Please help ID and guidence on care

[JAC-]

Hey friends,

I went to my LFS with $40 apparently burning a hole in my wallet. Unfortunately, the stock was pretty thin that day just a few tangs and clowns and no SPS corals, and when I couldn't get the engineer gobys I was hoping for I saw two corals in the cheapie section that called out to me. I'm fairly new at this and more of an SPS kind of guy and have no idea what they are. I guess they look kinda of Monti like and that's what pulled me in.

I'm hoping to get an ID and the conditions they like so I can work out a good placement.

Thanks in advance,

 

[vetteguy53081]

Top one cyphastrea
Mid tank under moderate light and water flow

 

[JAC-]

Top one cyphastrea
Mid tank under moderate light and water flow

Thanks friend, somehow I missed your reply.

 

[Alexopora]

Hey friends,

I went to my LFS with $40 apparently burning a hole in my wallet. Unfortunately, the stock was pretty thin that day just a few tangs and clowns and no SPS corals, and when I couldn't get the engineer gobys I was hoping for I saw two corals in the cheapie section that called out to me. I'm fairly new at this and more of an SPS kind of guy and have no idea what they are. I guess they look kinda of Monti like and that's what pulled me in.

I'm hoping to get an ID and the conditions they like so I can work out a good placement.

Thanks in advance,

Yeah these are cyphastreas, and they are normally regarded as sps. They do like a good amount of flow but go easy on the lighting. Since they are already at the bottom of the tank, i think its fine. They are definitely a low to medium light sps.

 

[JAC-]

Yeah these are cyphastreas, and they are normally regarded as sps. They do like a good amount of flow but go easy on the lighting. Since they are already at the bottom of the tank, i think its fine. They are definitely a low to medium light sps.

Well, how about that. Just like me to make such a mistake

I'm happy to have them either way, but as I'm reading about them I'm more and more interested.

Thanks friends,

 

[Alexopora]

Well, how about that. Just like me to make such a mistake

I'm happy to have them either way, but as I'm reading about them I'm more and more interested.

Thanks friends,

;Shamefullyembarrased We are always learning one way or another as there is just so much diversity in this hobby. You should google up images of “cyphastrea skulls” and “cyphastrea encrusting”. Just some fun projects to try once your cyphastreas have fully stabilise and have shown good growth.

 

[KrisReef]

Yup, and keep a sharp eye out for sweeper tentacle that may show up between those two green specimens in the second photo. They look like they might be close enough to fight over territory?

BTW, I thing there are a lot of us on here who have brought home strange frags when visiting the LFS. It's ok. Most of our money is really dirty and using it to rescue and adopt corals is a truly noble act. Good choices!

 

[JAC-]

Yup, and keep a sharp eye out for sweeper tentacle that may show up between those two green specimens in the second photo. They look like they might be close enough to fight over territory?

BTW, I thing there are a lot of us on here who have brought home strange frags when visiting the LFS. It's ok. Most of our money is really dirty and using it to rescue and adopt corals is a truly noble act. Good choices!

Thanks friends,

I had them sitting on the sand to acclimate to the lighting for a few days as I move them up. They are now far apart. One is about 10 inches away from a favia and I expect they will both continue to grow away from each other if both stay in there current position, but are any of you concerned by that?

I've been working on the favia, it was in rough shape when I got it (heavily burnt) and I don't think it's been enjoying my low nutrient set up and won't eat.
I'm in the process of setting up a more SPS friendly tank. I figured I'd give it a try in there and see if it starts looking better.
I suppose that's unrelated though.

I'm sure I'll end up with more corals that I don't know what are. Thankfully I have many great friends that know much more about the wonders of the reef than I do and are willing to help me out.

 

[JAC-]

;Shamefullyembarrased We are always learning one way or another as there is just so much diversity in this hobby. You should google up images of “cyphastrea skulls” and “cyphastrea encrusting”. Just some fun projects to try once your cyphastreas have fully stabilise and have shown good growth.

Very cool indeed, my breath was taken away by the hexagon ball coated by the cyphastreas collany.

Thanks for the positive words, I am continuously humbled and amazed by what I learn on my journey. I'm ashamed to admit when I first started down the reef I thought corals were just funny plants and didn't think they were that important for our ecosystem. I now have only learned a drop in the ocean and am amazed by these amazing creatures and morn for every polyp lost in the wild.