is the best I have of it.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown.jpg


And, for the trifecta, one more. Might be a little small for the ID, but give it a shot.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4235.jpg

[Mariner]

I'd guess A. millepora on the top one.
Mariner

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Okay here goes.

Yes the corallite structure of the first photo resembles a A. millepora but the actual tenticular crown of the polyp looks different as do the thickness of the branches (seems chunkier). My guess on this one is the Staghorn A. robusta. This should be easier to tell as time goes on as this should shoot up vertically.

The second one you are asking about, I think is a A. prostrata, similar to an A. millepora but has more uniform radial corallites and has tapered branches.

The third without a doubt in my mind is a A. cerealis..

I hope this helps. Bring it on, I want more!

Chris @ RM

[maggiesaqsup]

Bring it on, I want more!

Chris @ RM [/B]

I almost gave up on a ID on the pic below can you help me out?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06137.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/newspsjan06001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/jan200620042.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06135.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06012.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Maggiesaqsup,

Photo# 1 I believe is A. schmitti- which has super cool barrel shaped corallites, very few Acro's have this "ball" shaped radial corallite.

Photo #2 I think is A. tenuis, it also looks similar to A. kimbeensis but the corallites are longer and more tubular.

Photo #3 I am guessing as I can't see the entire colony or thickness of the branches (I can't compare with anything, but they look thin). My first thought is a A. insignis as it has very defined striations on the radial corallites and their color also contrasts with the color of the branch itself.

Photo #4 Is without a doubt in my mind a A. austera (it looks new to your system- very bleached out, is that true?)

Photo #5 looks to me like a A. chesterfieldensis but the polyps are so fuzzy it is hard for me to really look at the corallite structure.

Good night folks... Challenge me with some more I love it and live for it....

Chris @ RM

[AcroSteve]

This is not the best pic, but it is the best this coral has looked in a while. It has had a rough time.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4263.jpg

And this one.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4230.jpg

These last two pics are the same coral - different angles
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4224.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN4224b.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Steve,

#1 Without a doubt in my mind is a A. samoensis.

#2 Is quite a bit tougher as it has traits of several of the sharped edged corallite Acro's. I have come to the conclusion that with the elongate tapering branches and the narriform radial corallites that is it a A. nasuta.

#3 It Looks to me as the same Acropora (proximalis) as the very first one that you posted. I has the same branching and corallite structure. They could look a bit different as they might be getting different flow and light. But the more I am looking at it the more my eyes are crossing. I am unsure now :( . Are the branches thin? Like 3mm or so? If so then it still might be A. proximalis.

I hope that this helps you out. There are many times where I am befuddled by certain Acro's and Monti's for that matter.

Check this link for an example:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=813163&highlight=RM

Bring me some more, I am always up for a challenge :) .

Chris @ RM

[maggiesaqsup]

yes Chris #4 is new I have had it for 2 1/2 weeks and thanks for the ID's


this is a pic of #3 whole colony shot
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06143.jpg

and I think this is the same as #1 and #5 but #5 has to much polyp ext. to get an ID
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06140.jpg

but the next two looks to be the same but different colors IMO
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06141.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06144.jpg

and one more I think I know this one
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06031.jpg

[LeftCoast]

Chris, I think you might have gotten yourself in deep... :p

[AcroSteve]

If it might help, this is a pic of the same colony in my last two pics this morning.

Sorry about the quality, but this looks like the only early pic I have of the colony. It was taken 5/13/05
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN1053.jpg


The growth has really taken off in the last few months.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

"Chris, I think you might have gotten yourself in deep... "- Please help me I will never be able to get out again..... I might have to go into hiding somewhere, but where would I go... :)

No just kidding, I do this all day long so why not help some folks out when they have a high amount of interest. At least I can try and give some pointers of how to make a somewhat educated guess.

Okay Maggie here goes,

#3 on your first post and #1 on your second still looks to me like a A. insignis.

#1 and #5 on your first post and #2 on your second, seem to me now that the polyps are retracted like A. schmitti. This species has very defined barrel shaped corallites. Much more obvious than any other Acro.

#3 I believe is different from #4. #3 from what i can make out from the photo has relatively different corallite and branching structure. I believe this one to be a A. cophodactyla which I rarely if ever see, but it is an Acro that has crazy mixed up and funky corallites. Take this ID as a grain of salt. I am not sure maybe with a few more photos I can give a better guess.

#4 I think is the much debated (Pseudo Solomon Island A. maryae- which only occurs in the Red Sea). The False P.M. as we like to call it is one of my favorites as it developes into so many different color patterns depending on the spectrum and depth.

#5 is as you probably guessed the same as the the pale one from your first post (A. austera).

Bring me some more if you have them Maggie... :) This keeps me fresh and in tune.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Steve,

No offense but I hope you got that for cheap (or for free) :) . I usually give corals like that away or hold them for 3 months under 1000 watters and see what happens, lol.

I still think it is a A. proximalis, just not showing its true colors or overall shape :) It also might have collected in a high flow area, which would point to the funky shaped branches and shaved corallites.

Give me more, I am demanding more - from anyone.... I will try even when stumped. I have always felt that I have not have had enough of a presence on RC. So this is my attempt.

Also if anyone wants to see some cool photos of my trip to Fiji back in November check my Gallery.

Reefers almost always smile (at least when they are near their reef),

Chris @ RM

[dbrown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7167899#post7167899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maggiesaqsup

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/jan200620042.jpg

[/IMG]

Could this be Miami Orchid?

[wentreefgirl]

The last one is a pink mili. #2 is a blue ridge coral. Its non-symbionic. Polyps close together and when out are white. I have #1 but have to look up and see what it was sold to me as. Ill get back to you on that.

[maggiesaqsup]

few more, I will take more pics in the am.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/n1028.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/ebay1021.jpg

this is the AKA PM in the picture above when I had 20k it lost some of it's purple when I changed to 10k.I hope it will come back soon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/02-06018.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Chris, sweet figi pics. I especiallly like the flower corals.

[LeftCoast]

#1 looks to be A. austera (roughly, but then again Chris could prove me right or wrong)
#2 ???
#3 A. secale

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Hi Again,

Yes I concure with Spliffman that #1 is another A. austera.

#2 Is too disfigured and small to tell what it might really be.

#3 Looks to me to be the same as the one in the prior post (as you state) Solomon False PM A. maryae- found in the Red Sea. Sorry Spliffman I don't think this is a A. secale.

Anyone have anymore?

Chris @ RM

[AcroSteve]

I really appreciate the input.

How about this one?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/24153A_Stag.jpg

[LeftCoast]

No problem Chris. I don't take it personally. :lol: I still have quite a few years to get more familiar with the species. After all, I'm only 16 (well, in a month).

As for that Acropora, insignis?

[maggiesaqsup]

ok now for a challenge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06151.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/n1002.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06146.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06149.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/april06150.jpg

[AcroSteve]

I think I have a colony very similar to your 4th pic. I refer to it as Elkhorn monitipora

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2575.jpg

It has never been anything other than a sort of army green with light growth tips.

[maggiesaqsup]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7178648#post7178648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AcroSteve
I think I have a colony very similar to your 4th pic. I refer to it as Elkhorn monitipora

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2575.jpg

It has never been anything other than a sort of army green with light growth tips.

The guy that I got it from said it was not a Elkhorn,thats what I think it is but I am not good with ID's. It will take on a army green when it is put off to the side of my 250 10k. I moved it under the light a few weeks ago and it looks like it needs to be moved back.

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, chris wants a challange. Perhaps this might do. Or maybe not.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884411706.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884411705.jpg">

[wentreefgirl]

Sorry about the huge pics. Couldnt get good coralite shots.

[AcroSteve]

Nice looking frag there.

And yes, those pics are just a tad large. :D

[wentreefgirl]

No guesses agrosteve.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Sorry Folks, I was up at my warehouse all day yesterday.

Okay Acrosteve,

I believe that beautiful stag is a A. loisetteae (Super thin elongated branches with tiny radial corallites).

The Monti that you posted is a M. hirsuta. I have one that has finally gotten some color after about 6 months (blue tips with bluish grey branches).

Maggie,

#1 is A. tumida, with busy branches and radial corallites that align along the branch and no secondary radial corallites.

#2 A. sarmentosa, flattened axial corallite, thicker branches and flowering polyps.

#3 Wow what a tough one, I am thinking A. copiosa as it seems the same sort of shaped corallites. But ask me again in a week it I might come up with something different :) . This one is tough!

#4 The same as Acrosteve = M. hirsuta.

#5 is the same as #2 A. sarmentosa (at least from what I can see).


Wentreefgirl,

It is very hard to tell at this stage. Some frags are very hard to distinguish as their full structure has not developed. If it does not branch out and stays as an encrusting species it might be something strange and rare like a A. palmerae. But I see some little branchlets starting to come out. I would probably give it 6 months and then retake it and I will give it another shot.

Have anymore? Don't fail me now, isn't there anyone else that I can try and help give a relatively eduacated guess?

I will be around putting new corals on my site, so let me know....

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

Chris, its not encrusting. As a mattor o fact it was a branch that got burned by another so i broke it up into 2 peices, layed them sideways and wala. Confusing coral. Let me see if I have a pic of when it was a tall dude. Got another though. This one fell down in between the rock and is browned out, hasnt gotten better in 6 months. Dont know what it needs. Without the color ill be surprized if you figure it out.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/cp2.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884411713.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/cp.jpg">
And the mystery coral.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Tank%20pics/thblueprostata.jpg">

[AcroSteve]

Well, I might as well post a few more of mine, and I should be pretty well caught up with my ID's. Just took these a few minutes ago.

I am glad to have all the input.
#1
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2635.jpg


#2
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2636.jpg


#3 Pretty sure the one on the right is a milli, but not sure on the one in the foreground.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2642.jpg


#4
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2645.jpg


#5 And lastly, a pair that I posed on page one, but did not get a hit on.
The one on the left please. The one on the right is more of the same milli I have all over my tank. I really need to seperate these two.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2649.jpg

Not bad for 3 months growth. Heres the previous one for reference.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/SeantTortBlueTipMilli.jpg





All these unidentified forals is about the only downside of frag swaps. I just don't keep notes and my memory is not what I wish.

