Cyphastrea. Meteor Shower or Superman

gbcichlids · 06/30/2009, 03:32 PM

What exactly is the difference between the two? I have seen several pictures of both of them and most look very similar. A certain place in WI. has a Meteor Shower that has a greenish base with the red polyps and a certain place in FL. has one with a blue base and the red polyps which look like mostly everyone elses Superman????.
Pics if you have them would be great?
Thanks,
Randy

roblack · 06/30/2009, 08:30 PM

I have the blue with red polyps and always thought it was the Meteor Shower.

gbcichlids · 06/30/2009, 08:43 PM

Whatever it is, it is beautiful.

Rukis · 07/01/2009, 04:22 AM

there are a quite a few different colored cyphastrea, but never heard of the superman?? The red and blue cyphastrea is called the Meteor Shower, there's a green and pink cyphastrea (which isnt the meteor shower), a orange branching cyphastrea, etc... I think the Meteor Shower is the closest cyphastrea to Superman colors of blue and red.

roblack · 07/01/2009, 07:06 AM

Check this one out. Jason Fox's PPE Cyphastrea. Just colored back up for me.

SDguy · 07/01/2009, 07:56 AM

I was under the impression that the original "meteor shower" was the turquopise/light blue-green background with pinkish polyps. Not to be confused with the green with red/orange polyps. I have both in my tank, and they look very different...not sure if my pics show that well...

1DeR9_3Hy · 07/01/2009, 10:43 AM

Wow...i have never looked into these before. Now i want them, whats the going rate for a frag of any of these?

Superstretch18 · 07/01/2009, 10:49 AM

My meteor shower looks just like the one that SDguy posted; baby blue with red polyps. I imagine that "superman" anything would be more royal blue/red. Who knows if it would actually be a different coral and not just natural color variation...

reeferoo · 07/01/2009, 11:11 AM

Peter- I have never seen a cyph open its polyps so much! You must have excellent water conditions!

DSR · 07/01/2009, 01:03 PM

here is my meteor shower cyphastrea.

SD, that is nothing short of incredible...

gbcichlids · 07/01/2009, 01:24 PM

Very nice pics everyone!

roblack, NICE PIECE!

1DeR9_3Hy, Exactly. Just recently came across these myself. And from what I have found they are typical LPS; Hardy and variable lighting conditions. $30-$100 depending on size of frag.

DSR, I would put that beauty in the superman category. VERY NICE!

SDguy, I think you may be right. My meteor shower has very bright pinkish/ candy apple red polyps. The base is tannish but it is very small at around a half inch and just in my tank a week.

Are there Limited Editions, Tyree, or Tubbs cyphastrea out there.

jsdancer · 07/02/2009, 08:17 PM

I picked up both types of mine at WWC. There are great growers,
here are mine.
Bought this one which they called Meteor Shower Cyphastrea in Jan of 09

Here it is today

Here is a green body and pink polyps cyphastrea

All these pics were taken in daylight, I have not tried under actinics but will try someday.

gbcichlids · 07/05/2009, 04:35 PM

Very nice jsdancer.
Meteor has a green base and superman has a blue base.

jsdancer · 07/06/2009, 10:23 PM

thnxs gb!

AquaticMadness · 07/19/2009, 03:02 PM

Yeah those are good looking corals.

mclaman · 07/19/2009, 03:40 PM

SDGuy,

How do you get the polyps to come out? Could it be possible that a fish is nipping at mine?

-Mark

SDguy · 07/19/2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mclaman
SDGuy,

How do you get the polyps to come out? Could it be possible that a fish is nipping at mine?

-Mark

Mine have always looked like that. Until the comments in this thread, I honestly had no idea they could look otherwise. Sorry I can't be any help

roblack · 07/19/2009, 07:29 PM

Mine stay out most of the time too. Retracted in pic because took it out to get a decent shot.

gbcichlids · 07/24/2009, 06:44 PM

See: Diver's Den: Aquacultured Corals

GPhiAce · 07/25/2009, 02:29 PM

To answer your original question, the Superman you are most likely refering to is the Superman Monti and the Cyphastrea you are referring to is the Meteor Shower Cyphastrea. They are completely different corals in that the familys/groups (whatever) they belong to are different. These two mentioned both have a blue base and red polyps. The Superman has smaller more compact polyps while the Meteor Shower has larger polyps that resemble a rose (kinda). They both are great hardy corals and encrust as they grow. There are sveral different types of montis and cyphastrea but those are two of the more popular and more common collectables. The pictures above are cyphastrea.

