Blue Ridge Coral

[zach202]

I recieved a dying blue ridge a few months ago. It came out of a tank with very little light. I put it towards the top of a 90gal with 2 250watt mh and actinics. Within a few weeks it started to look better and seemed to be gaining in size. Now however the edges are white again and it seems to be receeding. The whole time the polyps are out everyday, although some days more than others.


Any ideas?

 

[Brewen]

Pics?

 

[wentreefgirl]

I believe, if im not wrong that blue ridge is not a hard coral. It is a form of softie. Second, i also believe it to be non symbiotic. I keep mine in the front corner on the bottom and does well.

 

[Znut Reefer]

I have a huge blue ridge. It is a hard coral, it is solid blue when it dies. Nothing soft about the blue ridge except the thin tissue.

 

[tanglovers]

Ours is a lower light, lower flow area. As low light as we get...about 24" below a 400w MH with Luminarc.

I think wentreefgirl is coreect though about it is not an SPS....IIRC it is an exception obviously but is scientifically classified as a softie that produces a hard shell in which the polyp extrend through.

 

[Amphiprion]

Blue ridge coral is extremely reliant on photosynthesis and therefore has a large population of zooxanthellae. The edges turn white when the coral is growing--the growing edge can be substantial too. It is indeed an octocorallian, but it is also a remnant of the ancient Helioporaceans. That makes it the only living member of the family and order. How is it receding? Can you get any pics of it?

 

[twon8]

ive got one doing great in very high flow and at the bottom of 180 with 400w's, so pretty good lighting.

ditto what amphiprion said

 

[MiddletonMark]

My Heliopora's growing edge is whitish.

As Amphiprion noted, it's an interesting anomaly as it's the only member of it's Family remaining ... officially an Octocoral but yet also a calcifying coral.

As mentioned, it is photosynthetic, often found in fairly shallow waters [20-30 ft] not unlike many stonies.

In my experience, it seems to prefer fairly high flow, and does well in fairly strong lighting - mid-tank under my 250w.

 

[wentreefgirl]

Heliopora sp.


Quick Stats: Blue Coral
Family: Helioporidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Blue
Ideal Supplements: Calcium, Iodine, Strontium, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 74-82ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium to Strong
Light: High
Dominance: Peaceful
Placement: All levels
Care Level: Easy


The Blue Coral, sometimes referred to as the Blue Ridge Coral, is often mistaken for a small polyp stony (SPS) coral because it has a hard blue exoskeleton with long, thin polyps. It really is an octocoral (soft coral) and its growth forms are branching, plate-like, columnar, or encrusting. Its body is composed of iron salts, which lend its distinctive blue color. The polyps are either brown or white, however. It may also be referred to as a Blue Fire Coral although it does not act like one.

The Blue Coral is generally peaceful towards other corals in the reef aquarium and will do best added to a well-established tank. It will do well provided with a high light level with a medium to strong water current within the aquarium. It prefers a slightly warmer temperature than other corals. Calcium, strontium, iodine, and other trace elements will need to be added to the water. It contains the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae from which it receives the majority of its nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. It does not require additional food to maintain its health in the reef aquarium, but it will feed on micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

Ok, i stand corrected on the symboitic thing but was right on the soft coral.

 

[MiddletonMark]

True, but that's like calling Acropora a zoanthid, if you want to get all techincal

It dose get quite interesting when you look at what's an Octocoral vs. Hexacoral ... as you're right that there's a lot of corals that are far more related to Acropora than Blue Ridge/Heliopora. I just don't think most people consider mushrooms or anemones to be that

Class Anthozoa
__Sublass Octocorallia
-------Order Heliporacea [Heliopora]
-------Order Alcyonacea [soft corals, gorgonians, mat polyps]
-------Order Pennatulacea [sea pens]
__Subclass Hexacorallia
-------Order Actinaria [anemones]
-------Order Zoanthidia [zoanthids/colonial anemones]
-------Order Corallimorpharia [mushroom corals]
-------Order Scleractinia [stony corals - LPS/SPS]

Anyway, pardon the thread-hijack.

 

[wentreefgirl]

 

[MiddletonMark]

FWIW, these two pics have nice white edges on the growth at top:

[both pics from the gallery here, JB NY and kevinpo].

 

[zach202]

I will take some pictures today and post. Also, I it seems to attract my blue leg hermits. Any idea why and is this bad? There are a good 20-30 hermits on it at all times.

 

[64Ivy]

By the way, Heliopora will 'shed' its outer skin from time to time and this MAY be what's accounting for the lightened color. That old skin may also be what the hermits are feeding on. Since the polyps are still out, I wouldn't panic just yet.

 

[kevinpo]

I thought that picture looked familiar :lol:

Regards,
Kevin

 

[MiddletonMark]

Serves you right for posting something in the gallery

 

[Bryan]

Started out the size of a matchhead on a piece of live rock. Since the pic was taken it has probably doubled in size and I constantly prune.

 

[Fishinwall]

Do you find this coral to be a slow grower?

 

[Bryan]

No, it grows like a weed.