Why does it look so different?

[SDguy]

I received this unlabeled, no name frag a while ago. At first glance, looked like a lokani. Even as it grew out, still looked like a lokani. Now, I have no idea what it looks like. Anyone else experience such a change in shape over time with an acro?

Before:

Now:

 

[jcsquardo]

I haven't seen a lot of major changes like that, but with Frags you are looking at a single "arm" of a full size colony. Sometimes when they start to grow out you get a little surprise.

It's a beautiful piece. I'm not much for guessing names, but I'll toss out A. Cerealis or A. Valida

 

[ryanjiang]

Wow, what a change!
Nice looking coral for sure, no idea what it is but should not be a Valida.

 

[wonrib00]

It would be interesting to see what frags from that colony would look like in a different tank. The corallites wont change, but it would be cool to see what the new growth looks like. What does the mother colony look like that you got your frag from?

 

[SDguy]

It would be interesting to see what frags from that colony would look like in a different tank. The corallites wont change, but it would be cool to see what the new growth looks like. What does the mother colony look like that you got your frag from?

Good question. I shot the owner an email...

 

[SDguy]

I would definitely say it is not from the "tricolor" family of acros. I'm guessing it's flow related, since the ORA Hawkins next to it is so "tight"...

 

[Whisperer]

The closest I can think of is a rosaria.

 

[SDguy]

Here are some more pictures of it when it was growing out. As you can see, it was already bigger than a "frag" while still looking like a lokani. I guess I wasn't so much looking for an ID as I was experiences from others with a drastic change in shape/structure due to external stimuli like flow or light.

 

[SDguy]

The owner of the coral identified it as a Bali maricultured piece, and agreed that it looks like A. rosaria from my pictures. I'm not sure that he himself has it anymore. He also suggested flow as a reason. I happen to be looking back at some old photos, and found some from Feb '09:

and the Hawkins:

Compared to now (super "tight") :

 

[reefsponge]

It reminds of the 20K lokani that vivid aquarium has. The stronger flow looks as if it gave it a tighter cluster formation. Based on the frag pics I would say lokani. Check out vivids pic, definite similarities. Pretty piece whatever the case.

 

[Reefer577]

Beautiful!!

Yeah, I would also agree that strong flow has changed the shape for you. That's why its such a shot in the dark iding acros because the same coral can look so different depending on the light and flow it has.

 

[DBarsotti]

I like the tighter growth, makes it look like grapes ha

 

[darkside212]

It reminds of the 20K lokani that vivid aquarium has. The stronger flow looks as if it gave it a tighter cluster formation. Based on the frag pics I would say lokani. Check out vivids pic, definite similarities. Pretty piece whatever the case.

+1 on flow giving tighter cluster formation

 

[stryker]

how is your flow? i've have a tabling acro started out looking like a deepwater, and as it grew in a new tank with higher flow. the coralite structure on the new growth was different. you can still see the deepwater structure in the center of the coral though.

 

[ryanjiang]

It reminds of the 20K lokani that vivid aquarium has. The stronger flow looks as if it gave it a tighter cluster formation. Based on the frag pics I would say lokani. Check out vivids pic, definite similarities. Pretty piece whatever the case.

+2 on high flow = dense growth , I guess every possible point to branch has the chance to branch out.

The frag does look like Lokani to me. Again what a dramatic change!

 

[SDguy]

how is your flow? i've have a tabling acro started out looking like a deepwater, and as it grew in a new tank with higher flow. the coralite structure on the new growth was different. you can still see the deepwater structure in the center of the coral though.

My flow is quite strong. Two MP40's in a 4' 150g in reef crest (is that the yellow one?) mode on full.

 

[elijaher]

Great growth and colors how long did it take to grow like that.