But frags are cool.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Wentreefgirl,

I liked the original photo's you posted better :) These are much too small for me to look at the corallite structure. Sorry about that.

Steve,

Okay here goes:
#1 Looks like a A. tenuis that is in an area of lower flow.

#2 Seems to be a A. microphthalma with long branches and raspy tubular radial corallites.

#3 Looks to be the same #5 which is a A. exquisita with long tapering branches and long bulbous radial corallites.

#4 Is a A. granulosa (lower light, as I can see a brain or a Acan in the background)

#5 see #3 :)

I hope this helps you out.

And if this is it, point me to somewhere or someone else I can help out.

Have a great Easter Weekend All,

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

That one is glued to the rock. So it doesnt fall down. Getting my macro lens this week. Cool. More ids.

[LobsterOfJustice]

Don't want to hijack AcroSteve, but a few other people have posted their corals so I figured it would be okay (Plus Chris is following this thread lol).

#1, bought this from a LFS a few months ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-061-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-061-2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-061-3.jpg

#2, from the same LFS a week ago:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-062-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-062-2.jpg

#3, from Dr. Mac (placed on it's side a while ago, starting to grow towards the light):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-063-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-063-2.jpg

#4, from LFS. I have been calling this chesterfieldensis, does anyone agree?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/4-19-06A.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LobsterOfJustice/Saltwater%20Tank/c.jpg

Sorry about the quality of some of the pictures. Just got the camera for easter and I am still figuring it out. Thanks!

[LeftCoast]

I agree with A. chesterfieldensis

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Lobster,

That first Acropora is tough. The growth pattern is strange and disfigured. I am leaning toward an A. cerealis. But take another photo as it grows out and develops into a larger colony.

The second looks like a cultured colony of A. insignis from Indonesia some where. They have thin branches with very organized radial corallites that usually contrast in color with the branch. This should turn into a gorgeous purple or green with blue tips.

The third is another tough one. I can't really make out the corallite structure. They look barrel shaped to me, but im not completely sure. I can't make a judgement at this moment. If you can get a clearer shot I might be able to give you what you are looking for.

The fourth I agree looks to me like a A. chesterfieldensis. Usually green with flowering polyps and rounded radial corallites.

Sorry I wasn't able to answer all that you were looking for. Please feel free to give me some more (anyone).

Chris @ RM

[bradleyj]

I have a couple that I don't know what they are.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/100_7476Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/100_8123Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/Recent%20Pix/100_7923Large.jpg

[maggiesaqsup]

OK, I will take a guess is #2 A. Tumida ?

[wentreefgirl]

Last pic on the left looks like crayola plana?

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Brad,

Very Nice Photo by the way.

Okay here goes....

#1 I think it is a A. solitaryensis with the fused base, horizontal growth and branchlets forming on the edges.

#2 A. azurea, as it seems to have thin branchlets, tiny conical corallites and the classic tricolor pattern. Kinda funky though as the base seems quite fused. So I am really going by corallite structure.

#3 I believe this one is a A. butunai. It seems to have that very distinctive flowering tips (axial and radial corallites spread out like a flower) and very few radial corallites to create a bare looking branch that isnt packed full of corallites.

Give me some more, this is too much fun....

Chris @ RM

[Creetin]

How about this one chris?
http://www.piranha-fury.com/pfury/uploads/1131127562/med_gallery_30_23_600584.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Creetin,

I haven't seen any really nice ones come in awhile but this looks to me like a Bali Cultured A. gomezi. Gorgeous specimen you have there.

Have any more for me to ID?

Chris @ RM

[Creetin]

Thanks chris, How about this stag and the green looking one to the left?
http://www.piranha-fury.com/pfury/uploads/1144959855/med_gallery_30_23_29307.jpg

http://www.piranha-fury.com/pfury/uploads/1140899845/med_gallery_30_23_248222.jpg

[mr. pluto]

hello chris, how bout some help w/ id?
#1
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/pluto123/82879ad9.jpg

#2
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/pluto123/db8235bb.jpg

#2 again
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/pluto123/f93844ca.jpg

#3
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/pluto123/2f4fbc89.jpg

#3 againhttp://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/pluto123/6c2d3b22.jpg

[LeftCoast]

#3 Acropora donei is my guess. But it's probably Chris you're after :p.

[mr. pluto]

maybe;)

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, I shall try again with others.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884411750.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884411752.jpg">
Icing on the cake?
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884411747.jpg">

[clkwrk]

Wow some very good information provided here. Chris thanks for sharing your time with us .

Having said that I have a few for ya :D

These are recent buys

This one is hard for me cause its so thick? Maybe austera ? Although it looks nothing like the one under this first pic.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/blue-saphire-tort.jpg

When I first got the austera
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/new-blue-acro-closeup.jpg and now
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/HQpics/hi-def-purple-austera.jpg

Center coral Gomezi?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-april-06l.jpg

Large green hummi like acro
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-april-06d.jpg

This very unique piece maybe tort or astera I lean austera
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-april-06c.jpg

and this one
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-march-06a.jpg

TIA

[wentreefgirl]

clkwrk, you dont have a problem with those aiptasia anenomes right next to the coral. Id be a pasting fool with those babies.

[clkwrk]

oh and if you don't mind I know these are sps but your here and not in the lps forum ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-march-06f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-march-06e.jpg

Both of these
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/New-oxypora.jpg
and this which I have grown from 3 lil heads that hiched a ride in on some start polyps a few years ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/auction/favia.jpg

TIA

[clkwrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7217566#post7217566 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wentreefgirl
clkwrk, you dont have a problem with those aiptasia anenomes right next to the coral. Id be a pasting fool with those babies.

nope only a few have any problems however I would be pasting for days . I inject a good amount everyonce in a while when I feel spunky.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Hello Everyone,

I haven't been ignoring this thread I promise! My family and I were gone for the weekend and I just now got back.

Okay First off...

Creetin,

#1 Is a gorgeous stag, but with no closeups of the corallites I am going by overall structure and the shape of the axial corallite. This one I believe is a A. abrolhosensis.

#2 Seems to me to be the False Solomon P.M. or what we want to call A. maryae.

Mr. Pluto,

Gorgeous Photos by the way,

#1 Has developed quite an interesting growth pattern. It seems to be a thick tabletop and it also has very small radial corallites. This points me in the direction of A. microclados.

#2 I believe is a A. vaughani. With very upright branches, large radial corallites (with no smaller secondary radial corallites) and is usually blue.

#3 Without a doubt is a A. tutielensis. I love these tabletops. They rarely come in but when they do they just fly out the door. I have a huge waiting list for them.

This is like a practice, but don't call me a doctor :)

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Okay here goes again...

Wentreefgirl,

I wish you would post those huge photos again... I makes it so much easier for me to see the structure of the coral. But I will do my best.

#1 Is a A. cerealis from what I can make out from this small frag. Common to this species is a long bare axial and incipient axial corallites.

#2 Is to small and too dark for me to tell... Maybe wait a few months and I can try again.

#3 Is a Montipora nodosa.

Clkwrk,

No problem with helping you all out. I love this, it gets my brain and memory banks cranking.

#1 Seems to becoming more common in this hobby is the Solomon False P.M. I love them, they are very hardy and can have all sorts of different color patterns. I am glad that you pointed out that it has thick branches and corallites. This is one of the identifiers I go by.

#2 and #3 Is just like you pointed out a A. austera. They seems to grow reasonably slow but I love how many colors they can pick up.

#4 You are right on with the A. gomezi I.D.

#5 As well as with this A. humilis. They always have that blunt and shaved off axial corallites and are therefore relatively easy to ID because of this.

#6 Yeah I also believe this one to be another A. austera. But it is hard to tell with just a single branch.

#7 Now this is one to cherish. Sweet Acro. Alot of folks might say A. suharsonoi but I believe this to be much rarer. With these long axial corallites and radial corallites that are embedded I am pointed to a Acropora multiacuta. I have only seen this maybe half a dozen times in the decade I have been in this hobby.

I need to take a break for a little bit. Maybe watch some Bball. Don't tell SPStoner about this thread as his Cavs won and my Lakers lost. I am sure he is already gloating :) and I really don't want him rubbing it in :)

I will be back in a little while.

Chris @ RM

[anative]

Hey Chris!

Any ideas on these:

#1
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/ID1.jpg

#2
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/ID2.jpg

#3
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/ID3.jpg

#4
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/ID4.jpg

Jon

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Clkwrk,

I will now do my best with the ID's of your LPS.

#1 Echinophyllia aspera (with corallites that average 1/2 inch in size) I love them, they are hardy and can change to almost any color depending upon the lighting.

#2 Echinophyllia orpheensis (with longer, tube like corallites).

#3 Echinophyllia echinoporoides (with more uniform corallites and septa that a bit more pronounced) but I am a little unsure of this one. Maybe with a close up of the corallites and another while feeding I could give you a more definitative answer.

#4 From the overall structure my thought is a Favia rosaria, but how large are the corallites? If they are large (over 1.5 cm) then it is probably this. Now if they are quite a bit smaller than this then it will be something else.

I hope this helps and if you could get back to me on those few questions that I had I would appreciate it (for piece of mind).

Give me some more if you have any....

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Jon,

#1 from the shape of the corallites (which are conical and the lips are rounded) and the branches (gradually taper) I believe this to be a A. insignis.

#2 A. nobilis (staghorn growth pattern and fuzzy flowering polyps)

#3 A. austera (classic Myagi Tort coloration with the large funnel shaped corallites)

#4 A. selago with corallites that are widely spaced and where the exert lip turns back into the branch.

Let me know what you all think, especially if you think that I am pulling this out a dark place between my cheeks :) .

Give me some more please...

Chris @ RM

[clkwrk]

Thanks for the id's Chris ! I was pretty sure of all of them except the first and last one thanks alot.

As for the lps .... The last one has a decent mixture of sizes. Some corralites are about the size of a small zoanthid and others are close to 1/2 inch from the edges of the raised walls . Some are round others oblong.

Here are better pics of those requested.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-april-24th-06-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-april-24th-06-1a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/new-echino.jpg

.........................

Now for a few more.

