ID and advice

[noobilicious]

Hello, I’m new here, have had my tank running for about 90~ days. I foolishly bought a coral I didn’t fully recognize ( I thought maybe a green toadstool at the time) from 2 for 40 unlabeled frag rack at my lfs. It appears that it’s starting to melt. It’s been in the tank for about 3 weeks maybe a month. After noticing I did my weekly 25% water change. I’ll post my parameters once I done testing but, can someone help identify this coral and confirm it’s melting so I can figure out if I can save it or take it to someone who can. Thanks in advance

 

[Saltyreef]

Hard to tell. Looks possibly like a super happy hydnophora or merulina.

Doesnt look like its melting to me.

 

[encrustingacro]

Looks like a pavona to me

 

[Saltyreef]

Looks like a pavona to me

Yep. I knew i wasnt quite there lol.
Missing the fluffy rounded edges.

Still looks super happy to me OP

 

[vetteguy53081]

Its a hydnophora which is a hardy branching sps requiring typical sps parameters and dont like high salinity, alk or phospharte numbers.
Medium light and water flow

 

[noobilicious]

Hard to tell. Looks possibly like a super happy hydnophora or merulina.

Doesnt look like its melting to me.

Thanks for the reply! I’m glad to hear that! it’s just the one little corner on the right that seems to be drooping a bunch. Here’s another angle

Anyways parameters are
Salinity 1.023
Ph 8.2
Nitrate <5 >10
Kh 9.3
Calc 420
Mg 1290
Po3 undetectable
All using Salifert test kits.

 

[Saltyreef]

Pavona decussata

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Candy cane , your mushroom looks good, just trying to grow

 

[noobilicious]

Pavona decussata

That seems like the culprit thank you I shall be doing some research

 

[noobilicious]

I’d just like to clarify that this is normal? It’s caused me some concern since it started

 

[Saltyreef]

I’d just like to clarify that this is normal? It’s caused me some concern since it started

This can be normal. As long as the tissue is not disenigrating it should be fine.
Sometimes stress of a different water quality/parameter can cause some weird looking growth and action from coral.

 

[noobilicious]

This can be normal. As long as the tissue is not disenigrating it should be fine.
Sometimes stress of a different water quality/parameter can cause some weird looking growth and action from coral.

Thank you very much for your replies, I feel a lot better now, I’ll continue to keep an eye on it. Full tank shot for posterity’s sake.

 

[Saltyreef]

Love the natural look!

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Thank you very much for your replies, I feel a lot better now, I’ll continue to keep an eye on it. Full tank shot for posterity’s sake.

I think it looks great...

 

[noobilicious]

I think it looks great...

Hurtful but fair, that pic was taken a few days ago I cleaned the glass today before my water change

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Hurtful but fair, that pic was taken a few days ago I cleaned the glass today before my water change

I'm sorry, did not mean to offend, I'm still waiting on mine I ordered in January

Honestly Your aquarium does look amazing

 

[noobilicious]

I'm sorry, did not mean to offend, I'm still waiting on mine I ordered in January

Honestly Your aquarium does look amazing

Don’t worry brother I’m not offended. Thank you for that.

 

[encrustingacro]

Its a hydnophora which is a hardy branching sps requiring typical sps parameters and dont like high salinity, alk or phospharte numbers.
Medium light and water flow

Hydnophoras are usually green or brown and either branching or encrusting/massive. This coral‘s growth form is a special plating form that only agariciids grow like. I wouldn’t say this coral is a hydnophora.