Questions about what I believe is Echinophyllia

[Z-Man07]

Hello to all. Thank you for looking.

I recently acquired a new frag and I am becoming concerned about it's health (and my sanity). I have had my eye on this for almost a year and I finally got a frag of it, so like anyone, I would hate to see something be wrong with it.

This is when I first put it in my tank on June 2nd.

My first question is:
Is this really an echinophyllia? I have looked at a lot of photos but mine seems to have more "ridges" where other seems to have more "bumps." I bought it believing it was an echinophyllia, so I hope that is true.
Second question:
Since it was fragged and I brought it home, it seems to me that it does not look so good. It appears to me that the ridges are getting deeper. What I mean is that the tissue between the ridges seems to be receeding. Does that make any sense at all? It's coloration seems to be going more towards white, also. I don't believe that I could be bleaching it, but I could be wrong.

This is about three minutes ago. VHO lights only, no flash.

With VHO lights and flash.

Also with VHO lights and flash.

It was kept in shallow water, approximately five inches deep.
-I have it near the top of my tank approximately five inches deep.

It was kept under either a 250W or 400W MH, I am not positive which one.
-I have it under dual VHO tubes. I don't have MH, yet.

It was moderate to heavy flow.
-I have it in moderate flow.

I am dosing CA and it is staying between 450 and 470. I don't trust my ALK as I think my Salifert kit may be bad. My new kit, AP, is on the way to verify the results.

Thank you again for looking.

If I left out any necessary information, please let me know.

 

[ghostman]

I believe your coral is a frag of lithophyllon. I don't think this is classified as a chalice coral. You have good reason to worry as yor frag looks to be in poor health. Please post all parameters, flow, and lighting wattage to see if everything is good. Good luck with it.

 

[Z-Man07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10126516#post10126516 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ghostman
I believe your coral is a frag of lithophyllon. I don't think this is classified as a chalice coral. You have good reason to worry as yor frag looks to be in poor health. Please post all parameters, flow, and lighting wattage to see if everything is good. Good luck with it.

Thank you.

Params are:
AP Ammonia =0
AP Nitrite =0
AP Nitrate =0
Salifert KH =14-15 dKH (I don't trust this one.)
Salifert CA =470
AP pH = 8.0 at night, 8.2 during the day

My flow is a Dart CLS and a MJ600 for surface agitation.
Also running a Prizm HOT Skimmer, (for skimming, gas exchange, and agitation.)

My lights are:
1 - 48" VHO "Super Actinic"
1 - 48" VHO "Actinic White"
- I just found out that I don't know what wattage my lamps are. If it is imprinted on the lamp, I cannot see it under the endcaps.

I am off to look up "lithophyllon"...

Thanks for the info.

 

[Z-Man07]

I found a picture posted by "spanglish", of his leptoseris. The top photo looks a lot like where I got my frag from.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1024005&highlight=leptoseris

However, a lot of the photos of lythophyllon display similar characteristics to my frag.

Now I am really confused!!

 

[musty baby]

That frag looked terrible from the day you got it home. Looks like it was recently cut and died back from the edges at the seller's, in my opinion. Moving a failing frag to a new tank is just added stress, usually.

 

[Z-Man07]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10127111#post10127111 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryansholl
That frag looked terrible from the day you got it home. Looks like it was recently cut and died back from the edges at the seller's, in my opinion. Moving a failing frag to a new tank is just added stress, usually.

It was cut just prior to me bringing it home. It was cut, bagged, and transported. I brought it home and drip acclimated it for about 50 minutes. Then I glued it to a rock and put it in my tank.

Did I do something wrong? Do you also believe it to be lithophyllon? What would be the corrective action if possible. After my last post I moved it lower in the tank, partially shaded with moderate flow.

 

[Z-Man07]

I found this page and it looks a lot like a lithophyllon lobata.

http://www2.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/401-500/Species pages/489.htm

I will take another pic in a moment. My wife just commented that it looks "better in the shade."

 

[Z-Man07]

I can't tell if it looks any better or worse yet, with it shaded. I will look again tomorrow to see if there has been any changes, better or worse.

Does anyone want to add thier input on what is wrong with my frag and if I need to do something for it? I am thinking that I should leave it alone and it will either recover or it won't.

Thanks for looking.