Possible ganulosa?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/granulosa-growth-b.jpg

No clue. Resembles too many for me .
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/yellow-tenuis-2-06.jpg
This one I lost but saved a frag. All my fault to . I moved it lower during a reaquascape..Then back up 2 weeks later(bleached)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-nov-16th-z.jpg

And this one. I know echno but I thought aspera? But I don't think so ........
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/120-1-05-d.jpg

[clkwrk]

opps 2 more :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-april-23rd-06-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-april-23rd-06-1h.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-april-23rd-06-1i.jpg

[bradleyj]

Hi Chris, I'm back with a couple more.
I bought this one and it was a bright brown colony.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/100_5516Large.jpg
And now it is a brilliant green.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/Recent%20Pix/100_7908Large.jpg

This one came out of a local LFS display tank.
Some sort of deepwater acro.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/100_7093Large.jpg

And one of my favorite colonies. I believe it is a tort, but is so thick with polyp extension. It has about 6 different arms extending outward about 7 inches long.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/Recent%20Pix/100_8161Large.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/100_8168Large.jpg
Here is a side shot, but I can't get a picture of the whole colony from the side but this shows how big it is.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/Recent%20Pix/100_8165Large.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Chris, your too much. I didnt think anyone liked my big pic shots.lol. Im getting some new stuff today. We shall see if they need an id or they are the real deal.

[undertai]

Hello chris I got a couple no one can seem to figure out. Can you help?

1.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCI0011.jpg

2.) I say Acropora Parapharaonis
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCF0001h.jpg

3.)Purple one in back
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/400/DSCF0012e.JPG

4.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/41206/DSCF0009b.jpg

[undertai]

A couple more to id


1.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/cDSCF0012.jpg

2.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCI0017.jpg

3.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCF0018f.jpg

4.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCF0016f.jpg

5.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCF0004a.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Okay a couple more before I call it a night.

Clkwrk,

#1 (Favia retake) I still believe that this is Favia rosaria. They have reasonably large and sharped edged corallites.

#2 I am still thinking along the lines of a Echinophyllia echinoporoides. The corallites are smaller than an E. aspera and not quite so defined.

#3 Looks to have very small corallites and seems to be more toothy. I am actually thinking a Oxypora lacera with this one.

#4 I agree it is a A. granulosa

#5 A. vermiculata, I have seen a few come through lately (you might see one on my site on Wednesday). They have very scaly corallites which are very uniform. We sometimes see these come in as blue and are Bali Cultured. These are newer and given enough light can turn an unbelievable yellow (The brightest I have ever seen!).

#6 It faintly resmebles a A. loripes with the bare branches (with no corallites growing on one side). But I can't really make it out as it is somewhat blurry. Sorry to hear that you lost it, hopefully your frag will become a colony over time.

#7 The one that was sold to you as a Echino is a Echino but not the kind of Echino you were thinking if you were thinking an Echino... :) It is an Echinopora gemmacea, I have one in my display tank that is exactly the same as this just larger. I love it, in direct lighting it is bright pink and red, shaded it is a brilliant green.

Thanks for the challenges Clkwrk, I would love some more if you have any.

Chris @ RM

I almost forgot the next two.

The one with the brown polyps and Purple tips looks to me like a A. desalwii but with the polyps out so far I cannot see the corallites. I you can take another photo with the corallites retracted I might be able to give you a better guess.

Now the last one you are asking about it looks to me like a A. vaughani. They are almost always blue and have corallites that are widely spaced. But I am not completely sure on this one. Would there be any chance for a closeup of the corallites?

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Brad,

#1 A. loripes, with the white polyps and having one side of the branch bare of corallites. It has become a gorgeous specimen for you.

#2 Is a deepwater A. granulosa, you should see the long bare axial corallites develop as it grows out.

#3 Ouch this is a tough one! What a funky growth pattern and insanely gorgeous to boot! But I believe that you are right. I think it is a Acropora tortuosa even though it has much longer polyps than most. There isn't anything that I can think of that has axial corallites that grow to be as funky as these, and that blue... there is nothing like that blue from a tort.

I hope this helps you out. Please post some more if you have them....

Chris @ RM

[bradleyj]

Thanks Chris, this has been fun!

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, who will be next with the next round of guess that coral!

[ReefWaters]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6506276#post6506276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AcroSteve
This one is very tolerant of low flow and light. Looks like porites of some sort.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown2a.jpg


Definately porites. IMO

[Milleme]

this has got to be the longest id thread ever

[kbxiong67]

SPSs!!

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Undertai,

Some of the corals that you are asking me to help you out with are quite small. I have a difficult time when trying to ID frags as they have not fully developed their overall structure. I have seen some strange things happen to frags as they grow and therefore I am reluctant to make a concrete decision. But I will do my best....

#1 Looks to me like a Crayola Tabletop which most seems to be a A. latistella, but realistically it can be a couple of different species. I am not sure if anyone has noticed this but there are several species in Veron where the photos listed on each of the species are almost exactly the same. This species is one of those. A. desalawii, plana and latistella all are quite similar. But from what I have seen as a mature colony, with fully developed branches and undisturbed corallites I believe these to be A. latistella.

#2 I respect your guess but I disagree. One thing that I try to do when ID'ing is to look at the distrubution map. I don't always follow this as some corals look too similar but according to the map they don't exist in that part of the ocean (A. maryae for example). When looking at this frag several times I have come to the conclusion that it is just too small to ID. Too much room for failure when it is this size. Take another photo after it has grown a few inches, or if possible get me a photo of the mother colony.

#3 This photo is pretty blurry so I am having a little bit of a hard time with it. But I have narrowed it down to 2 possible species A. cerealis or A. azurea. A. cerealis would make more sense as it has a larger distrubution but with the way the corallites seem to curl back into the branch I am inclined to say A. azurea. Maybe if you could get a better photo I might be able to say one way or another.

#4 Same as #2 as it is just too small and the polyps are out too far to give you good guess.

For the next post....

#1 I am pretty sure that this is A. ceralis. The tubular corallites, deep purple and the yellow tips.

#2 I am inclined to say A. anthrocercis. This is another one that is pretty close to A. plana, latistella and desalawii. But the raidal corallites can be more rounded and they also have flowering polyps. I would be interested to see what this looks like in 6 months.

#3 A. insignis with the long tapering branches and the very uniform corallites. Somtimes the corallites with contrast in color from the branch.

#4 Not sure, any chance for a full colony shot?

#5 Looks to me like a A. tenuis but again it is a little small, give it some more time and retake it. I can then give you a better guess.

Thanks for the challenges! I need more, we can't just let this thread die! :)

I am ready when you are....

Chris @ RM

[dkle]

How come I missed this thread all this time? Can I play as well? Thank you Chris in advance

A.batunai?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/ORAyellow06.04.25.JPG[/url





A.granulosa?

[url=http://xs.to]http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.granulosa06.04.26.JPG (http://xs.to)




Another granulosa?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/greengranulosa06.04.26.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.nobilis?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/Bigredstag06.03.14.JPG (http://xs.to)

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/Redstagcloseup06.04.26.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.? I have no idea what this is

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/ORAbluebottlebrush06.04.25.JPG (http://xs.to)

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/ORAbluebottlebrushtopdown06.04.07.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.youngei?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/Bluestag06.04.25.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.plana?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.planatopdown06.04.13.JPG (http://xs.to)

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Excellent! I agree with you on every one except one! The A. nobilis seems to have corallites that are a bit too scale like (pointy) my thought on this one is A. abrolhosensis. I have one that is almost exact to this in my display tank (red as well). Too cool to have a red stag (other than A. abrotanoides).

Your unknown i think is a A. tenuis with the completely circular opening to the corallites.

Sweet photos by the way.

Play any time... :)

Off to bed.

Chris @ RM

[undertai]

I have a couple more also. Thanks for the help chris with the other ones.

1.) I call it an A. Solitaryensis
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/DSCF0007a.jpg

2.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/cDSCF0011.jpg

3.) Maybe to blurry to see. I will try and get a top down pic of the blurry corals. But I call it A. cytherea or a. plana but going for the first one.
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/600/cDSCF0010.jpg

4.) http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/400/DSCF0010.JPG

[dkle]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7257288#post7257288 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
Excellent! I agree with you on every one except one! The A. nobilis seems to have corallites that are a bit too scale like (pointy) my thought on this one is A. abrolhosensis. I have one that is almost exact to this in my display tank (red as well). Too cool to have a red stag (other than A. abrotanoides).

Your unknown i think is a A. tenuis with the completely circular opening to the corallites.

Sweet photos by the way.

Play any time... :)

Off to bed.

Chris @ RM


Thank you for the quick response. What threw me off with that Tenuis is that the fully developed corallites seem to be too long for a tenuis.


Here are some more

A.jaquelinae?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.jaque06.04.24.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.tenuis?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/BlueA.tenuis06.04.13.JPG (http://xs.to)

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/BlueA.tenuistopdown06.04.13.JPG (http://xs.to)





A.vermiculata? I think the axial corallites are short enough to qualify it as vermiculata anyway. What do you think?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.vermiculata06.03.18.JPG (http://xs.to)

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.vermiculatatopdown06.04.13.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.robusta?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/BlueA.robusta06.04.13.JPG (http://xs.to)




Sold to me as A.solitaryensis

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.soli06.04.12.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.carolinia?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06174/A.carolinia06.04.12.JPG (http://xs.to)


Thanks!

[bradleyj]

Where have you been dkle? I figured you would find this post sooner. Your pictures are great as usual. I need to come by again and see how packed your tank is getting.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Okay I'm back...

Undertai,

#1 Is a little too close for me to really give a definite answer. If you could get another from further out I would appreciate it. But from what I can see it seems to be either a A. solitaryensis or something else :)

#2 I haven't seen this species in a long while. This is a tough Bali Cultured species that doesn't really fit into any of the defined species in Veron. My best guess is a A. macrostoma with the long tubular corallites that are very organized. But I can easily have an incorrect guess here.

#3 I can't make out heads or tails as it is (just as you state) too blurry.

#4 From the small photo that you have provided and the crazy growth pattern and mixed up corallites I believe that this is a A. austera.

I hope this helps you out. Get me some more photos of those others as time passes.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dkle,

Once again I agree with you on almost everyone except the A. tenuis. If you look closely the one you are guessing is a A. tenuis and the next one which you are calling a A. vermiculata are almost a carbon copy of each other. So which way do we go? I believe that both of these are A. vermiculata as the corallites seem to be very scale like and not quite as horseshoe shaped as found in A. tenuis.

