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FAQs about Poritid Coral Identification
Related Articles: Poritid Corals,
Related FAQs: Poritids 1, Poritids
2, Poritids 3,
Poritid Behavior, Poritid
Compatibility, Poritid Selection,
Poritid Systems, Poritid Feeding,
Poritid Health, Poritid
Reproduction/Propagation, Stony/True
Coral, Coral System Set-Up,
Coral System Lighting, Stony Coral
Identification, Stony Coral Selection,
Coral Placement, Foods/Feeding/Nutrition,
Disease/Health, Propagation,
Growing Reef Corals, Stony
Coral Behavior, | 
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Re: Mushroom ID 10/27/09
Here's another one. A hard coral this time.
Regards
Beta
<Interesting... the first pic looks like an Oculinid/Galaxea sp., but in
viewing the second image, what appeared to be skeletal elements are
tentacles... Likely a Poritid/Goniopora sp. BobF> |
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LPS ID and phytoplankton product use
– 10/26/09
Hi Grew,
I'm one more person, who would like to say how great and informative
your site.
<We share!>
I'm new in the hobby. My tank is 6 mo, however thanks to all your
advices, everything is doing well. I read your articles almost every
day.
I have a question regarding LPS ID. I found it in one local fish store
under name Neon Green. A salesman could not give me any additional info.
It covers a life rock, polyps a small about 3 mm in diameter and 2-3 mm
tall. They retract when disturbed. Is it kind of Turbinaria?
<Mmm, need either better vision (no doubt actually) or a bit larger,
more-resolved image here, but I am pretty sure this is a Goniopora
(commonly called "Flowerpot") coral. Please see here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm
and the linked files above re this genus' care>
And one more question. In most of your articles you mentioned that
corals eat zoo-plankton.
<Most all do to extents... along with no to some variable amount of
photosynthesis>
What kind of coral eat phytoplankton?
<... actually very few of what passes as "corals", definitely not
Scleractinians/Stonies consume much of any phyto>
An instruction on bottles with phytoplankton says, that it is food for
filter feeders and corals.
<... A good point, statement... Most all such material is of limited (to
the extreme) use in hobbyist systems. The bulk is taken out via
skimming... Some soft coral groups (Alcyonaceans) consume "some"
species, sizes of phytoplankton... and adding such products can lead
indirectly to "better conditions" in captive systems... but most of it
is a placebo>
Thank you for you time.
Igor
<And you for sharing. Bob Fenner>
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Re: LPS ID 10/27/09
Bob,
Thank you very much. That is what I did not like to hear. I read that
Goniopora sp is difficult one.
Here is one more image. I hope this resolution is better.
Best regards,
Igor
<I do think this is a Goniopora further still. B>
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Flowerpot, Poritid ID, care 8/25/09
Hi Crew,
<Hey Sam, long time no hear.>
I saw a nice coral in my local LFS and they said it was a flowerpot. Is
there any easy way for me to tell if it is Alveopora or Goniopora.
<Alveopora has 12 tentacles per polyp whereas Goniopora have 24.
Should be easy enough, but knowing your system by heart, I don't think
your lighting is capable of supporting either of the two.>
At the time I did not know enough to ask the question but after reading
it seems people call both flowerpots but one seems to be impossible to
keep. I guess I could ask them but sometimes I wonder if they really
know.
Thanks
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Re Flowerpot, Poritid care 8/26/09
Hi James,
<Sam>
You comment about lighting surprises me. Based on what I read recently (
I can't find it right now) Mr Fenner writes that Alveopora problems come
from either too clean water or too much light. So my impression is my
65w PC should be ok.
<I believe what Mr. Fenner was alluding to in "too much light", is in
the form of high wattage MH lighting. In your tank, 24 gallon, if my
memory serves me right, you would need a 150 watt HQI lamp or two 65
watt PC's to provide acceptable light requirements for this coral. Most
LPS corals are going to require moderate
to strong lighting to survive.
