Does anyone know anything about this coral?

[speckled trout]

I purchased this coral and haven't been able to find a pic or description of it in any book. I checked carefully in Eric's book on coral husbandry and didn't find anything that looked like it.

I assume it's an LPS, am I wrong? So far, I've discovered it prefers a moderate alternating current and quite a bit of light. Other than that, I don't know anything else.

 

[nmprisons]

I believe it is a green turbinaria

 

[rigleautomotive]

hydnaphora,not sure on spellingor heliopora

 

[duds]

pagoda cup which is a turbinaria, medium high light moderate flow
hope that gives you an idea on placement
Duds

 

[Hormigaquatica]

cant see the detail quite well enough- looks like it could be Hydnophora or possibly Merulina. Any chance of a closer shot?

 

[Conky]

I agree with Hydnophora or Merulina. Look at it when pollyps are retracted and check for conical-like mounds (hydnophores). Skeleton appears too brittle/thin for Turbinaria (esp. peltata). My inclination (b/c polyps are so "bushy") is to say it is probably Hydnophora.

 

[rigleautomotive]

yep ,we are right

 

[GreshamH]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8322575#post8322575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Conky
I agree with Hydnophora or Merulina. Look at it when pollyps are retracted and check for conical-like mounds (hydnophores). Skeleton appears too brittle/thin for Turbinaria (esp. peltata). My inclination (b/c polyps are so "bushy") is to say it is probably Hydnophora.

I'd say: H. microconos to be exact

 

[speckled trout]

Does it look "satisfied" at its current location?

Is it aggressive? Should I avoid contact or close placement with other corals?

Thanks guys-Mike

 

[Hormigaquatica]

It looks quite happy where it is, judging from the polyp extension. Definitly avoid close contact- Hydnophora is notoriously aggressive- if it decides to fight with another coral, its almost guaranteed to win.

 

[tuberider]

No real "sweeper" tenticles, however they grow so darn fast you need to give them a lot of room. It's also a very forgiving coral.

 

[Freed]

I thought Hydnophora was well known for having extremely long sweeper tentacles at night?

 

[Hormigaquatica]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8333349#post8333349 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Freed
I thought Hydnophora was well known for having extremely long sweeper tentacles at night?

Right... theyve got nasty sweepers, and if I remember right, they are prone to ejecting their mesenterial filaments into the water column- they fall onto other nearby corals and pretty much remote-digest them... good stuff

 

[GreshamH]

Yup, definite sweeper tentacles come out of that puppy

 

[speckled trout]

I haven't had any problems with nearby corals being "digested" so to speak. Should I be worried?

Is it nastier than galaxia when it sends out sweepers?

 

[Hormigaquatica]

The digestion thing is pretty uncommon IME- stinging the devil out of everything within 6-8 inches though is not.

I think its more aggressive than Galaxea. Ive never had a problem with either of my Galaxea colonies actually, though the amount that those use their sweepers varys from one tank to the next (water current speed, etc).

 

[tuberider]

You guys might be right about the sweeper tenticles, however in the 3 years that I've had mine I have yet to see one. I guess I should have said IME.

 

[scumonkey]

There are many types of Hydnophora...The one in your pic is probably "H. Pilosa"
The branching varity "H. Grandis" has the nasty sweepers...Pilosa
(i think), does not. I could be wrong but I doubt it?
If it does I've never seen 'em on mine! (my favorite coral)
It looks like a great big purple and turquoise shag carpet with actinics!!
Heres a shot of my monster - all 9 inches!

 

[xinumaster]

wow that is big. I used to have a neon green branching Hydnophora but I lost my entire livestocks due a kalkwasser dissater.

 

[PatMayo]

I have a Hydnophora, I am unsure what sp it is. I have never seen any sweepers on this guy. I have had it about 4 months or so. I has grown quite a bit. The color is more white. I really like the coral. I think there is a picture of it in my gallery. Or you can look at my tank thread here.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=780206&perpage=25&pagenumber=8


Regards,

Pat