Take it for what its worth.

Have a great night all. Throw me some more if you've got em. I still haven't seen enough (I don't think I ever will).

Chris @ RM

[undertai]

Well I'm back and I have more to show.

1.) This was a browned out colony that I bought for $17 at a LFS.
For Bigger Picture Click Here (http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/images/DSCI0019.JPG)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/images/DSCI0019a.jpg

2.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/images/DSCI0017a.jpg
Same Coral different angle
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/reefcentral/DSCI0010.jpg

3.) Image of the one I called A. Solitaryensis (I have fragged it since picture to make room for others)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new/DSCI0017.jpg

4.) Need both id But mainly interested in the green one in back.
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/reefcentral/DSCI0032.jpg

5.) You asked for a full colony shot its about 6 months ago (From previous post)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/reef/DSCI0003.jpg

6.) This use to be the purple with green polyp when I first got it 4 months ago (one from one of my other post. Blurry purple on in back of picture)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/reef/DSCI0005.jpg

7.) The one u called A. macrostoma (better picture)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/pics/100_0067a.jpg

8.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/corals/41206/DSCF0002.jpg

[Bebo77]

that last one is AWESOME all white/ cream so nice...^^^^

[dkle]

Thank you Chris again. It's nice to have the ids confirmed like this.

Here are a few more challenges for you


A.teres?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/Greenpolypcloseup06.04.12.JPG (http://xs.to)

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/greenpolyptopdown06.04.07.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.formosa?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/Bluetiptopdown06.04.07.JPG (http://xs.to)

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/Bluetipcloseup06.02.15.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.insignis?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/Indopurpletip06.04.08.JPG (http://xs.to)




Sold to me as A.elseyi

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/BlueA.elseyitopdown06.04.07.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.turaki?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/A.turaki06.04.01.JPG (http://xs.to)




A.nasuta?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/A.nasuta06.04.29.JPG (http://xs.to)





A.carduus?

http://xs78.xs.to/pics/06176/A.carduustopdown2.25.06.JPG (http://xs.to)

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Sorry folks, I have been very busy this weekend and I left this thread unattended. I apologize. I will not let it happen again (until next weekend :) )

Undertai,

#1 Is an interesting Acro. From what I can see at this particular moment the corallites are really spread apart and the branches are really tapered but it is not a stagnorn. The only one that I can make out that fits this bill is A. fastigata.

#2 I am probably making a horrible guess with this but from the shape of the corallites and for how smooth the branches appear to be I think this is a A. valida. I am probably way off with this one. Sometimes when a coral appears this way I try to go with some sort of color pattern, but this has none so I can't go by that.

#3 This could be a A. solitaryensis but the axial corallites seem to be to thick (like 2x thicker than the soli's that I have come through my door). I beleive this to be a A. granulosa. Only time will tell though, let it grow out a bit and take another photo.

#4 I am having a very hard time with both of these. The one in the back is really too small to get a reliable ID on. The other is a little too blurry but it looks like it might turn into a Purple Bonzai (A. valida).

#5 With the way that the radial corallites are aligned and the tips sort of stunted I am inclined to say that this is a A. inermis. But there are several species that have similarities to this, so take this ID lightly.

#6 With the Purple popping out and the lips or the corallites yellow I can positively say that this is a A. valida.

#7 Thanks for the retake and yes I still believe that this is a A. macrostoma.

#8 Not an Acropora but a Montipora altasepta.

Thanks again for retaking those that I asked about.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dkle,

#1 What a gorgeous colony! How large is it in diameter? I do not believe that this is a A. teres. A. teres have very immeresed polyps and corallites almost appear to be shaved off. Acropora copiosa is what I can come up with. A. copiosa have lots of branchlets and very few secondary radial corallites (the smaller corallites between the larger ones).

I completely agree with you on the A. formosa and the A. insignis.

The one that you was sold to you as a A. elseyi looks to have corallites that are much too small for it to be that species. I am not going to even guess as this it too small for me to give a even educated guess.

I also agree with the ID on the A. turaki. The rounded but long tubular corallites are quite distinctive.

The A. nasuta I believe is a Acropora striata. The branching structure seems to be more stag like and the radial corallites have tubular shape with a protruding lower lip.

Your A. carduus is.... in my opinion a A. carduus... :)

Beautiful photos, thanks again. I love the challenge, bring it on!

Chris @ RM

[SPStoner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7233717#post7233717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
I need to take a break for a little bit. Maybe watch some Bball. Don't tell SPStoner about this thread as his Cavs won and my Lakers lost. I am sure he is already gloating :) and I really don't want him rubbing it in :)

I will be back in a little while.

Chris @ RM


:D I was gloating, but now it's your turn! Looks like both series will go 7 games....

BTW, nice dunk OVER Nash by Kobe on Thursday night!

[undertai]

A couple more. I think thats it until I by some more corals. tuesday

http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/reefcentral/DSCI0032.jpg
The first two corals are from the picture above. Except the purple one is more of a teal color now..


1.) The kinda purple one on the bottom
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCI0014.JPG
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0006.JPG
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0011.JPG

2.) Acropora gomezi
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0001.JPG
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0015.JPG

3.) Sold as Acropora Chesterfieldensis
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0020.JPG

4.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0007.JPG
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0018.JPG

5.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0016.JPG

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Undertai,

Photos #1 and #2- I am still have a tough time with this one. It could be a Tort of some type...

Photos #3 and #4 looks to me like a Acropora awi. It has the same long tubular corallites that are frequently divided.

ID #2 I agree that it is a A. gomezi

ID#3 It could be a A. chesterfieldensis but it is too small in my opinion for me to make a judgement.

ID #4 Is too small for me to give a accurate ID

ID #5 Looks to me like a A. anthrocercis or A. latistella, etc.... or something like that. But it has too many of those characteristics at this size. Give it some more time and I will give it another shot.

Sorry about the vague ID's on some of these....

I hope this sort of helps. :)

Chris @ RM

[undertai]

What about this one.
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/top/DSCF0015.jpg

I call it a millepora but it could be a prostrata. I have a marron colored mille and it looks different from it.
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/top/DSCF0011.jpg

Acropora kimbeensis?
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/top/DSCF0005.jpg

and the last one
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/top/DSCF0004.jpg

[Stoney Mahony]

Please help id this acro, I have no clue:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/RyanChatterson/Album5007.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/RyanChatterson/Album2008.jpg

[anative]

Ok Chris you did so well on the last ones how about taking a crack at these

#1
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/55.jpg

#2
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/58.jpg

#3
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/61.jpg

#4
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/67.jpg

#5
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/70.jpg

#6
http://www.my-reef.com/images/Ids/73.jpg

Thanks for all your help!!!

Jon

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Sorry All,

I have watched the kids this weekend while my wife was away. We survived even though I lost a bit more sanity (like I had any to begin with). Actually it's pretty obvious that I don't have any with some of the names that I come up with for my corals :) .

So back to ID'ing

Undertai,
#1 With the long axial tubular corallites and the classic Purple Tricolor coloration this is a A. cerealis.

#2 I don't think this is a A. prostrata as the branches aren't tapered and the corallites are relatively the same size. In other words I agree that this is a A. millepora.

#3 I concure that this is a A. kimbeensis.

#4 I am not really sure about this one. It looks like several species. My best guess might be a A. pruinosa. Usually brown with long polyps and long, smooth and tubular corallites.

I hope this helps...

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Dear Stoney-Mahoney

This gorgeous frag that you have looks to me like the classic Crayola Tabletop with the turquoise branches and purple tips. The Crayola Tabletop has been ID'ed as several different species including A. desalawii, A. plana and A. latistella. This particular frag that you have here looks to me identical to the one that I get out of Fiji. From what I can see from the circular corallites and some what thin branch structure it looks to me like a A. latistella. There are other colonies that come out of Bali and Jarkarta that have thinner branches and different shaped corallites and are therefore a different species.

Give me some more if you have them.

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

chris, need help with this one. And its a clear one.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412033.jpg">

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Anactive,

Okay here goes;

#1 Looks to me like a Bali Green Slimer. It was orginally ID'ed as a A. yongei. But after further review and getting many colonies of slimers from Fiji, I noticed that the Slimer's have a completely different radial corallite structure than the A. yongei. A. yongei's have a egg shaped opening to the radial corallite where as the Slimer's have a triangular shaped radial corallite. So I started to research into the various staghorns that have a wide distrubution and I found that the corallites structure pretty much matches that of the A. formosa.

#2 A. samoensis

#3 A. anthocercis- you can check veron, page 369 photo #5 looks has almost the same structure. The polyps also appear to be the same flowering shape.

#4 A. donei- I have one in my display, same color, same thicker branch tabletop with very circular radial corallites.

#5 A. abrolhosensis- This one I am a little hesitant ID'ing as the polyps are out in full force, but this matches the general branching structure as well as the highly unorganized bushy polyps.

#6 A. rosaria- they look very similar to a A. loripes but there are many more radial corallites that align the branches.

I hope this helps you out. I would love to see some more....

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Wentreefgirl,

Beautiful photo by the way. I little hard to judge as it is so close and I cannot see the overall stucture of the coral. But from what I can see this seems to be a Tabletop A. hyacinthus with the flower formation of the radial corallites.

If you can provide another photo I can hopefully strengthen my guess :) .

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Now Fellow Reefers,

There are lots and lots of other types of corals. Is there anyone that has something other than Acropora that I can ID? Don't get me wrong, I still want to ID Acropora but I would also like to stay sharp on other types of SPS and LPS if possible, or give me links to threads that I can try and give a hand to.

Just a thought....

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, is this ok. I have a stumping pic of echino. But dont have but one pic.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412023.jpg">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/F38-2.jpg">

Theres question of this being a rare peice. ???????

[AcroSteve]

Ah, but this is the SPS forum:D. I do not want to get this great thread moved. :lol:

I will start with an easy one.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/24153SmallXeniaFrag.jpg

:lol:


How about this Piorites? It is my oldest coral. Actually, two or three spots of it survived the trip on my Marshal Island live rock.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2704.jpg


And then this one I just picked up. I don't expect much color out of it, but I really liked the texture.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2705.jpg

This was billed as a Tyree blue chalice. I have yet to get it to turn blue. :lol:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2707.jpg

Wentreefgirl, wanna trade frags? :D




And this last one.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/DSCN2708.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Wentreefgirl,

Dog gone it, now with that I have seen the second photo I am inclined to say A. millepora but I am still not completely sure. Can you post a larger photo like the one prior? I have seen A. millepora look like a A. hyacinthus as a small colony only to take on the characteristics of a A. millepora as it grows out.

