Id'ing tips

[pjwperth]

How do you tell or can you tell the diference between Pocillopora damicornis,Acropora sp when buying frags so as not to get ripped off or if the lfs labels wrong and you can buy it cheaper than ussal.

 

[Ckyuv]

Easy way to tell is both the shape of the coral, the way it branches and the polyps. I think I've mainly just learned the sps from looking at pics, both posted by others and on websites for sale

 

[pjwperth]

what if its like a 1 inch frag

 

[OrionN]

Acropora all have terminal polyps. That make it really easy to tell. Only a few non acropora SPS, you will just have to tell from the shape of the coral, it's habits and branching pattern.

Cost of the SPS is in it's color. If you like the color, get it, but know that it may change with light change. Newly arrive SPS from Aquaculture in the ocean or from high light tank will be colorful, if your tank light (and water condition) is not up to it, you will loose the color.
A few common Acropora, it is easy to tell the species, even from frag. Others you just got to spend the time the research to ID. Even then it just crab shoot. However, some of us are better at shooting crab than other.