ID acro
- Thread starter psteeleb
- Start date
Kolognekoral
New member
Looks to be A. valida. Similar to A. cerealis, but I see mixed sizes of radial corallites, which means A. valida
-=Efrain=-
Active member
Jamie,
I am new to the hobby, and never seen a rasberry valida, will the color change or will this one stay this red?
I am new to the hobby, and never seen a rasberry valida, will the color change or will this one stay this red?
Kolognekoral
New member
Colour in corals is not species specific. Just about any colour may be possible. Typically, A. valida is violet to purple with green polyps, but we often see them brown due to high nutrients in the water. Yours will probably colour to a violet with purple highlights, but factor, such as nutrients, trace elements and lighting will influence the colour. It can change over time as the water parameters and light change, too.
I have seen tanks where the corals are literally flourescent due to trace elements and lighting. The more we learn, the more we manipulate. Check out some of the tanks run with Zeovit filtration. Can look totally unreal.
I have seen tanks where the corals are literally flourescent due to trace elements and lighting. The more we learn, the more we manipulate. Check out some of the tanks run with Zeovit filtration. Can look totally unreal.
psteeleb
Team RC
I am new to this and would not have thought A. Valida, but that's comparing to my tri color Valida. This coral has much more robust and defined digits. Then again, maybe I was mislead on my Valida and it may be A. Nana.
When I bought this coral it was mostly brown green with what appeared to be some raspberry in the tips. The store owner did not have a name and it had just come in the day before I bought it. Initially in my tank it was only getting about 5 hours of direct photo period under a 400 watt 10k reflux (with some indirect from my 250s for 10 hours) and wasn't doing much color changing. I changed the lights out about 2 weeks ago. It is currently getting 10 hours of 250 watt 12ks from both sides now. With the lighiting change, I have noticed what was the brownish green color turning to the reddish (or raspberry) brown color.
The lighting change I made includes installation of Lumabright reflectors so was not running my 400's. Last night I turned the 400s on for 30 minutes and noticed the raspberry really coming out. This picture was taken with the 400’s on. I will gradually increase the photoperiod on the 400s, and can only hope that the coloring will continue to morph into the raspberry or another shade of red to purple.
Thanks
When I bought this coral it was mostly brown green with what appeared to be some raspberry in the tips. The store owner did not have a name and it had just come in the day before I bought it. Initially in my tank it was only getting about 5 hours of direct photo period under a 400 watt 10k reflux (with some indirect from my 250s for 10 hours) and wasn't doing much color changing. I changed the lights out about 2 weeks ago. It is currently getting 10 hours of 250 watt 12ks from both sides now. With the lighiting change, I have noticed what was the brownish green color turning to the reddish (or raspberry) brown color.
The lighting change I made includes installation of Lumabright reflectors so was not running my 400's. Last night I turned the 400s on for 30 minutes and noticed the raspberry really coming out. This picture was taken with the 400’s on. I will gradually increase the photoperiod on the 400s, and can only hope that the coloring will continue to morph into the raspberry or another shade of red to purple.
Thanks
Kolognekoral
New member
Interesting you should mention the infamous tricolour. All the ones I've seen are A. nana, not A. valida. This colour combi is common amongst acros, but the two species are pretty different next to each other or even in a photo. A. nana has strongly appressed radial corallites and a fine structure, while A. valida has tubular, somewhat plump, slightly appressed corallites in at least two distinct sizes. Also, I have noted that large colonies of A. nana are quite tall and linear, while A. valida is much bushier and branched. Aquarium conditions can influence this.
Good idea on getting the corals used to the increased lighting. Always best to go a bit slower and keep your eyes peeled for scorching.
Good idea on getting the corals used to the increased lighting. Always best to go a bit slower and keep your eyes peeled for scorching.
psteeleb
Team RC
thanks for the feedback - I'll have to post that tri color over here to get a read on it. I was wondering about it as with some other corals. Here is a link, if you have time to look, or I can post a pic later tonight after work. The picture is named "Tri",it's about half way down the page in a post that has a question mark as a valida or nana - thanks
http://www.dfwmas.org/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=41590&start=0
Kolognekoral
New member
Looks like A. nana to me. A. azurea is very similar and Wallace considers the two conspecific. The one that resembles an echinata is probably A. jacquelinae or possibly A paniculata (this was in another post, right). Certainly not an A. echinata, which never tables.
You have some beautiful corals. My compliments! The Montiporas are stunners.
You have some beautiful corals. My compliments! The Montiporas are stunners.
psteeleb
Team RC
Thanks :rollface:
Here is a closer look from the top down
Its more a peach then raspberry under this light (250 w 12k reflux)
I don't have the 400s on (dam things burned my tort even though it was on for only an hour)
there is an acro crab in there - that funny stick to the lower right is a molt of his that encrusted over
Here is a closer look from the top down
Its more a peach then raspberry under this light (250 w 12k reflux)
I don't have the 400s on (dam things burned my tort even though it was on for only an hour)
there is an acro crab in there - that funny stick to the lower right is a molt of his that encrusted over
Kolognekoral
New member
The peach effect is caused by the zooxanthellae. At the coral adapts to lower nutrients, it will colour-up quite a bit. I think it will end up violet-pink with bright green polyps. Pretty cool!
Great foto and, now seeing so much detail, it may be the related A. cophodactyla, which is more digitate in the full colony and somewhat heavier in build. I still think it is most likely A. valida, but it is always a game IDing from fotos and no skeletal references. I always hope/assume that one checks the suggested IDs against reference material (preferably the AIMS ID site). What you see and what I see are from different perspectives.
I have found A. tortuosa relatively sensitive to light change. I have but one frag, which really has taken its sweet time adjusting to my tank lighting, which is only 250W-14K. Other corals I have aquired since this frag have already managed to attach, which this one is just starting to build a base and is a bit pale looking. It may live in protected areas or very specific depths on the reef.
Great foto and, now seeing so much detail, it may be the related A. cophodactyla, which is more digitate in the full colony and somewhat heavier in build. I still think it is most likely A. valida, but it is always a game IDing from fotos and no skeletal references. I always hope/assume that one checks the suggested IDs against reference material (preferably the AIMS ID site). What you see and what I see are from different perspectives.
I have found A. tortuosa relatively sensitive to light change. I have but one frag, which really has taken its sweet time adjusting to my tank lighting, which is only 250W-14K. Other corals I have aquired since this frag have already managed to attach, which this one is just starting to build a base and is a bit pale looking. It may live in protected areas or very specific depths on the reef.