Although not quite as delicate as Goniopora, Alveopora is still a
difficult coral to keep for any length of time. At Waikiki Aquarium in
Hawaii, they have been able to sustain Alveopora for over a decade and a
half by providing the coral with natural sunlight and a constant flow of
ocean water. James (Salty Dog)>
Re Flowerpot 8/26/09
Thanks,
You just save me a few bucks and some frustration.
<You're welcome, Sam. James (Salty Dog)>
Sam
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Trying to identify a coral hitchhiker 7/23/09
Hi Crew,
It’s been a long time since I’ve had to ask you guys and gals a
question. This is actually the first question I’ve had since setting up
a reef tank that I haven’t been able to answer by reading the articles
and FAQs on WWM.
I have been trying to identify a stony coral hitchhiker that came in on
a rock I purchased at my local fish store. I purchased the rock for the
blue clove polyps, but I definitely got more than I paid for. I have
spent the last week searching WWM until my eyes hurt. I have no idea
where on earth the rock came from originally, which makes it even harder
to figure out what this coral is. One ocean worth of species to search
through is difficult enough; trying to identify something that may have
come from anywhere tropical on earth is exhausting.
Anyway, here’s what I do know about the coral: It is definitely stony,
it has polyps that extend well beyond the skeleton when it is open, and
it is growing like a weed. The entire colony is about 1 inch by ½ inch
currently, and the polyps are tiny- a millimeter or two across at most.
The individual polyps have visible tentacles on them much like Poritidae
and Siderastreidae.
<Is a Poritid I'm pretty sure... of the genus Goniopora;
http://wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm>
Since a written description will only get you so far, and a picture is
worth a thousand words, I am attaching a couple of the best pictures I
could manage. I apologize in advance for the large file sizes.
Thanks in advance for your time and efforts, even if this coral remains
unidentified.
Sean
<Thank you for writing so well, completely and clearly Sean. Bob Fenner>
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Re: Trying
to identify a coral hitchhiker 7/24/09
Bob,
Thanks for the quick response and the ID. I was afraid you were going to
say it was Goniopora. This is one coral I was planning
on NEVER adding to my tank, because of their dismal survival rates in
captivity. But, now that I have it, I'm going to do my best to keep it
alive, and that brings up a few questions.
I currently have the mixed rock (Goniopora and blue clove polyps) in the
top 1/3 of my tank, under 150w, 14K MH with supplemental T5 Actinics.
It's off to one side, getting indirect light from the MH.
Should I leave it where it is, or would it be better to frag off the
Goniopora and move it to the sand bed (1/2 inch sugar-fine Aragonite)?
<I'd leave it, all where it/they are>
I also have a question or two about feeding. I'm currently dosing my
tank 2 or 3 times a week with Marine Snow and/or Kent Marine's
Microvert, which is made mostly of fish byproducts, shrimp meal,
Spirulina, and kelp, with added vitamins. I also feed frozen,
phyto-enriched mysis once or twice a week, mostly for my fish, but my
Nassarius snails and some of my corals seem to love it too. Is there
anything I can add to this feeding regimen to increase the Goniopora's
chances of survival?
<Chopped up meaty foods... fashioning a netted cover to place over for a
few tens of minutes during feeding is a good idea>
I know you recommend a refugium for plankton production for coral
systems. I have built, but not yet installed, a 5.5 gallon refugium.
I'm still working out the plumbing. I plan on putting in a 5 inch DSB,
some Chaetomorpha, and some red Gracilaria, as well as some live rock
rubble in one of the chambers. Is there anything I should add or replace
in my 'fuge to help out the Goniopora, as well as my other corals?
<Mmm, not much more than this, no>
I apologize for asking so many questions at once, but you knowhow it
goes... The more I learn, the more I realize how truly little I know.
<Such is the case in all circumstances with sensitive minds. BobF>
Thanks again,
Sean
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Coral ID 06/29/09
Hello!
