Coral ID Help Please

seanm001 · 07/11/2010, 04:58 PM

I bought this coral a few weeks ago and it's growing very quickly given the moderate light moderate flow conditions on my frag rack. It was described at the store as a spongy monti cap - I think somebody made that up.

Anyway, it's definitely not a sponge. It's soft and fleshy, floppy like there's no skeleton. It's plating out like a monti cap might, but there are also fingers creeping down like it's trying to encrust as well. It's on a frag plug with a spike on it to encourage upward branching growth, but it definitely hasn't followed that path. I haven't seen any polyps, but my flame angel might be to blame for that.

I'd like to know what it is so I don't place it next to something contra-indicated when it goes in the new tank (which won't have a flame angel in it... grr...).

Levito · 07/11/2010, 05:13 PM

I don't know what that is, but it's definitely not a monti cap because monti caps are calcareous.

kramgnik · 07/11/2010, 06:13 PM

I believe its actually a sponge. I remember seeing a wave of them coming in a couple of months ago.

seanm001 · 07/11/2010, 07:16 PM

Well, I'm not necessarily disagreeing about it being a sponge, but it doesn't feel like any sponge I've ever touched. The texture is smooth and rubbery, not rough and fibrous like a sponge. Also, it had no ill effects from being removed from the water when bagged and unbagged. Plus, sponges never seem to do well in my tank, but this thing is thriving... So it must have different care requirements from a normal sponge.

Any thoughts on genus & species for more research?

Rybren · 07/11/2010, 07:34 PM

I have a purple plating sponge that is just like yours (except for the colour part

)

It is very rubbery and grows like a weed. Mine is photosynthetic.

I can't tell you much about it because I haven't been able to find anything written about it. I got mine from a fellow reefer who has had it in his 180 for 10 or so years.

Frick-n-Frags · 07/12/2010, 06:59 AM

cool.

but that just doesnt look like a sponge .(but that is only based upon my knowlege set and i know i havent seen everything) i don't see any pores.

Rybren · 07/12/2010, 08:27 AM

True. This stuff is unlike any other sponge. It doesn't have any visible pores and is very rubbery.

Here's a pic of mine...

07/11/2010, 04:58 PM	#1
seanm001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 300	Coral ID Help Please I bought this coral a few weeks ago and it's growing very quickly given the moderate light moderate flow conditions on my frag rack. It was described at the store as a spongy monti cap - I think somebody made that up. Anyway, it's definitely not a sponge. It's soft and fleshy, floppy like there's no skeleton. It's plating out like a monti cap might, but there are also fingers creeping down like it's trying to encrust as well. It's on a frag plug with a spike on it to encourage upward branching growth, but it definitely hasn't followed that path. I haven't seen any polyps, but my flame angel might be to blame for that. I'd like to know what it is so I don't place it next to something contra-indicated when it goes in the new tank (which won't have a flame angel in it... grr...).

07/11/2010, 07:34 PM	#5
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	I have a purple plating sponge that is just like yours (except for the colour part ) It is very rubbery and grows like a weed. Mine is photosynthetic. I can't tell you much about it because I haven't been able to find anything written about it. I got mine from a fellow reefer who has had it in his 180 for 10 or so years. __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

07/12/2010, 06:59 AM	#6
Frick-n-Frags Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: north central OH Posts: 10,740	cool. but that just doesnt look like a sponge .(but that is only based upon my knowlege set and i know i havent seen everything) i don't see any pores. __________________ Only Dead fish swim with the current. Current Tank Info: 2 50 gal tanks, sump, still BB

07/12/2010, 08:27 AM	#7
Rybren Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 1,642	True. This stuff is unlike any other sponge. It doesn't have any visible pores and is very rubbery. Here's a pic of mine... __________________ 120G Mixed Reef, 28G AIO zoa/pipefish tank

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07/11/2010, 05:13 PM	#2
Levito Moved On Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 290	I don't know what that is, but it's definitely not a monti cap because monti caps are calcareous.

07/11/2010, 06:13 PM	#3
kramgnik Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lexington KY Posts: 186	I believe its actually a sponge. I remember seeing a wave of them coming in a couple of months ago.

07/11/2010, 07:16 PM	#4
seanm001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 300	Well, I'm not necessarily disagreeing about it being a sponge, but it doesn't feel like any sponge I've ever touched. The texture is smooth and rubbery, not rough and fibrous like a sponge. Also, it had no ill effects from being removed from the water when bagged and unbagged. Plus, sponges never seem to do well in my tank, but this thing is thriving... So it must have different care requirements from a normal sponge. Any thoughts on genus & species for more research?