ID is this a scolymia or something else?

[Tim Parkinson]

over here in the UK scolymia are unavailable really. I have seen what is labelled as a brain coral in a shop but it could be a scolymia does anyone know if it is.

shops picture

Thanks for any help

 

[johnski]

Hi Tim,
Theres a good chance it could be a Scolymia australis, do a google and you'll see what i mean

Cheers

John

 

[Tim Parkinson]

Thanks, is there anyway to tell for sure if it is or not? if i rang up the shop.

 

[johnski]

sorry Tim, cant help with a positive id, but i would'nt phone the lfs, may alert them and you'll see a price bump. Is it priced in the brain coral region or the scolymia, i would expect a nice scolymia like that to be about £80, even if it is a brain its a very nice brain and would be a nice addition to the tank.

 

[Tim Parkinson]

I thinkyou have the right idea john.

 

[baja_01]

I vote for some type of Lobophyllia. Does not look like a scoly to me.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

Looks like a lobo to me as well.

 

[Tim Parkinson]

as Johnski said it was priced sensibly for a lobo so i bought it.
The coral arrives Tuesday so soon see.

From the photo it looks like a lobo at first glance but it has a central mouth, no others and the tissue is same in appearance as a scoly thats half open. so I'm hopeful.

 

[Olliereefer]

Lobo for me too.

 

[Orochimaru]

lobo

 

[tgfrench]

? Does the skeleton look like a single circular pod or does it look like its been broken off as a branch. If branch like I'd vote for Lobo. If not probably a Scolymia australis. I've a green/white on that the flesh looks very close. Nice find either way.
terry

 

[marillion]

Couldn't it be a symphyllia, as well?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Tim Parkinson]

Now the coral has arrived and settled ina couple of days i took this photo.

It only has one mouth, and the skeleton looks like a single animal but it is fused to a small bit of rock on one side.
It hasnt been fed yet but it has been opening a touch more each day.

its 29" of water depth away from a 150w 10k blv.

heres a picture of the tank you can see the coral just above the sand in the centre.

 

[Sk8r]

Beautiful tank, and I think you've got a great place for it.

 

[tgfrench]

Thats a pretty deep tank for 150 MH.

 

[Tim Parkinson]

Thanks Sk8r

tgfrench the corals disagree a 150w seems adequate. Here in the uk an upgrade step would be to a 250w which i feel is to much for the lps on the bottom as they come from deeper waters. the only real light hogs are in the top 12" of the tank.

 

[Mscott203]

Wow, I really like your tank. Its beautiful, being so deep like that. What are the dimensions? And maybe a couple more full tank shots for us fans.

 

[Tim Parkinson]

didnt think i would have fans :eek1:

heres a shot a bit closer

Tank is 24" square by 29" tall

here are a few more shots not all lps but most are.

i cant really think of an excuse for the photo fest but do we need one?

First a couple of comparison shots of the montipora growth

june 23rd 2006

and today. the frags have encrusted out and a few branches have grown and fused together.

June 23rd 2006

and today. red seems to be growing a touch faster than the green.

Acropora from above (sorry about the finger shadow)

An Acanthastrea

 

[Tim Parkinson]

Few more shots

Blasstomussa Wellsi, one of only 3 small polyps

Blenny and plating monti from above.

Plerogyra and Ricordea from above.

Coco Worm Thought this was a gonner when it shed its crown twice after moving but came back a few weeks later.

Elegance mouths.

 

[Tim Parkinson]

Final couple

Fox Coral

Green Monti from above.

green monti through glass

New Acanthastrea couple weeks ago nearly all orange red. Couldnt resist

close up of the coral i was trying to id in the first post of the thread.