Unknown Acropora

[selje]

Need help with this one

One month ago:

Today:

 

[Frick]

I will start off by saying that is INSANE looking. Nice find.

A. cophodactyla http://sdmas.com/corals/826.php

 

[klepto]

A. gemmifera comes to mind. The flared radial corallites visible on your coral don't line up with A. cophodactyla, but they weren't really present until the piece settled into your system. From the first image, I would agree that the structure lines up with A. cophodactyla. I'm not positive about A. gemmifera though.

(on the left in this shot)

http://coral.aims.gov.au/speciesPages/species_metadata/0030/view#

 

[selje]

Thanks to both of you. I think it's closest to the Gemmifera actually. I'm satisfied with the development of this coral. Now it's on the sandbed, should I give it more light? Not sure if it has more potential.

 

[klepto]

You're welcome! It's a lovely piece.

I wouldn't hesitate to offer this species high light and variable flow. They are found in "exposed upper reef slopes and flats". To me this indicates that the species can tolerate high PAR levels once properly acclimated.

Especially seeing as it is a good sized colony, I would be sure to place it in a good location (in regards to flow and light) and orient it in a way that it can easily encrust. Keep us updated with how it matures!