The second is a Echinopora lamellosa and it is pretty rare. We do get them from time to time but only a few a year. I have a huge Powder Blue one in my display. It came in a Pistachio green but has changed to this current blue.

Let me know if you have anything else you would like me to take a shot at.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Acrosteve,

The first is a incredibly rare. I have only seen this once before (earlier today) :) . It has a hard skeleton and grows very slowly right? :) I think the scientific name is Acropora getthehellouttamyspstankus.

#2 Porites cumulatus which has a honey-comb pattern to the corallites and stubby branches.

#3 Pachyseris speciosa

#4 Echinopora lamellosa

#5 Platygyra pini

Those will turn into some neat pieces as they grow.

Chris @ RM

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7349432#post7349432 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
Acrosteve,

The first is a incredibly rare. I have only seen this once before (earlier today) :) . It has a hard skeleton and grows very slowly right? :) I think the scientific name is getthehellouttamyspstankus

lol :lol: :rollface:

[wentreefgirl]

Acgro steve, does your echin lami supposed to look like this one. I got him at 1" and now hes 3 x 4. Tyree le baby blue.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Tank%20pics/Picture884411941.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412030.jpg">

[undertai]

Chris do you have a guess one these 2 corals.

1.) Not sure if it is a monti. or acro
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0012a.jpg

2.)
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0003a.jpg

[Stoney Mahony]

Ok Chris, heres another one. I bought it as Chips acro but I have seen many variations that look nothing alike. Thanks for the help!
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/RyanChatterson/Album7084.jpg

This one is just a frag but it looks awesome. It supposedly came in as a WaltSmith unidentified acro so I figure you would probably know best. It looks similar to a tort but is super chunky! Here is a close up, I will try to get a better pic.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/RyanChatterson/Monster1.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Undertai,

#1 Possibly A. meridiana but this looks like several species, one way for me to get a better idea to what it might be is to take a photo with another "more recognizable" acro in the same frame. This would allow me to see the size of the corallites and thickness of the branch.

#2 Montipora porites but this is awfully small for me to give a "good guess".

Thanks for keeping me on my toes,

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Stoney Mahoney,

#1 The branches look pretty thin and it looks as though it is forming a table. So I am inclined to say A. plana, but with several of these purple tipped, thin branchlets, fuzzy polyped species there are several that look way too similar and they are tough for me to differentiate between them.

#2 Is the "becoming more common but none the less beautiful" Acropora maryae (Red Sea) - where the name is debated, but the structure is almost a carbon copy.

Anyone else? I need some more challenges....

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

I will have you 2 more soon. Photobucket is down

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, that didnt work. Well ill try again in a bit.

[wentreefgirl]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Tank%20pics/Picture884412046.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Tank%20pics/83_1.jpg">
Happy guessing.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Wentreefgirl,

Okay here goes...

#1 Acropora kosurini, not very common and looks similar to A. insignis but there are a few distinguishing characteristics. First is that there does not seem to be a color contrast between the branch color and the radial corallites. Second is that there are quite a few incipient axial corallites. Third, it seems to have very triangular and branch hugging corallites.

#2 A. sarmentosa is quite distinguishable with the flattened axial corallites and somewhat thick tabling branches.

Nice photos. Thanks again. What is happening to this thread? I need more, I know you all have more :)

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

Thanks so much Chris. Im still working on more. How are you at lps. Theres a person on lps looking for id of something that looks like favia war coral.

[undertai]

What about these corals:

1.) I say A. Prostra
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0004d.jpg
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0006d.jpg

2.)No clue
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0009d.jpg
http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0010d.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Wentreefgirl,

I love LPS just as much as SPS. Some can be very difficult to ID if there isnt a size reference but I will always make a stab. Start a thread in the LPS forum and I will follow.....

Undertai,

I don't think the first one is a A. prostrata. I am thinking A. millepora on this due to the thicker branches and very randomly sized corallites.

The second one I believe is a very funky and distorted A. turaki but it could also be a A. navini. The only way to tell when a Acro is this distorted is to compare the sizes of the corallites with a different "more recognizable" Acropora. If you can include another Acropora in the photo I can give you a better "guess".

Keep 'em coming....

Chris @ RM

[Stoney Mahony]

How about this one Chris: A. Nana?
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/RyanChatterson/Picture064.jpg
This is a frag, too early to tell?
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/RyanChatterson/Album2093.jpg

Thanks again Chris!

[kroe]

Here's a tricky one for you (I think):

<img src="http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/kennethroe@sbcglobal.net/detail_hires?.dir=80e5&.dnm=ffb8.jpg" width ="800"/>

[vitaldefect001]

what do you think?

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/liquidcfour/fragswapper/DSC04566sm.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

thanks

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Stoney,

A. nana is a good guess, but I think the branches are too thick for that species. My guess would be A. azurea as it is similar to both A. valida and A. nana but has thicker branches and radial corallites that have a larger opening.

The second photo of the frag is quite small. It seems to have the beginnings of a A. cerealis but only time will tell.


Kroe,

With the fused branches and the relatively short incipient axial corallites my thought is a Indo Cultured A. solitaryensis.

Thanks for playing "name that frag, colony, colored stick, etc" :)

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Vitaldefect001,

I actually posted on your thread last night... But no worries here is my answer.

When I first saw this photo I was also thinking A. nasuta with the shallow saucer shaped radial corallites but the branch length kinda bothered me to the point where I started looking around. And then I found a species that seems to match it a bit more= A. mirabilis. They have somewhat long tapered branches, thinner rather than thick branches and short radial corallites. I have gotten a few in over this past year that match this to some extent and this is what I come up with..... Take it for what its worth.

Chris @ RM

Beautiful Acro by the way.

[vitaldefect001]

is this speicies more rare then most?
i did a quick search on it... and didnt find much...

any recomendations on what it needs for flow and light?

-brandon

[burkleman]

Here are some that I could use ID'ed please.

1.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267frag_of_unknown_acro_1__Large_.jpg

2.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267unknown_acro_2__Large_-med.jpg

3.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267unknown_acro_3__Large_.jpg

4.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267unknown_acro_4__Large_-med.jpg

5.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267unknown_acro_5__Medium_.jpg

6.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267unknown_acro_6__Medium_.jpg

7.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267tri_color_acro__Large_-med.jpg

8.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267pic_of_corals_for_swap_034__Medium_.jpg

9.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83267purple_tip_acro__Large_-med.jpg

sorry for some of the bad photos, and thanks.

Brandon

[bradleyj]

Hey Chris, Do you know what type of mushroom this is?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/My%20mushrooms/100_5721Large.jpg

And what about these buttons?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/My%2065%20Gallon%20reef/100_8061Medium.jpg

[perc]

Wow Chris, you are the man:D The walking coral encyclopedia man:lol:

Anyways, got a couple for ya if your not too bogged down

1. Always kinda wondered
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/percula1869/acro3.jpg

2. deffinetly the next thing im getting
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/percula1869/Iwan026.jpg

Thanks for your help:D

[castorpollux]

those button mushrooms are haitian, they get huge right? i know they are extremely poisonous too.

[rkl303]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown1a.jpg

What is that pinkish purple frilly thing on the left of that picture? I have some in my tank it it is kind of a slow grower but the ex emerald crab used to love eating it.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

vitaldefect001

This is definately not a common Acropora. I find that they like moderate flow and light. But from the look of your photo it is quite happy and I wouldn't change a thing (unless this isn't in your reef?).

I hope this helps...

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Burkleman,

Unfortunately I am having a hard time with quite a few of these frags. When pieces are this small it is difficult to see their true structure. I will do my best but please don't hold me to it, because as they grow they might turn into something completely different.

#1 A. schmitti or A. chesterfieldensis as they have the most defined barrel shaped corallites.

#2 Awfully ragged but I am inclined to guess A. nobilis but it could easily be a Green Slimer A. formosa. Does it slime heavily and immediately if you touch it or remove it from your reef?

#3 A. insignins but I could be way off, the photo is pretty blurry and the colony is quite small.

#4 A. valida or A. cerealis again too small to really tell, but this is definately a tricolor with thinner branches so it is probably one of these two species.

#5 A. sarmentosa with the blunt tips and rosette arrangement of the corallites.

#6 A. cerealis as this one is large enough to start to see the elongated tubular radial corallites.

#7 A. valida or quite possibly A. azurea but its hard to tell at this time.

#8 A. tenuis, as it has very characteristic blue tipped circular corallites.

#9 Another A. cerealis

I hope this helps but don't put much weight on it.... Retake the photos in 6 months and then ask me again... I would be interested in how close my guesses were.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Bradleyj,

Someone in another post mentioned Haitian but I don't think so as they have Zoo on the same rock that look they might be from the Solomon's as they have the short tentacle and are relatively small. So I believe those are some sort of Discosoma sp., really nice ones by the way...

I am assuming you mean the huge button polyps amongst the Ricordea's, those are Protopalythoa grandis. I wish I could get those more often they are really neat :)

Let me know if you have anymore.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Perc,

Thanks for the compliments, but it comes with a price as folks always looks at me kind of funny (or tell me to shut up, if they live with me :) ) when watching a reef related program on PBS, etc...

The first is a A. austera (Yellow Tort), a slow grower but they are bulletproof.

The second is a bit tougher, the photo is a little close (I can't see the overall structure). I am assuming that this is a staghorn and what a beauty. From the striations on the corallites and separation between them I am guessing A. striata. But if you can get another photo of the overall coral I might have a different guess.

I would love to have a frag of that one....

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

rkl303,

This looks to me like a A. sarmentosa that originally was collected in a lower flow area as it has the same blunt axial corallites but the radial corallites are not quite as pronounced as they normally are.

Chris @ RM

[perc]

Thanks for the compliments, but it comes with a price as folks always looks at me kind of funny (or tell me to shut up, if they live with me ) when watching a reef related program on PBS, etc...

