Very strange A.hyacinthus growth

[Piper27]

I think the first of the pictures above look more like the corals got too much light for a period of time. The green deepwater looks like it was growing with the branches facing up and then was mounted on the rock sideways exposing the previously dark areas of higher light which made them white. Even looks like high alk could have irritated the skin causing it to thin out. Burans coral is definitely something different.

Buran I think the coral looks like a hyanthicus but even if it's not the new growth is so different it doesn't matter what type of acro it is. I also would think genetic mutation would take a few generations to make a coral look that different. I have not heard of corals changing genetically instantly but would love to read about it if it does happen.
Did you frag a piece yet? I would even try nipping a small piece on the side exposed to higher light and see if the new growth that starts on it is the same as the wierd growth.

 

[Buran]

no, not fragged yet ...

 

[Jeffo.it]

I think the first of the pictures above look more like the corals got too much light for a period of time. The green deepwater looks like it was growing with the branches facing up and then was mounted on the rock sideways exposing the previously dark areas of higher light which made them white. Even looks like high alk could have irritated the skin causing it to thin out. Burans coral is definitely something different.

Buran I think the coral looks like a hyanthicus but even if it's not the new growth is so different it doesn't matter what type of acro it is. I also would think genetic mutation would take a few generations to make a coral look that different. I have not heard of corals changing genetically instantly but would love to read about it if it does happen.
Did you frag a piece yet? I would even try nipping a small piece on the side exposed to higher light and see if the new growth that starts on it is the same as the wierd growth.

Genetic mutation is not the only way an organisms can change the genetic expression. For example Epigenetics can be an answer. If the acro polip in that area had a differential genetic regulation with the methylation of something(s) in the regulation of the zooxantellae relationship...theorically it can happen. The problem is that i don't know if there are corals with this epigenetic regulation in the world, in sea or in aquarium. If it is a regulation of expression, it is too far away from the normal plasticity in A. hyacinctus IMHO. I don't know.