I started marine reef keeping back in December of last year and your
site has helped avert a few disasters and relieve chronic curiosity!
Thanks for your hard work.
I have a hitchhiking coral on my Blue Star Polyp frag I was hoping to
get an ID on. I've posted the photos on a number of boards already and
the best suggestions coming back seem to be Alveopora sp. but I'm not
convinced. Your opinions would be much appreciated.
<I also think it's Alveopora sp.>
In the attached photo, it is the whitish disk shaped polyps I was hoping
to have identified. When I first got this frag they were quite small and
I thought they were clove polyps that hadn't opened up. This is of
course
not how clove polyps grow and after a month and a half these disks have
grown as large as the biggest clove polyp and more seem to be coming up
underneath them. The polyp stalk is thin and the entire polyp retracts
into the rockwork at night or if disturbed. The really attractive thing
about them, I think, are the creases on polyp face which divide it up
into 12 segments. I am told these 12 segments are characteristic of
Alveopora but I have not been able to find photos of Alveopora that
match my specimen.
<Check this one out:
http://www.asira.org/alveopora.jpg/
(photo taken by Gene Schwartz)
To me, looks just like yours. What do you think?>
Any info you could provide would be great and let me start researching
the requirements of this little fellow. All the best,
Mark
<Cheers,
Sara M.>
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Re: Coral ID 09/29/09
Yeah that is looking right. Apparently the requirements are quite difficult
to meet but I will try my best with it. Thank you very much for your help!
<Yes, they tend to be... but if this is a hitchhiker, I would take that as a
sign that it's a little hardier than usual.>
Mark
<Best,
Sara M.> |
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Porites ID – 5/22/09
Hi all.
<Hi Debra>
Although there are many different Porites, I was hoping to see if you
could possibly suggest a species.
<Possibly Porites astreoides, P. lobata, P. lichen, or P. lutea (known
to be associated with Christmas tree worms - Spirobranchus spp). I’ve
seen beautiful pink and blue P. lichen colonies in Eric Borneman’s
Aquarium Corals book (pg 245). I’ve also seen another listed as Mike
Paletta’s Purple Porites on the ‘net that supposedly turns a
bluish/purple under high lighting. Unfortunately, I don’t know which
species that is. Differentiating Porites spp. can be difficult because
color and form can vary according to depth, current, etc. It’s something
best done under magnification of the corallites. For more information,
please see the following links:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/porites.htm
The following site illustrates the differences between many Porites
species (including P. lutea and P. lobata):
Google books link>
A brief history and some observations. I purchased some rock from
someone breaking down their tank late 2007. They mentioned that this
rock had Christmas tree worms on it at one time.
<It’s most likely a Porites spp, but there are other possibilities as
well. Please see the following link for more candidates:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2002/toonen.htm >
The rock was at the bottom under many larger rocks (120 gal aquarium). I
put it in my NanoCube with Zoa collection as a base rock. At some point
I noticed some slight coloring and "movement" on the rock and thought it
was some sort of algae. A closer look revealed polyps. I flipped it
around so it could get some light. The small section was about 3/4"
around. It has now covered the complete top of the 5-6 inch diameter
rock.
<Wow, is it ever beautiful!>
The coral was always brown under PC or 70W HQI with tiny polyps extended
and waving and fast growing. It was moved to an SPS tank with T5 HO and
it started to color up.
<Brown coloration could have been due to light/nutrient level issues, or
both.>
It went from brown to a sort of bluish/purple hue.
<Nice>
It appears very hardy. It has never changed growth rate despite
different water and lighting conditions. I've never acclimated it from
tank to tank. I picked up some weird nuisance algae on a frag and the
algae attached to the Porites rock.
<Hate it when that happens!>
Numerous times I took it out, scraped the rock clean, put it back, never
fazing the Porites.