Sorry for the next horrible picture: small frags and I am a bad photographer, but I am gettig better. There is a frag of the original ATL meteor shower cyphastrea in the top left and Superman monti (i think it is from the original tyree Superman) in the bottom left. The pic is horrible, but ou can appreciate the polyp size and sructure.

Roblack... if you ever frag that Jason Fox PPE, please contact me ASAP. That is a nice one.

gbcichlids · 07/25/2009, 02:46 PM

GPhiAce, I appreciate the attempted clarification. But I know the difference between montipora and cyphastrea.

Type this in your search engine:

Divers Den Aquacultured Corals

PS. I'd prefer a sunset monti over a superman monti any day. I have tyree sunset, non tyree sunset, and tubbs superman montis.

Thanks,
Randy

Dustint21 · 07/25/2009, 09:55 PM

Here is a buddy's colony. I took the photo the other night.

jay-roc · 07/26/2009, 08:33 PM

heres another one

gbcichlids · 08/03/2009, 09:20 AM

both of those are very nice!

gbcichlids · 08/04/2009, 09:56 AM

atlantisaquarium can clear up some of the different cyphastrea

06/30/2009, 03:32 PM	#1
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	Cyphastrea. Meteor Shower or Superman What exactly is the difference between the two? I have seen several pictures of both of them and most look very similar. A certain place in WI. has a Meteor Shower that has a greenish base with the red polyps and a certain place in FL. has one with a blue base and the red polyps which look like mostly everyone elses Superman????. Pics if you have them would be great? Thanks, Randy __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

06/30/2009, 08:43 PM	#3
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	Whatever it is, it is beautiful. __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

07/01/2009, 07:56 AM	#6
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	I was under the impression that the original "meteor shower" was the turquopise/light blue-green background with pinkish polyps. Not to be confused with the green with red/orange polyps. I have both in my tank, and they look very different...not sure if my pics show that well... __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

07/01/2009, 10:43 AM	#7
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	Wow...i have never looked into these before. Now i want them, whats the going rate for a frag of any of these? __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

07/01/2009, 10:49 AM	#8
Superstretch18 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 571	My meteor shower looks just like the one that SDguy posted; baby blue with red polyps. I imagine that "superman" anything would be more royal blue/red. Who knows if it would actually be a different coral and not just natural color variation... __________________ -Shaun- ...like making a pen that works in space. Yes, you spent $1 billion NASA and got it to work, good job. But totally impractical when the Russians spent a few cents and simply used pencils... Current Tank Info: TBD

06/30/2009, 08:30 PM	#2
roblack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 3,094	I have the blue with red polyps and always thought it was the Meteor Shower.

07/01/2009, 04:22 AM	#4
Rukis Moved On Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 75	there are a quite a few different colored cyphastrea, but never heard of the superman?? The red and blue cyphastrea is called the Meteor Shower, there's a green and pink cyphastrea (which isnt the meteor shower), a orange branching cyphastrea, etc... I think the Meteor Shower is the closest cyphastrea to Superman colors of blue and red.

07/01/2009, 07:06 AM	#5
roblack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 3,094	Check this one out. Jason Fox's PPE Cyphastrea. Just colored back up for me.

07/01/2009, 11:11 AM	#9
reeferoo Lady Tank Tinkerer Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Upland, CA Posts: 635	Peter- I have never seen a cyph open its polyps so much! You must have excellent water conditions! __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef (upgraded from 60gal in 2015) Orphek Bar 90 (daylight and blue) 29gal sump, Vortech MP40 and Koralia 4, Reef Octopus Classic 150 INT skimmer (reefkeeping since 8/07) Current Tank Info: 120 Softy/LPS reef

07/01/2009, 01:03 PM	#10
DSR Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tulsa Posts: 476	here is my meteor shower cyphastrea. SD, that is nothing short of incredible... __________________ So, what woulda happened if I had answered "yes" to whether I was a bot? Current Tank Info: AP24, Sunpod 150, AquaEuro 1/13 chiller

