Please help with identification

[ReefArtist]

Hello,
I was hoping someone could help me identify this coral. I believe it's a Tubipora musica but I'm not positive. I want to make sure I'm providing it with the proper care so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[gflat65]

Yup, pipe organ. Mine do well anywhere I put them (high light, high flow, low light low flow, etc.).

 

[ReefArtist]

Thanks for the information gflat65. As soon as I put it in my tank it opened up just like a star! Thanks for taking the time to ID this for me.

 

[Ken668]

Looks like a frag of green star polyps. Pipe organs have more of a feathery polyp.

 

[ReefArtist]

Hi Ken668, that's what I was thinking when I looked up information on the genus Tubipora. It stated "displays eight feathery, pinnate tentacles that characterize their taxa". To me it looked more like a flower petal with very soft smooth petals. So would this be more in lines with the genus Pachyclavularia? The stolon felt very strange kind of rubbery which seems to put it with is genus. Also the polyp center is a contrasting color (white vs. green - tannish). The green star polyp I believe is one of the common names for some of the species in the genus Pachyclavularia. So does this sound like a likely genus to put this in? I'm new to corals so I just want to make sure I'm not thinking one thing and you're meaning something totally different. Thanks for all your help I really do appreciate it!

 

[gflat65]

Does it not have a semi calcarous base? That's what I think I see. It would be very brittle, but if it is there, it is a pipe organ. Stars and cloves don't have the solid base (theirs is more flexible).

 

[Ken668]

ReefArtist,
You are correct. It appears to be a form of Pachyclovularia Sp. It does have a softer rubbery feeling base. Where as the clove polyps actually have hard calcium based tubes that they extend from.

Please be aware that GSP (Green Star Polyps) might look nice, but can very quickly grow to weed proportions. Even smothering out other corals. I know this first hand as my nice cute 2"x2" patch like yours, is now 2'x2'.




Here is another pic to help you compare.

 

[ReefArtist]

Wow Ken668, thanks for the information. Man, 2' x 2' now that's big! I wonder if there's a way to propagate without causing any damage? Yours has very nice color on the petals - nice green. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Ken668]

ReefArtist,
I think it's impossible to do damage to these. They are bullet proof. I literaly rip off pieces. I've actually thrown away two full fists full of GSP because it grows so fast. The picture I included isn't actually from my tank. But mine looks identical. Just multiply that picture 100 times and that's my GSP.

 

[ReefArtist]

I have him placed on a rock that I can move around right now and it's fairly big. If it get to large I can move it around without bothering it to much. I guess as time passes I just cut off pieces and put them in my other tanks - first thing I found as a cost saver in this hobby Thanks to both of you Ken668 and Gflat65 I think we have a positive ID. Thanks!