Coral Identification Porities or Monti?

Luckyduck · Jul 28, 2020

Hey guys! I got a really good deal on this guy at my LFS because it was starting to die off. It's made a complete turn around for me. I just can't tell if it's a Darth Maul Porities or a Dragon Fruit Montipora. At night it gets really fuzzy (nice polyp extension) never seen a Monti do that. I'm leaning towards Porities. Any thoughts?

*Sorry the pictures aren't super clear its back kind of far in my tank, had trouble with the focus.

mtfish · Jul 28, 2020

Looks like DM Porites. Nice coral. Good job getting back to health.

Graffiti Spot · Jul 28, 2020

Agree darth maul! So glad this coral finally has cultured well. The best red in any sps imo. Like velvet when really happy.

homer1475 · Jul 28, 2020

After seeing that coral, it makes me question this coral?

It was sold to me as a sunset monti?

Bright orange, with greenish polyps.

mtfish · Jul 28, 2020

Does not look like one to me unless the photo does not show correct colors. Sunset is usually red with bright green polyps. Not seeing the red or green with my old eyes. It is some type of monti.

homer1475 · Jul 28, 2020

It does have green polyps(might just be the pic), but the body is a bright orange and not red at all.

mtfish · Jul 28, 2020

Then maybe it is. Perhaps under certain light the flesh may be somewhat orange instead of red.

Smarkow · Jul 28, 2020

+1 for darth maul, that looks exactly like mine

Not sure re the second one without seeing the polyp color

homer1475 · Jul 28, 2020

Could be light. I bought it under radions, and it was definitely redder.

I run ATI t5's and it is orange in my tank.

Luckyduck · Jul 28, 2020

homer1475 said:
It does have green polyps(might just be the pic), but the body is a bright orange and not red at all.

It looks like a sunset to me. I had a sunset back in the day it was more orange than that one but they don't all have to be identical. Bright orange with green polyps. It's definitely a Monti. Fez said, could be the lighting.

Luckyduck · Jul 28, 2020

Pedoconfuego said:
Agree darth maul! So glad this coral finally has cultured well. The best red in any sps imo. Like velvet when really happy.

Thanks man! I love that deep red velvety color! I agree with you I think it's one of the best looking Reds in a coral. It was sold to me as a Monti but I don't think they realized what they had. It has made a miraculous comeback in the 2 1/2 weeks I've had it. Picked it up for $15 because half of it was dying. It has completely recovered the areas that were bleached and is starting to grow again. Looks awesome at night. I can't believe the polyp extension. It almost looks fuzzy! I'll see if I can get a night shot of it.

Luckyduck · Jul 28, 2020

homer1475 said:
Could be light. I bought it under radions, and it was definitely redder.

I run ATI t5's and it is orange in my tank.

This goes back about 10 years ago. It was a Tyree Sunset Monti.

X-37B · Jul 28, 2020

The sunset looks like mine as its under 8 T5's

Luckyduck · Jul 28, 2020

90's reefer said:
The sunset looks like mine as its under 8 T5's

Holy crap! Mad lots of polyps! Nice!

X-37B · Jul 28, 2020

Luckyduck said:
Holy crap! Mad lots of polyps! Nice!

Yea it has always had alot of polyps.
Once it encrusted on the overflow it has become hard to see the orange.
T5 is 4" off the surface so its 10" or so from 4b+ and 4c+ with lots of flow at around 9000gph throughout my 120.