ID this Acro!

Velodog2 · Oct 22, 2013

Species and/or variety? Very difficult to photograph because the purple is almost reflective metallic. I had to wait until the lights were down low. Whenever I see a pic of a Simplex I think aha that's it, except that mine seems to have far too many polyps to be that. It was a frag that a local reefer turned in to my LFS and did not identify, but came from a tank w higher end sps. I have it only a few inches below the surface under LEDs and in the month or so it has been in the tank the polyps have come out and gone from a greenish to a reddish-brown color, the bottom/middle portion has seemed to fade a bit as can be seen in the photo, and it has done a lot of encrusting but only a little branch extension. Branch tips are white and there is no terminal polyp extension. It is interesting for sure.

ifarmer · Oct 22, 2013

purple tip acro type maybe?

trido · Oct 22, 2013

Something you liked well enough to buy.

Could be a tri-color valida or many other kinds. Impossible to ID with a fuzzy picture of a frag. Also, not every acropora has a fancy name.

Velodog2 · Oct 22, 2013

I googled purple tip acro and although the colors are close this one seems more unique.

I probably need to grow it out more. Googling simplex showed some peices with a greater polyp density than I'd seen before, although a lot of the images that came up were clearly not simplex, as happens with google. The smooth skin and metallic sheen (that I can't capture in the photo) are what make it unusual to me. The purple also has a bit of reddish tinge to it sometimes.

Velodog2 · Oct 22, 2013

trido said:
Something you liked well enough to buy.

Could be a tri-color valida or many other kinds. Impossible to ID with a fuzzy picture of a frag. Also, not every acropora has a fancy name.

Yeah, you're right the pic is still not good enough. I'll keep trying. And yeah, it is one of my favorites.

Frick · Oct 22, 2013

Just simply Acropora valida.
Acropora valida. Corals of the World - Photos, maps and information about corals and reefs

Velodog2 · Oct 22, 2013

Frick said:
Just simply Acropora valida.
Acropora valida. Corals of the World - Photos, maps and information about corals and reefs

Acropora valida is the tricolor right? That's what the various 'bonsai' varieties are?

Velodog2 · Oct 23, 2013

Frick said:
Just simply Acropora valida.
Acropora valida. Corals of the World - Photos, maps and information about corals and reefs

You are most likely correct.

Gamble · Oct 23, 2013

Another vote for acropora valida....

bct15 · Oct 23, 2013

It looks like a valida. I can assure beyond an unequivocal doubt that it is not acropora simplex. Acropora simplex has flat branches and grows more flat and out and not up like that. Below is a pic of my simplex...you will see they are not even remotely similar.

ImageUploadedByReef2Reef Aquarium Forum1382576025.483260.jpg

Frick · Oct 25, 2013

Velodog2 said:
Acropora valida is the tricolor right? That's what the various 'bonsai' varieties are?

Tri-Color will have lineage to a signature colony. Like Tyree Tri-Color, or ORA Tri-Color.
Bonsai is the same way. G.A.R.F Bonsai is the real Bonsai and all the others are confusing imposters in my book.
Acropora valida could be the species of any or all of these. But not the other way around.
Here is my take on corals names.
Show name > Don't know the lineage? > Species name > Can't figure the species out? > Color and Genus name > Color blind and can't figure out the genus? > Name after everyday object followed by "coral thingy".
ORA Tricolor> did it originate from ORA? no then> Acropora valida> Enough there to say for sure? no then> Is it Purple? Is it an Acropora? Yes then>Purple Acropora> if still not sure to those?> Stick Coral Thingy.