Well just remember that for every person like that, there is another one out there (like me) that really admires you for it. While they may tell you to shut up, I would probably pay money to hear your commentary on a pbs show:D
I can also tell how passionate you are about it, unlike alot of people who do it just to prove something. And it shows in your web site and your live stock. They all look amazing:eek2: . I cant wait till this summer, i am currently setting up a 210 sps dom tank, and I def know where I will be getting all of my large colonies:cool: .

anyways
But if you can get another photo of the overall coral I might have a different guess.
Yeah, if this picture is true to its real colors, I would def give an appendage for a frag of it. Here is a pic of the whole colony, this pic is actually the reason I fell in love with this colony. The color is is absolutely gorgeous.(Im a sucker for blue :rolleye1: )
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/percula1869/Iwan016.jpg


And one more of mine for ya
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g212/percula1869/acro5.jpg

Once again thanks for takin the time to help us out:D

[dilligaf_biker69]

ok...a few ID's for ya...treating corals now for redbugs so a good chance to get a pic or two...same coral...polyps out...and in

http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idtort2.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idtort3.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idtort.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)

not the best pics...but do believe you can see corallites

http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idunknown.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idunknown1.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)


chips?

http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idchips.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)


color is washed out...usually a light green

http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idunsure.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)

tort?
http://images5.theimagehosting.com/idtort5.jpg (http://www.theimagehosting.com)

thanks....will get some of your frags I have in your forum..thanks
Roy

[AcroSteve]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7400561#post7400561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rkl303
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a159/sbowman01d/Unknown1a.jpg

What is that pinkish purple frilly thing on the left of that picture? I have some in my tank it it is kind of a slow grower but the ex emerald crab used to love eating it.

As far as I know, it is a type of coraline algae. And yes, it does grow slow.

[perc]

Wow, thats pretty cool coraline! I want some

[vitaldefect001]

definatly my picture/tank :)
thanks alot for the help...

-brandon

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Perc,

That is one incredible Blue Staghorn, I can't remember the last time I have seen something that bright a blue. Well I take that back a few years back I was in Fiji during one of the Bleaching episodes and I saw a few corals that were that blue in nature but unfortunately they were almost dead (hyperoxygenated) :( . Is this one of those Stags in that European system? And from the second overall shot I still believe that this is a A. striata (same branching structure).

The frag that you have pictured is a A. humilis. They have blunt tips and very distinctive circular radial corallites.

I recently did a hour and a half talk for MASLAC in LA about the identification of corals. I went over about 18 different groups of common misnomers (slimers, superman danae etc...). It sure was alot of fun. I seemed to get a pretty good response. Botwin sure helped me out with the setup of a Power Point presentation. Kudos to him! But beyond that we actually spoke about helping out other Reef clubs and folks that would like to know more. I would be happy to get this thing moving.... I just need the time to be able to do it... Family, RM, etc.... But it was so much fun I would love to do more public speaking.

Well thanks again for listening.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Roy,

I hope your treatment goes well...

photos 1 thru 3= Yellow Tort or A. austera, they have pretty distinctive radial corallites that are tubular but also shaved off at an angle.

photos 4 and 5= Green Tort or another A. austera. Look at the structure of the radial corallies you will see that they are almost exactly the same.

#6 could be a Chips but what is the species name of a Chips? The polyps are out so far I am having to tough time deciding but I believe that this might be A. desalawii or something similiar to this. Just a guess though, if you can get a photo with the polyps retracted I might be able to give you a better guess.

#7 A. tenuis, almost always has a long tubular axial corallite and radial corallites that have circular openings.

#8 A. tortuosa, and what a nice beginning to a beautiful colony.

Give me some more if you have them.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Vitaldefect001,

Sweet photo and a gorgeous piece. Do you have anymore that I can help you with? I would love to help you out in any way that I can....

Chris @ RM

[perc]

That is one incredible Blue Staghorn, I can't remember the last time I have seen something that bright a blue

Yeah, tell me about it. There is just something about that color, It looks beautiful.

Well I take that back a few years back I was in Fiji during one of the Bleaching episodes and I saw a few corals that were that blue in nature but unfortunately they were almost dead (hyperoxygenated) . Is this one of those Stags in that European system?

Yes it is from that "system". I couldnt get the owner to respond to any of my questions(another reason I appreciate your help) and I just had to know more about this colony. So does that mean that this one is hyperoxegenated as well? What does this mean for the health of the coral? It seems to be growing quite fast.
Never the less, these systems kindof make me wary, I would love colonies that look like that, but not at the cost of the health of my animals. Any insights on what is causing this coloration?

I recently did a hour and a half talk for MASLAC in LA about the identification of corals. I went over about 18 different groups of common misnomers (slimers, superman danae etc...). It sure was alot of fun

Wish I could have been there:( . Sounds like a very interesting topic. Some times I feel like I am on the wrong coast. Everything important in this hobby seems to happen on the west coast. Do you have any info about this topic I could check out over by the atlantic? :rolleyes:

Thanks again
David :D

[ReeferMadnessUS]

David,

Coral Bleaching in nature seems to be completely different than what happens in captivity. Hyperoxygenation (=insanely colored)is usually the last stage that one sees before the coral completely expells all of its zooxanthelle and therefore dies. Very sad sight to see especially when a whole reef top is effected. But what was really interesting was how quickly the reef tops started to regenerate after that bleaching episode occured. I saw some reefs that had some corals that survived the episode (mainly LPS- Acans, Faviids, etc), but the really cool thing was how many new Acropora that were popping up all over the dead skeletons. The recruitment was pretty neat to see.

But a captive reef is different especially when these new chemicals are involved. Now take what I am thinking here lightly as I am not a expert when it comes to these new additives like Zeo, etc. I have plenty of customers that use it and they love it, but I have many more that don't use it and have amazing colors (just not quite as intense). If one goes to a pristine reef in Fiji, Palau, GBR, etc one will see some corals that are incredibly colored but most are just average or even brown. But one will almost never see an entire reef that is colored to the point of making you choke and pass out from amazement as you dive in. Now that being said this "European Reef " is a sight to behold but it sure reminds me of a nautural reef that is on its way out. Kinda like holding on but at any moment they are ready to let go. I think this reef is an extreme example. I am sure not all Zeo, etc tanks looks this way. Now if this reef holds on and does well for years to come then shame on me for giving a critique about something that I know almost nothing about... see notes above :) But the point I want to stress is that 99% of pristine reefs do not have these kind of colors found in every coral on the reef. Just a guess but maybe 5 to 10% have really nice colors (in natural, non-stressful conditions). The only time you get colors like this across an entire reef is when a swath of hot water passes over the reef and sits there for a few weeks stressing the corals to the point of them expelling their symbiotic life giving algae. Any coincidence? I am not sure and I cannot make a judgement. But I always like to keep my captive reefs as simple as possible. The more crap you add the more chance you have for it to fail.

Take "my uninformed opinions" for what its worth= uninformed. :)

Chris @ RM

Maybe I can make an Audio Tape or a cheesy video that I could for all of you on the East Coast. :) lol - Or someone can pay for my flight out there- to do my cheesy Talk on coral ID's :)

[Malolo]

I have a few Acros which I could use help with ID wise. Gimmee your best guesses.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/107544DSC_1589_edited-med.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/107544DSC_1591_edited-med.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/107544DSC_1593_edited-med.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/107544DSC_1602_edited-med.jpg

The first 2 are MI Ocean cultured colonies I've been babying for about 6 monthes and the 2 others are frags recent acquisitions from a fellow reefer.

Thanks for any help.

[maggiesaqsup]

Ok Chris what kind of monti is this.It is not the best pic.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/imnotsure/may06080.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

maggiesaqsup, I think I have the same one. Not sure, but i think is nodosa.

[wentreefgirl]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412053.jpg">

Where did you pruchase yours?

[clkwrk]

Hey Chris here are a few more :D Thanks for the other ids.

Formosa?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/HQpics/blue-formosa-5-06.jpg

???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/HQpics/ora-delicate-stag-5-06.jpg

A closer pic of a previous acro that you wanted a closer look at.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-25th-d.jpg

This guy up top. I bought for growth and of course the purple /geen combo
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-5th-f.jpg

Was a lfs brown out . Again I bought for growth
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-25th-e.jpg

Some type of deepwater? Maybe jaq. ?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-25th-a.jpg

This one ?? Never anymore PE than that
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-25th-b.jpg

And this one which I have had over 2+ years. It is finally getting color back after a 1.5 year brown out.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-25th-c.jpg
This is when I first got it
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/new-aquacultured-coloniesbluegreeno.jpg

[clkwrk]

Oh crap forgot one . This is the most interesting one to me
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/o2manytnks/180/180-may-20th-e.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Malolo,

#1 A. vaughani, but i'd be curious to see what this looks like in 6 months as it looks like as though it wants to shoot up vertically.

#2 A. parahemprichii but I could be way off on this one. The photo is a little burry and I am having a hard time making out the radial corallites.

#3 A. tenius but the axial corallites are shooting outward giving it a deceiving look. But I have seen this with some of our colonies that we get in especially if they are in a lower flow area.

#4 A. robusta with the shaggy polyps and the small radial corallites.

I gave them my best but they are just guesses as they are kinda small.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Maggie,

As Wentreefgirl mentioned; what you have there is a Montipora nodosa. A gorgeous but common encrusting monti.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Clkwrk,

#1 I don't think this is a A. formosa as the corallites are too smooth and there are too many incipient axial corallites. The easiest way to tell whether you have a A. formosa is to place you fingers on the branch and rub up and down the branch.... :) If it slimes immediately then you know you have a very excitable A. formosa, lol. What I think you have here is an A. gomezi.

#2 A. parilis, with the thin long branches and the few and far between radial corallites.

#3 Thanks for the updated photo, and I still believe that this is a A. vaughani.

#4 A. solitaryensis with the fused branches and funky blue axial corallites.

#5 A. turaki with the long almost uniform tube like radial corallites and incipient axial corallites.

#6 I agree with the A. jacquelineae

#7 A funky Indonesian A. valida

#8 What is interesting is that this one looks to me like a A. formosa. Remember, rub up and then down to see if it gets excited and then slimes :) . But I could be very wrong with this one as the photo is a little blurry. If you could retake it I could do better for you.