<They can be tough that way. I’ve seen photos of exposed Porites
colonies at low tide. Apparently the routine exposure causes no
significant ill effects.>
I have another small Porites with Christmas tree worms on it and from
time to time it closes up to shed a mucous coat.
<Typical behavior>
I have never seen this Porites exhibit that behavior.
<Interesting>
It encrusts over rock (probably will encrust over anything) but it also
began encrusting out past the rock with no support/attachment
underneath.
<Plating growth – neat>
I broke off those pieces and glued them onto a frag disk. In less than
two months time you can see the four distinct pieces in the picture have
already joined and are quickly covering the disk.
<That’s a very happy coral!>
Its growth appears to be smooth, with bumps and ridges formed due to
what it's covering. I'm unsure of its temperament but I gather it's
somewhat peaceful.
<Yes, Porites are one of the least aggressive corals out there.>
Thanks in advance for your help.
<You're very welcome>
Here are some pics. Both samples are in different areas of the tank thus
the different coloring. It appears the higher the light intensity the
bluer it turns.
<Very pretty, indeed!>
Debbie Piedra
<Take care, LynnZ>
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Coral Identification - Goniopora
3/19/2009
Hello.
<Hi there, Mich with you.>
Can you tell me what type of coral this is?
<Yes it is a Goniopora, commonly called a flowerpot coral, and they
typically don't do well in captivity as each and every individual polyp
needs to be fed, ie each of the little "flowers". It is generally not a
coral that should be tried by a beginner. Please don't take this the wrong
way, but if you don't know the name, it is not an animal you should be
keeping. You should always know the care requirements of any creature for
which you assume responsibility and if you don't know what it is, you are
not likely to know the animals care requirements. The animal is at your
mercy. I implore you to learn about the needs of any animal in your custody.
Not knowing is irresponsible. I am hoping you are in the researching stage
and this is a photo from the LFS, which is where this coral should be left
in my opinion. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm >
I cannot find a picture of it anywhere to identify it.
<Hope this helped.>
Thanks.
<Welcome!>
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Coral ID 1/8/09
Hi Bob,
<Hello Beta. Minh
at your service.>
I have attached a pic of the coral that I need
an ID on. I don't much have info on the specimen as the pic was sent
to me by a friend.
<I assume you are referring to the brilliantly
colored yellow encrusting hard coral in the right center of the
photograph, correct? At first glance, one could pass this coral to
be Porites sp. (perhaps Porites cylindrica). However, upon closer
inspection, the polyp size and extension in comparison to the
Turbinaria peltata on the lower left indicates another coral from
the genus Goniopora in the Poritidae family. The size and extension
of the polyps as well as the growth form of this particular specimen
resembles Goniopora stutchburyi. However, the coloration of this
specimen does not appear to be natural and I'm afraid it could have
been dyed. Unfortunately, I have seen similar corals often imported
to our local fish stores in the states. More information about dyed
corals including a photo of a close matching specimen can be found
here:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-09/eb/index.php.
Also, more information about care of Goniopora stutchburyi can be
found in detail here:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/10/aafeature2/. I have been
researching Goniopora care for a few years now, so feel free to
write back with more information on identification or care of this
genus.>
Regards
Beta
India
<Good luck. Cheers, Minh
Huynh.> |
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Mystery Coral... reading... 3/6/08
Dear Crew,
I just
purchased a coral from my LFS last week. They said it was a green-eyed
Goniopora, because that's how it was labeled at the warehouse.
<Mmm,
does appear to be of this genus... perhaps artificially dyed...>
However, it looks nothing like a Goniopora.
<The pix are blurry, but
do look at the individual polyps, the corallites... and read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm>
I have searched all over the
Internet and have been unable to find anything that resembles it. The
LFS said they'd take it back if it were indeed a Goniopora sp. The coral
has a hard skeleton and is LPS in nature.
