Coral Identification

demon_speeding · Nov 21, 2022

Hello Everyone -
Need a little help ID'ing a coral. It was sold to me as a Gonipora, however, I'm fairly convinced it isn't a Goni. Also, up until yesterday it had great polyp extension. It was usually pretty "hairy" looking and seemed happy. Yesterday it closed up and hasn't reopened. I've attached a copy of my most recent ICP results. The trace elements are low, I've ordered an additive and will begin supplementing as soon as it arrives. I have attached 2 photos of the coral in question. One close up of the current state, and one overall tank shot that shows its previous state when the polyps were more extended. It is near the lower right corner of the tank near the red Goni in the tank shot.

Thank you!

blaxsun · Nov 21, 2022

I can't see the polyp extensions enough in the second image, but it's definitely not a goniopora.

demon_speeding · Nov 21, 2022

blaxsun said:
I can't see the polyp extensions enough in the second image, but it's definitely not a goniopora.

Thank you for the confirmation. It looks nothing like the other Goni I have (the red one right next to it). Unfortunately the only pics I had when the polyps were out was the whole tank shot. The polyps look a lot more like hair, not at all like a gonipora.

Take a look at this pic, maybe it will be helpful. You can only see half of it (on the left obviously), but it's a closeup and the polyps are out.

blaxsun · Nov 21, 2022

demon_speeding said:
Thank you for the confirmation. It looks nothing like the other Goni I have (the red one right next to it). Unfortunately the only pics I had when the polyps were out was the whole tank shot. The polyps look a lot more like hair, not at all like a gonipora.

Take a look at this pic, maybe it will be helpful. You can only see half of it (on the left obviously), but it's a closeup and the polyps are out.

It's not an alveopora, either - and definitely not a GSP. I wonder if it's some kind of mushroom?

demon_speeding · Nov 21, 2022

blaxsun said:
It's not an alveopora, either - and definitely not a GSP. I wonder if it's some kind of mushroom?

I don't think it's a mushroom, when the polyps are retracted it feels like it has a skeleton. I wondered it if was something like a pavona, but I don't know if pavona get "hairy" looking when the polyps are out.

blaxsun · Nov 21, 2022

demon_speeding said:
I don't think it's a mushroom, when the polyps are retracted it feels like it has a skeleton. I wondered it if was something like a pavona, but I don't know if pavona get "hairy" looking when the polyps are out.

If it has a skeleton then that rules out any soft corals, so it's probably an LPS. I know there are a few weird goniopora variants (I have a bernardpora).

demon_speeding · Nov 21, 2022

blaxsun said:
If it has a skeleton then that rules out any soft corals, so it's probably an LPS. I know there are a few weird goniopora variants (I have a bernardpora).

Agreed. I think LPS is the likely candidate. I was hoping to track down the exact species so I can figure out why it isn't extending anymore. It's odd, it was fine one day, not the next. No changes to anything else in the tank, just this one. Something made it angry.

blaxsun · Nov 21, 2022

demon_speeding said:
Agreed. I think LPS is the likely candidate. I was hoping to track down the exact species so I can figure out why it isn't extending anymore. It's odd, it was fine one day, not the next. No changes to anything else in the tank, just this one. Something made it angry.

If you can, try to take a complete close-up of it when it's no longer ticked off.

demon_speeding · Nov 21, 2022

blaxsun said:
If you can, try to take a complete close-up of it when it's no longer ticked off.

Will do. I'll check it again tonight when I get home and see if it's still upset with me. LOL.

demon_speeding · Nov 22, 2022

blaxsun said:
If you can, try to take a complete close-up of it when it's no longer ticked off.

Ok, it isn't mad at me today. Here's a closer picture.

blaxsun · Nov 22, 2022

Well, I'm stumped. It's a really interesting coral, regardless - definitely a keeper! Almost like a cross between a duncan and a goniopora...

demon_speeding · Nov 22, 2022

Yeah, it's a weird little guy. It's in the lower part of the tank, moderate flow, I'm waiting on a par meter to measure the light, but it's probably around 125 if I had to guess. It seems happy enough. I guess I'll wait for it to grow and see what it turns into. Maybe someone else will have an idea of what it is.

encrustingacro · Nov 22, 2022

hydnophora

mdb_talon · Nov 22, 2022

Yes definitely hydnophora. Google jf limelight hydnophora this is similar.

demon_speeding · Nov 22, 2022

O

mdb_talon said:
Yes definitely hydnophora. Google jf limelight hydnophora this is similar.

Good call! I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it is. Now I need to figure out how to grow him.

Kittypowpow · Dec 1, 2022

If anyone can help ID this little guy it would be greatly appreciated. I received him as a freebee in a recent order. I have a Nem/Zoa only tank so I have no idea if this will fit in or not. I would like to do some research, but need help with a name. Its currently sitting in my quarantine tank. let me know if more pics or anything will help.

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 1, 2022

demon_speeding said:
I don't think it's a mushroom, when the polyps are retracted it feels like it has a skeleton. I wondered it if was something like a pavona, but I don't know if pavona get "hairy" looking when the polyps are out.

Hydnophora

EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal · Dec 1, 2022

Kittypowpow said:
If anyone can help ID this little guy it would be greatly appreciated. I received him as a freebee in a recent order. I have a Nem/Zoa only tank so I have no idea if this will fit in or not. I would like to do some research, but need help with a name. Its currently sitting in my quarantine tank. let me know if more pics or anything will help.

Are you asking what type of mushrooms are on the rock?

mdb_talon · Dec 2, 2022

Kittypowpow said:
If anyone can help ID this little guy it would be greatly appreciated. I received him as a freebee in a recent order. I have a Nem/Zoa only tank so I have no idea if this will fit in or not. I would like to do some research, but need help with a name. Its currently sitting in my quarantine tank. let me know if more pics or anything will help.

Looks to me like a rhodactis mushroom. They can go fine in a zoa/nem tank. They can at times spread fairly fast. The nem would be a problem for it if it parked right on top but otherwise it's generally easy to keep