Coral identification

pinkneyss · 11/28/2006, 08:28 AM

I bought a zoo rock over the weekend & I just noticed something growing in the middled of it. I'm just courious was it is. The pic isn't great, but it's the brown spot in the center of the pic.

theop · 11/28/2006, 09:17 AM

Looks like it could be an encrusting montipora, a type of SPS coral. In any case, it is a coral and nothing harmful.

However, there appears to be some type of small anemone (maybe aiptasia) on the rock at 9:00, just under the rightmost blue/green (? alien eye) zoanthid. I'd be concerned with that.

skeeter-doc · 11/28/2006, 10:04 AM

agreed, a harmless montipora it looks like to me

musty baby · 11/28/2006, 12:08 PM

Looks as though it could be a porites as well.

AquaReeferMan · 11/28/2006, 01:04 PM

Yeah I was thinking either monti or porites. Either way it will not last long. Those zoas will over grow it quick.

Travis L. Stevens · 11/28/2006, 01:11 PM

It could also be an Acropora without any coralites. It most likely is a Monti though. Regardless of what the coral is, you'll need to seperate it from the Zoas ASAP or it will die either from being over grown, stung, or both.

pinkneyss · 11/28/2006, 03:46 PM

Thanks for the help! I've been looking at a lot of pictures & I believe it's a Monti.
How can I move it? Will it come off the rock without destroying it?

Travis L. Stevens · 11/28/2006, 04:29 PM

Most likely you'll have to take a dremel tool with a cutting wheel, go around the outside of it pretty deep in making sure to leave a fair gap between the coral and the dremel tool to ensure the safety of the coral, and then pop it off with a hammer and chisel/screwdriver. Then attach the new frag to a more secure spot with something like Superglue Gel or Reef Safe Epoxy Putty

SuperNerd · 12/27/2006, 02:59 AM

Any updates?

pinkneyss · 12/27/2006, 09:24 AM

I cut around it with a dremel & tried to break it off with a screwdriver. It came off, but broke into 3 small pieces. They're all still alive but I haven't noticed any growth yet.

11/28/2006, 08:28 AM	#1
pinkneyss Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 87	Coral identification I bought a zoo rock over the weekend & I just noticed something growing in the middled of it. I'm just courious was it is. The pic isn't great, but it's the brown spot in the center of the pic.

11/28/2006, 01:04 PM	#5
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Yeah I was thinking either monti or porites. Either way it will not last long. Those zoas will over grow it quick. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

11/28/2006, 01:11 PM	#6
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	It could also be an Acropora without any coralites. It most likely is a Monti though. Regardless of what the coral is, you'll need to seperate it from the Zoas ASAP or it will die either from being over grown, stung, or both. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

11/28/2006, 04:29 PM	#8
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	Most likely you'll have to take a dremel tool with a cutting wheel, go around the outside of it pretty deep in making sure to leave a fair gap between the coral and the dremel tool to ensure the safety of the coral, and then pop it off with a hammer and chisel/screwdriver. Then attach the new frag to a more secure spot with something like Superglue Gel or Reef Safe Epoxy Putty __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

12/27/2006, 02:59 AM	#9
SuperNerd Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: SoCal/Left Side- USA Posts: 4,572	Any updates? __________________ I said fraggit! Current Tank Info: M-728 Combat Engineer (based on M60 hull). M-3 Lee Medium (British version with squatter).

11/28/2006, 09:17 AM	#2
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	Looks like it could be an encrusting montipora, a type of SPS coral. In any case, it is a coral and nothing harmful. However, there appears to be some type of small anemone (maybe aiptasia) on the rock at 9:00, just under the rightmost blue/green (? alien eye) zoanthid. I'd be concerned with that.

11/28/2006, 10:04 AM	#3
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	agreed, a harmless montipora it looks like to me

11/28/2006, 12:08 PM	#4
musty baby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: over yonder Posts: 1,751	Looks as though it could be a porites as well.

11/28/2006, 03:46 PM	#7
pinkneyss Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 87	Thanks for the help! I've been looking at a lot of pictures & I believe it's a Monti. How can I move it? Will it come off the rock without destroying it?

12/27/2006, 09:24 AM	#10
pinkneyss Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Conroe, TX Posts: 87	I cut around it with a dremel & tried to break it off with a screwdriver. It came off, but broke into 3 small pieces. They're all still alive but I haven't noticed any growth yet.