<Please send along a better
resolved, closer image...>
From the skeleton, very small fluorescent
green polyps (no more than 1 or 2 mm in diameter) extend no farther than
a couple of mm, under 65 watt compact fluorescent and 400 watt metal
halide lighting. I have the coral positioned away from the halide, since
I do not know how much light it needs and I do not want to bleach it or
stress it. The coral responded well to DT's phytoplankton.
<... see
the above citations linked files above... on Feeding...>
The coral
appears to be an encrusting species. I have attached pictures. I hope
they are clear enough for you to see. I guess the glass and water in the
aquarium diffracts the light too much when I zoom in, because it always
gets blurry.
<Is more likely limitation/s of the camera, lens...>
Also, around the base of the coral are some smooth, brown things. I
thought at first that they were a type of flat worm. but they appear to
be rather hard (firm may be a better word) and they do not seem to be
moving. Any thoughts?
<Looks like inorganic substrate/matrix...>
You may be able to see them in the pics. They seem to have three small
dark dots that are slightly raised on them. I removed one with a pair of
tweezers. It had no noticeable traits and it was firmly attached all the
way to the base.
Thank y'all ahead of time for all that you do and
your commitment to the hobby.
Thank you,
Brolin Evans
P.S.
I want to thank Brenda and let her know that my BTA is doing wonderfully
after its incident with the powerhead. It seems to have fully recovered.
<Ah, good... Read. Bob Fenner> |  
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Re: Condylactis passiflora, intra species contention?, and now Goniopora
ID, feeding, sys. 7/13/07
Thanks very much for your
enlightening response ;-)
Have actually spent literally years reading
WetWebMedia FAQs and articles, was merely struggling a bit with this
one, in any case have re-tackled the Alkalinity/Hardness/Ca issue and
think I'm pretty much across the concepts (if I'm not , then I suspect I
never will be). Have tested my water (PH 8.2, Salinity 1.025, Nitrates
>60ppm, no
Nitrites or Ammonia, Temp 24C, Ca 340ppm, dKH 12.5), and
doesn't seem too bad.
Regarding the possible Condy contention below ,
should I move one of them out if I can get the chance ( if they come out
of the holes they have burrowed into to)?
<Yes, I would>
Confession Time: The background here is that a not so "funny thing
happened the other day", Bear in mind , I haven't devoted a lot of time
to the hobby over the last year, and my memory isn't so good, as a
result I have made a rather disastrous mistake:
I was in the LFS to
buy a Sarcophyton I have had my eye on for a few weeks, and while I was
there they had a beautiful large Goniopora (WAIT!, WAIT! please, stay
with me.....just a bit longer) and they only wanted $55 AUD for it . I
said to the "Expert" in charge of their marine section "Isn't that the
one that has the really dismal survival rate in captivity?", ." Oh no,
says Expert, these are quite easy and this one has been doing really
well " .
<Mmm, not so... this Genus IS the most used historically...
but also has the survival value adverb you suggest>
I wander the shop
some more with my two year old son distracting me heavily thinking
"....or is that the other one beginning with" Go", gogi..,
gopi..something...?, and suddenly remember "That's it! Gorgonian!, the
Sea fan, it must be that one that I was thinking of that I decided never
to own.
<Mmm, well, some of those/these hexacorals are not
aquarium-hardy at all either...>
Bought said victim, took home
looked at notes/bookmarks again , placed head in hands and came to
realisation that am probably developing Alzheimer's.
<I can't seem to
remember...>
After sobbing a bit decided to do right thing and return
it for a credit note, but ....LFS won't take it back, and don't have any
friends that do Marine.
I feel like such an idiot! I only didn't
mention this before because it's so embarrassing, Now I am stuck with
it, and desperately don't want to be responsible for killing it, it is a
beautifully healthy specimen. Have spent a full week of hours per day
researching ways to keep it alive (hampered by the fact that I can't
decide if it is a stokesi, columna or lobata (Even though I majored in
Animal Ecology at Uni 17 years ago ...