Thanks again for keeping me sharp.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Clkwrk,

Porites monticulosa with the tiny, tiny corallites (0.5 mm) at least that is what I discern from you photo.

I hope this helps...

Chris @ RM

[REEF-DADDY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7443679#post7443679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
Clkwrk,

Porites monticulosa with the tiny, tiny corallites (0.5 mm) at least that is what I discern from you photo.

I hope this helps...

Chris @ RM

Its just crazy that you know all this stuff!

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7443710#post7443710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by REEF-DADDY
Its just crazy that you know all this stuff!

thats nothing he also knows the name of all salt water fish now thats crazy... lol have you seen chris in person? here is his picture

http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/8627/fmhands3nk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


good looking guy isnt he:lol: :lol:

[wentreefgirl]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/avatar-9.gif">

lol,lol,lol,lol. To the pic. Hes the saltwater master.

[REEF-DADDY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7445366#post7445366 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wentreefgirl
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/avatar-9.gif">

lol,lol,lol,lol. To the pic. Hes the saltwater master.


Hey in about 1 year I'll have a chips for ya. My 1/2" frag is growing like a weed!

[wentreefgirl]

Mine is 1/4 of an inch and holding.lol.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412059.jpg">

[glaudds]

Wow, what a great thread..Here's a few of my acro idontknowwhatitis..

This one encrusts like crazy
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/GLAUDDS/acros/April2006.jpg

Slow grower..
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/GLAUDDS/acros/April2006010.jpg

Last one....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/GLAUDDS/acros/April2006011.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Hey all, sorry I was away for the Memorial Day weekend. You all are cruel, I couldn't even comeback with something to protect myself. Personally I think you all are way off, I am much closer to a Jeff Goldbloom in Buckaroo Bonzai, etc... Heck I had the unfortunate experience of being called "Nature Boy" during elementary and middle school. I won't even mention what everyone wanted to put on my High School Football uniform :) . But I am back now and I will not allow any kicks in the groin unless I am kicking myself... :)

Okay now back to the job at hand...

Glaudds,

#1 Looks like a very nice piece but I am having a hard time coming up with a positive ID. I have narrowed it down to A. azurea or A. vailda. I would have an easier time if you could take another few shots for me- top down would be really helpful.

#2 A. insignis as it has the very uniform, rounded corallites. Usually they have corallites that contrast with the branches. I have a few in my display system and the look almost exactly the same and the grow at a snails pace.

#3 A. robusta- this should thin as it branches out. These stags are superb as they can have all the colors of a rainbow.

I hope this helps you out and thanks for joining this thread.

I still need more, we don't want this thread to die do we?

Chris @ RM

[gflat65]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7473444#post7473444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
Personally I think you all are way off, I am much closer to a Jeff Goldbloom in Buckaroo Bonzai, etc...

That's an image:eek1:. How many here have seen Buckaroo Bonzai;)?

[wentreefgirl]

How about aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, did I do that. lol You showing your age chris,lol.

[wentreefgirl]

Do you have a pic of your display tank, rm? Love to see it.

[glaudds]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7473444#post7473444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS

Glaudds,

#1 Looks like a very nice piece but I am having a hard time coming up with a positive ID. I have narrowed it down to A. azurea or A. vailda. I would have an easier time if you could take another few shots for me- top down would be really helpful.

I hope this helps you out and thanks for joining this thread.

I still need more, we don't want this thread to die do we?

Chris @ RM

Thanks Chris for sharing all your knowledge.....here's a top down shot.. the base of the colony encrusts widely....
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/GLAUDDS/acros/Picture014.jpg

A closer top down shot of one of the branches...

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/GLAUDDS/acros/Picture016.jpg

[ReeferMadnessUS]

I'm really not that old... well physically but mentally after being a vendor in this hobby for a decade I am very old :(, lol.

Buckaroo Bonzai is one of my all time favorites, I love Monty Python as well, hell most obscure movies and comedies are right up my alley. They go perfectly with my personality and this hobby for that matter. How else do you think I can up with the unique names of all these corals after all these years.... I calculated it the other day. While at Flying Fish I started naming corals probably about 1998 or 99, then I had a break from 2001 to about 2003, and now Reefer.... So I worked it out to be about 40,000 corals named!!! (Give or take several thousand :) ) Holy Crap!!! Now that I type it out that makes it even worse... I am doomed :) Oh by the way i'm 32 for those who might think I am old (which is still old in the eyes of a 20 year old). Not that it is any excuse for how I behave or how corrupted my mind is after all these years in this hobby:) .

Back to business once again....

Glaudds,

I have completely changed my mind. Now that I have a top view I am almost certain that you have a A. solitaryensis. I can see that the branches are fusing and that the incipient axial corallites are tubular and relatively thin. I actually have a large specimen in my system and it is probably the ugliest Acropora in our posession (sort of like 64ivy's efflo :) ). It has this huge 7 inch in diameter base with this tiny top and these little corallites poking out of a 4 inch top. Super Ugly! Which is nothing like yours.

I hope this helps you out. Give me some more (I am awfully demanding aren't I).... Please give me some more... Is that better?

Chris @ RM

[glaudds]

Thanks again, Chris!
I got the A. robusta from one of your frag packs.

Regarding the slow growing A. insignus....I noticed the "fastest" growth on the branches where I have accidentally broken off the tips. Would cutting the tips of the other branches stimulated new growth?

Here's another from your frag pack...I wish I had Graham label the bags for me...
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/GLAUDDS/acros/Picture018.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Was just joking chris. I knew you were much younger then me. Wheres your display shot.

[wentreefgirl]

Oh, and if its not too small. How about this one.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412157.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412154.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412171.jpg">

[wentreefgirl]

Chris, im showing my age, can you guess?
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/partridgefam.jpg">

[143gadgets]

Is this a Bottle Brush?

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/DSC_0078web.jpg

[SaraB]

Chris - This is awesome that you are sharing your knowledge. I like reading the thread and seeing if I have any that you have ID'd. I'd post a few pictures, but I keep spending all my extra money on corals and don't have any left for a good camera! Keep up the great work!

Sara
p.s. I'll be out in LA again in July and will stop by for more corals!

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Glaudds,

Yeah we should probably label all of our frag bags but the amount of time that it would take would be considerable.

It is much better for me to see a photo later on (just like this) so that we can get more publicity :) and I can see how our frags look once they are established in our customers reefs. I am always interested in how they do as folks used to and still do tell me that the frags from wild colonies don't do well because they are just that "wild". But I have seen otherwise as our reefs become more advanced and "cleaner" with more flow. I remember the day when we used to think that 10x turnover rate was sufficient but now we discuss 50x or more. The more the better. Sometimes I think that flow is more important than lighting (within reason of course). Enough of that I feel as I am blabbing... just like I do on the phone. My wife always tells me "there you go again... off on another tangent, never to the point" :)

The frag you have there is a A. clathrata. There are a gorgeous tabletop when they grow out.

Beautiful photo by the way.

Chris @ RM

[143gadgets]

Chris

Any idea what mine could be?

[bogg]

Hey Chris can you id this one?.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=172198&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

[bogg]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=172198&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500[/IMG]

[wentreefgirl]

*

[exoticaquatix]

hey all, im hoping you can help me ID this coral i found in one of our tanks. it was completely brown about a month ago and it has since colored up to this greenish blue. i have a close up of the polyps if necessary. thanks.
-nick
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/97900reef_tank_238.jpg

[exoticaquatix]

ok, im getting the hang of posting pics here. this one has been the source of debate with my co-workers and I. they say granulosa, i say lokani. who's right? any of us? this is the best pick i have. the mother colony seemed to have a table-like shape if that helps.
-nick

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/97900reef_tank_081.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, there are three it could be, the first two you said and carolininiana. All are tables. But if you had a pic of the mother colony as you cant really see the adult design it has. But if I had to make a Jen Veron guess it would be Lokani and if not it would be carolininiana. And the first is Cyphastrea Microphthalma.

[exoticaquatix]

wow, that was easy! thanks wentreefgirl. is Cyphastrea Microphthalma a hard to find coral? its the only one ive ever seen, im guessing its just not "flashy" enough to import too often. as far`as a pic of the mother colony of the other one im afraid it has since been fragged and spread across Baltimore. ill just have to wait for mine i guess. :D
-nick

[Stoney Mahony]

Lokani. Yeah, definately Lokani.(Rainman voice)

[exoticaquatix]

wentreefgirl
i just looked up the C. Microphthalma and all the pics showed the visible septa. this coral has never shown them. even after transport last night the polyps never retracted enough to show what would be the 10 septa. might it be something else? here is a pic of the polyps close up. thanks again.
-nick

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/97900reef_tank_237.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Ok, let me pull out the old coral bible and I shall see what I find.

[wentreefgirl]

I still think is cyphastrea species but might be wrong. C.Japonica, C.Serialina. But It could also be echinopora hirsutissima.

[exoticaquatix]

after some more looking i agree it is def a cyphastrea. fraggle reef has/had a pic that looks identical but the page does not work when i try to get details on it. how about C. ocellina? the search continues. thanks again wentreefgirl.
-nick

[wentreefgirl]

Another possiblility.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412223.jpg">

[wentreefgirl]

Oh, real big. yikes.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Wentreefgirl,

Sorry I'm a bit late this week, work has been super busy... From your post on the previous page. The frags that you have requested to be ID'ed are too small for me to really give definitive answer, but I will do my best.

#1 Could be mistaken for a A. gomezi but the corallites are so packed in there that I think it might be A. pectinatus.

#2 A. azurea or A. valida but again it is too small to really get a good idea on its overall structure.

#3 A. valenciennesi as this is another stag that has corallites that are stacked and packed in there. But like I said before these are really to small to give a reasonable ID.

Retake them in 6 months or so and try me again.... :)

Chris @ RM

P.S. I love the outfits... the Second Coming of the Brady Bunch. Man did I hate that show! LOL

[ReeferMadnessUS]

143gadgets,

I am here I promise.

A. aculeus as this is a bottlebrush species with very short and thinnner axial and incipient axial corallites.

Nice specimen, I have one right now that has huge white polyp extension right now. Seems to get shaggier by the day. I love the growth pattern of a bottlebrush, so different than almost any other species of Acropora.