07/01/2009, 01:24 PM	#11
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	Very nice pics everyone! roblack, NICE PIECE! 1DeR9_3Hy, Exactly. Just recently came across these myself. And from what I have found they are typical LPS; Hardy and variable lighting conditions. $30-$100 depending on size of frag. DSR, I would put that beauty in the superman category. VERY NICE! SDguy, I think you may be right. My meteor shower has very bright pinkish/ candy apple red polyps. The base is tannish but it is very small at around a half inch and just in my tank a week. Are there Limited Editions, Tyree, or Tubbs cyphastrea out there. __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

07/02/2009, 08:17 PM	#12
jsdancer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Orlando Posts: 796	I picked up both types of mine at WWC. There are great growers, here are mine. Bought this one which they called Meteor Shower Cyphastrea in Jan of 09 Here it is today Here is a green body and pink polyps cyphastrea All these pics were taken in daylight, I have not tried under actinics but will try someday. __________________ 180g mostly sps, 3 250 wt radiums w lumenmax reflectors, 9 superbrights actinics, 2 MP 40ES Vortex, Reef Octopus SRO 3000, Bubble blaster 10,000 all controlled by an ACJR

07/05/2009, 04:35 PM	#13
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	Very nice jsdancer. Meteor has a green base and superman has a blue base. __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

07/06/2009, 10:23 PM	#14
jsdancer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Orlando Posts: 796	thnxs gb! __________________ 180g mostly sps, 3 250 wt radiums w lumenmax reflectors, 9 superbrights actinics, 2 MP 40ES Vortex, Reef Octopus SRO 3000, Bubble blaster 10,000 all controlled by an ACJR

07/19/2009, 03:02 PM	#15
AquaticMadness Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 72	Yeah those are good looking corals.

07/19/2009, 03:40 PM	#16
mclaman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ladera Ranch, CA Posts: 587	SDGuy, How do you get the polyps to come out? Could it be possible that a fish is nipping at mine? -Mark

07/19/2009, 07:29 PM	#18
roblack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 3,094	Mine stay out most of the time too. Retracted in pic because took it out to get a decent shot.

07/24/2009, 06:44 PM	#19
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	See: Diver's Den: Aquacultured Corals __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

07/25/2009, 02:29 PM	#20
GPhiAce Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CoMo Posts: 1,615	To answer your original question, the Superman you are most likely refering to is the Superman Monti and the Cyphastrea you are referring to is the Meteor Shower Cyphastrea. They are completely different corals in that the familys/groups (whatever) they belong to are different. These two mentioned both have a blue base and red polyps. The Superman has smaller more compact polyps while the Meteor Shower has larger polyps that resemble a rose (kinda). They both are great hardy corals and encrust as they grow. There are sveral different types of montis and cyphastrea but those are two of the more popular and more common collectables. The pictures above are cyphastrea. Sorry for the next horrible picture: small frags and I am a bad photographer, but I am gettig better. There is a frag of the original ATL meteor shower cyphastrea in the top left and Superman monti (i think it is from the original tyree Superman) in the bottom left. The pic is horrible, but ou can appreciate the polyp size and sructure. Roblack... if you ever frag that Jason Fox PPE, please contact me ASAP. That is a nice one. __________________ Paul Professional Bum Current Tank Info: empty 120 gallon glass box. wanna help fill it? sps and palys please

07/25/2009, 02:46 PM	#21
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	GPhiAce, I appreciate the attempted clarification. But I know the difference between montipora and cyphastrea. Type this in your search engine: Divers Den Aquacultured Corals PS. I'd prefer a sunset monti over a superman monti any day. I have tyree sunset, non tyree sunset, and tubbs superman montis. Thanks, Randy __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

07/25/2009, 09:55 PM	#22
Dustint21 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ft Hood, TX/ Peoria, IL Posts: 330	Here is a buddy's colony. I took the photo the other night. __________________ DIY 72''x24''x18'' , 75g sump/ fuge, DAS EX3 skimmer, Tunze PH's, 400w MH's with DIY Lumenarc reflectors Current Tank Info: 200+ gallons

07/26/2009, 08:33 PM	#23
jay-roc Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Killeen, Tx Posts: 27	heres another one

08/03/2009, 09:20 AM	#24
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	both of those are very nice! __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K

08/04/2009, 09:56 AM	#25
gbcichlids Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 328	atlantisaquarium can clear up some of the different cyphastrea __________________ FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Current Tank Info: 46 bow Reef (1)150 HQI Phoenix DE 14000K (1) Radium 20000K