<See my cursory review of
"The World Trade in Coral" posted on WWM... species, even higher tax.
ID's of Scleractinia are not easy>
like I said, my brain appears to
have fallen out). It is Hemispherical Colony on a single coned shaped
column (looks like they skeleton has basically grown out and up in a
circular fashion), Polyps are long and brown with green tipped tentacles
(attached pictures, - the leather is has now been moved away from the
Goni and I will keep a close eye on the Condy's although they don't seem
inclined to move again, clown hasn't approached it) What do you think it
might be?
<Am looking... Columns too long for the first... tentacles
not shaped like the second... I make this out to be the most common
aquarium species, G. stokesi>
Now if you are still reading , here's
my questions : I have a bag of Seachem Oolitic Aragonite , that I bought
for several reasons , one because my Nitrates keep creeping too fast
(about 20-40ppm per week in 100 litre tank)
<The high/er NO3 is
actually of use, advised for this genus...>
to be explained by my
tiny stock (two small/medium fish) and stingy feeding rates and frequent
(weekly) water changes, that I suspect that the 3 year old crushed shell
substrate may be harbouring to much bound organic matter (even though I
vacuum it vigorously) so I want to replace it.
<I would NOT do
this... but possibly add to...>
Two because I was originally thinking
to use it to help stabilise Alkalinity and add Ca , and Three because I
am hoping/Praying I can foster some microfauna to help feed the Goni (do
these 3 arguments sound plausible?).
<Is, though a much larger
system, and really a separate, tied-in refugium with DSB, lighting... is
STRONGLY advised>
Given that the water parameters above don't seem
too bad for Ca and KH considering that I have never measured or
attempted to alter either in 3 years , should I leave the Aragonite out
in case it messes with the balance? (no.. I can't fit a refugium to this
tank (wife/children etc) ).
<I would leave in for the very organic
component you mention...>
In terms of Feeding it , I am attempting a
mix of Hikari rotifer, baby shrimp and algae glass scraping, and
recently purchased some frozen blocks of Spirulina, octopus, mussel, and
shrimp mush to try as well (having trouble getting Cyclop-eeze, do you
think the freeze dried would be ok or should I only go for the frozen if
I can get it?).
<All are suitable if small enough to fit into
individual polyps... I would develop a routine of "covering" the colony
temporarily, immersing the polyps with food... while having mechanical
filtration suspended during these minutes... to assure each are fed...>
If I can impose on your patience just a little longer... some Goni
questions that I have read conflicting arguments on :
1. Do they
tolerate nitrate well or not, have read conflicting assertions, I am
guessing my typical reading of around 40ppm may still be a bit high for
it?
<This genus lives in quite "polluted" waters... including VERY
high NO3 concentration>
2. Are baby shrimp small enough/suitable for
it? (these look about the same size as a rotifer), should I try and
culture some green water (phytoplankton) maybe?
<Mmm, don't eat
phytoplankton to any appreciable degree... meaty food items need to be
"mouth size"... or smaller>
3. Is it abnormal for it to close into a
swollen ball for about 4 hours after the lights go out, it only seems to
look really happy during the day ( have read they should be out day and
night), it is only under 2 x 18W at the moment and seems quite happy and
I am about to add 75W 6500K for it, do you think it might actually not
like the brighter light ( it WAS under Halides in the shop)
<Not
atypical behavior in both cases>
4. The LFS was feeding it JBL
Koralle Fluid and claims it loves it, all the stock I can find on
Melbourne shelves is out of date by a least 6 months!, most of the Red
sea and Seachem alternatives I can find here all list about 0.0003mg/g
of copper in them,
<Not to worry re this preservative trace>
(except for Red Sea Coral Trace that I can't get any specs on at all and
Marine trace that just says the elements but no concentrations) and I am
worried this may accumulate and hurt my feather dusters and corals, even
though it isn't much, do you think Seachem Reef Trace(0.0003mg/g Cu) or
Reef Plus(0.001Mg.g Cu) might be a good product for my Goni even with
the copper?