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Sara B,

It has been quite awhile. I hope everything is doing well. I look forward to seeing you again at my warehouse. It looks so much better than the last time you came out to visit Southern Cal.

Bogg,

The photo is quite small, but from the loose branching structure and the "Crayola Tabletop" coloration pattern I believe that this is a A. desalawii. But I could be wrong as I can't see the corallites structure. If you can post a larger photo (or a closeup) I can help even more.

Thanks for joining in...

Chris @ RM

[ReeferMadnessUS]

exoticaquatix,

You are correct sir! I also believe that this is a A. lokani. A. granulosa will almost always have much more rounded corallites but they both grow in a tabletop fashion.

Looks like a gorgeous colony.

Now for the second coral that you wanted ID'ed. Wentreefgirl said that it resembles Cyphastrea but you pointed out the the tentacles remained out and fleshy. Cyphastrea are neither. They only have tentacles out while feeding and they are not fleshy. So this pointed me in the direction of Plesiastrea verispora. Another way to positively ID a Cyphastrea is that between the corallites will be bumpy and will not have ridges. This coral seems to have ridges rather than bumps and therefore another identifier of Plesiastrea verispora. Another thing I just noticed about your photos is that the corallites openings are large and open where as on Cyphastrea they are quite closed and tight to the mouth of the corallite.

I hope this helps you out. I love this Genus and species. I have only seen it a few times in my life.

Chris @ RM

[gflat65]

Just as all things circle, The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai through (?) the Eighth Dimension was on one of the DTV channels (Starz/Encore).

[exoticaquatix]

wow, thanks chris. its more rare than i thought. im glad i finally brought this piece home. it sat in our SPS system for quite a while and only one of our customers even noticed it besides me. he wanted it but knew i was keeping my eye on it so he left it. im going to do some research on this guy now that i know what he is.
also. thanks for finally proving me right about that lokani. i cant wait to "i told you so" my co-workers ;) :D
cant wait to pick up some more stuff from your place either, what i have from my last purchase is doing great.
-nick

[143gadgets]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7495756#post7495756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
143gadgets,

I am here I promise.

A. aculeus as this is a bottlebrush species with very short and thinnner axial and incipient axial corallites.

Nice specimen, I have one right now that has huge white polyp extension right now. Seems to get shaggier by the day. I love the growth pattern of a bottlebrush, so different than almost any other species of Acropora.

Chris @ RM

Thanks Chris!! Mine has bug white polyps as well. Any suggestions regarding flow and/or lighting?

[wentreefgirl]

exoticaquatix
Here you go. Wow, he is the master. I looked at this page but for some reason didnt resemble it. But he knows better then I. Thats why Im having him id my stuff too. THanks chris once again.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412238.jpg">

[exoticaquatix]

well, i just looked at every Plesiastrea verispora picture i could find and it appears to me that this is not what i have. the middle of each polyp isnt nearly as big as some of the pics. the polyps are also much farther apart and have a more irregular pattern. some but not all of the polyps are raised which looks more like a Cyphastrea than the Plesiastrea. the expansion of the polyps also seems to rule out the Cyphastrea. what we could have here is the newly discovered Nickestrea twentydollarfraga :D the search continues.
thanks all
-nick

[wentreefgirl]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Blinkies%20and%20siggies/heehee.gif">
I love the names. Well if its any consolation, I had a good time searching for you. And im happy its a rare one to boot. Give it a blue name and it could be the newest coral craze.

[wentreefgirl]

Uh Chris, dummy me forgot I have mother colonys of these corals. But they are not close. See if they help.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412134.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412144.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Picture884412146.jpg">

[ReeferMadnessUS]

exoticaquatix,

I beg to differ, even looking at it again I still believe that this is Plesiastrea verispora. The photos in Veron are very hard to compare sizes but if you look in the description you will see that the corallites are tiny 2 to 4 mm in diameter which is tiny. From what I can see in your photo it looks as though these are just as small. Cyphastrea have corallites that are closed in and they have coenosteum that is granulated- in otherwords bumpy surface between the corallites. Like I mentioned in the previous post this does not have a granulated coenosteum and the corallites are open where you can clearly see the mouth within the corallite. Now I am only going by a small photo so I can only make a ID from what I can see. But from what it looks like the corallite size and for how open they are still matches the Plesiastrea verispora. But I could easily be wrong as photos are 2 dimensional and I don't have it in my hand.

Just a rebuttle to your argument :)

I love debating something this rare, man what a Reef Geek I am! This is how I spend my Sunday's, lol.

Chris @ RM

[wentreefgirl]

Its nice to see you on a sunday afternoon. Must mean the wife has the kids. (grinning but still feeling for the wife at the same time). What about the mother colonys chris. Any changes to your diagnosis with the grown up kids,lol.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Wentreefgirl,

Ahh yes sorry about that. Nice to see that you have the full grown colonies so that I can give you a better guess.

#1 I am still having a hard time figuring out what it might be. Even from the other photo that you uploaded I can't really seem to make it out. Can you try for another? Maybe just that Acro and not the Monti.

#2 A. azurea as this seems to have longer and not quite so bulbous corallites as A. valida.

#3 I still believe this to be A. valienciennesi as it seems to be a staghorn. But if this turns out to be something more bushy than a Stag then I am wrong and I will have to find something else :) .

This sure is an exact science isn't it?

Chris @ RM

Ohh and my wife did have the kids but only because I have to work every Sunday for about 8 hours putting up new corals on the site.

[wentreefgirl]

Hey thanks chris. Saw some of those new corals. I always know when you disappear your busy in the family dept.

[Bebo77]

chris what is this?
http://www.hausriff.ch/media/DIR_148803/bild6.jpg

[LeftCoast]

Holy crap Gabriel! That thing is insane!

[Bebo77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7504794#post7504794 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Spiffman257
Holy crap Gabriel! That thing is insane!

take a look for yourself

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7504836#post7504836

[exoticaquatix]

ill just have to take your word for it i guess, chris. ;) hopefully ill have enough of it some day to send some out to people. share the rare. can i then technically name it after my self? haha. not in a scientific sense of course. i appreciate all the help wentreefgirl, i didnt forget about ya. ill try to get some more pics, better close ups, when i get my tank back up.
-nick

[exoticaquatix]

oh yeah, almost forgot....HOLY S*** Bebo. that thing is amazing/crazy/beautiful. What would Monty say about that one Chris. :D
-nick

[wentreefgirl]

Exoticaquatix, blue moon crater, sound good<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Blinkies%20and%20siggies/dunno.gif">

Bebo77-<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Blinkies%20and%20siggies/wow.gif">Thats hot. Looks like a cross of blue tenuis, crayola plana and a soli. So tenusoliplana. Sounds good. <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/Blinkies%20and%20siggies/grinhuge.gif">

[ReeferMadnessUS]

Bebo,

Monty has left the building due to his solied Pants, Acropora stoddarti or maybe A. solitaryensis.... I can't really tell as these colors can't be real :) . The overall structure of this piece looks as though the branches are fused to some extent= A. solitaryensis. But it has so many incipient axial corallites that I am inclined to say A. stoddarti. I could easily be wrong as Europe gets corals from different suppliers and regions than we do. If he provided a different view I might be able to give a better guess.

Looking at a piece like that (or that tank) makes me feel stupid. :)

Chris @ RM

[Bebo77]

Chris... dont tell me i stumped you....:dance: :dance: :dance:

[wentreefgirl]

Get a side view. THe challange is on.

[wentreefgirl]

Get a side view. THe challange is on.

[ReeferMadnessUS]

I am not stumped!!!! Well maybe a little bit :) .... Now if this was in your reef and not on the other side of the planet I could probably see it in person and I could come up with a positive ID.

Hey, somebody fly over there and ask for a bunch of frags (beg on the front step) and bring them back, let them grow out for 6 months and then post them again. Then I could tell you what we are looking at :) . But until that time I am not stumped, just confused, lol

Chris @ RM

[bogg]

HI Chris could you id this one?. I posted earlier in the thread but I cant find it thanks.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/69397100_0455.jpghttp://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/69397100_0455.jpg

[wentreefgirl]

Needs a closer pic and upright would be a good thing.

[undertai]

bogg i would go with saying that it's a. plana but i could be wrong.

[wentreefgirl]

Isnt A.Plana a tableing coral?
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/wentreefgirl/69397100_0455.jpg">

[undertai]

could be branching also bepending on in tank currents and lighting. maybe

[undertai]

Chris,
I spent more money could you help with and id?

1.)http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0008g.jpg

2.)http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0009g.jpg

3.)http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0019g.jpg

4.)http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0017g.jpg

5.)http://saltwater.internetdepot.org/new2/DSCF0026g.jpg

[pookstreet]

Wow, this is a great thread. Every informative. I guess I'll throw in a few here myself. Wondering if #2, 3, and 4 might be the same. Thanks in advance.

1) Much deeper blue in person. Moderate growth rate. Colony pic.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7772.jpg

Close-up
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7773.jpg

2) Started to develop pink tips in the last couple of months. Fast growth rate. Colony pic.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7757.jpg

Close-up
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7759.jpg

3) Similar to #2 but not as green. Also developing slight pink tips. Very fast grower. Colony pic.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7753.jpg

Close-up
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7755.jpg

4) This one was yellow when I first got it. Maybe it's not getting enough light at it's current location? Moderately fast grower. Colony pic.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7774.jpg

Close-up
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7775.jpg

5) The color has shifted slightly since this pic was taken. Slow grower.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/IMG_7123.jpg

6) Slow to moderate grower. This is an older pic.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b331/pookstreet/Home%2030G/**********Anavini112-30-05.jpg

[Fliger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7516147#post7516147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReeferMadnessUS
Europe gets corals from different suppliers and regions than we do.

Chris @ RM

Cool thread, long time no talk Chris! My tank is finally up and ready for special orders. :D I need to visit your facility next time I'm in LA.

Anyway - regarding this - I have noticed lots of corals on Euro websites that we don't typically get here. I know the grass is always greener, but they do have some incredible specimens that I just haven't seen here. Is it illegal for them to send corals into the US? Like do some expidited (expensive :mad: ) shipping? Or is that legal? Just wondering, sorry to sidetrack the thread.

I just picked up a mystery coral, I'll post it later.