<Yes... no worries. Some small amount of copper is
actually necessary... a "micro-nutrient">
I have to keep this guy
alive in this tank for around 10 months somehow until I can get my new 5
foot reef system up and running (house being built at the moment) with
refugium, Thalassia etc.
<I'd move it last...>
I will keep
researching , but would appreciate any pearls of wisdom you could impart
(besides " Research before you buy" and."... keep reading" already know
those ones ;-) )
Cheers,
Rama
<Heeee! BobF> |  
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Id of this Coral... Alveopora 7/8/07
Hi,
<Hi Andrea, Mich
here.>
I have looked on the website posted to groups and etc.
Unfortunately I am still stumped on what type of coral this is.
<Is
an Alveopora AKA daisy coral or flowerpot coral. Is similar to
Goniopora. Typically these corals are challenging to keep and often do
not do well in captivity. More here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/alveopora.htm
http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/dec2002/invert.htm
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/nftt/index.php
It came in
on a rock with another piece of coral I purchased. I have enclosed a
close up shot of it.
<I see. A nice photo!>
Thanks in advance
<Welcome! Mich>
Andrea | 
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Coral I.D. Not Porites, but maybe Goniopora? 2/14/07
Good
Evening Bob:
<Nope, GrahamT here! (Happy V-day.)>
I am still
hoping to identify the two little coral colonies that I have been caring
for these last 16 months.
<Let's see what we've got here...>
It is sort of like caring for an orphan and wishing to know of the
child's parents.
<Hehe...>
I hope that I am not asking too
much, <Never...>> but I wonder if you would mind comparing the
photograph of my little corals to the corals shown here
http://whelk.aims.gov.au/coralsearch/html/601-700/Species%20pages/606.htm
. Is this a possible match?
<No, I don't think so. The corals
pictured in your link are SPS, and while very attractive and desirable,
differ in at least a few ways from your picture. You pic, though
blurrily shot, shows large polyps, and no hint of the underlying
skeletal structure shape or size. I would think you have a variety of
Goniopora, but you can make the judgment better than I by looking here,
(
http://wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm ) and counting your
tentacles on each polyp.>
Thanks as always for your incredible
Web-site and all that you do for us.
<No, thank you. Your questions
are what make our answers possible.>
Sincerely,
Brad in Basalt
<-GrahamT> | 
|
Re: Identification Please... No photo...please resend and now with
Pic... SPS Possibly Porites? 1/19/07
Oops, sorry for
forgetting the picture.
<It's OK, I'm guilty of the same! Well, it
looks like a SPS, small polyp stony coral, My best guess is something in
the Porites family. Keep doing what your doing if you've had that much
growth in short of period of time. Generally, Porites like bright light,
though many are pretty tolerant in regards to light, turbidity and even
salinity. Good luck! -Mich> | 
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Stringy Stuff? - 04/12/06
WWM,
<<Hello Mike...EricR here>>
I currently have an Alveopora in my tank and it seems to be doing very
well. When it retracts at night you can see the hard encrusting base,
what I call the skeleton. On some parts of the skeleton I can see some
white stringy stuff, which seems to expand and contract at different
times, but not at regular intervals. One day when the Alveopora was
completely expanded I could see the stringy stuff hanging out the
bottom. Haven't seen it like that ever since. At the moment you can
barely see the stingy stuff, it looks like white streaks amongst the
purple skeleton, until you get up close. My question is "what is this
stuff?" I have searched and searched and have only found one link on
Google that pertains to what I am talking about but the link is bad, so
here I am asking for your help and wisdom.
<<Hmmm, a picture would
help...might be a species of sponge...I have a "stringy" sponge in a
purple variety that populates low light areas in my tank, as well as
amongst the "stalks" of my Caulastrea. If it's limited to encrusting
the non-fleshy/hard surfaces it likely is nothing of concern>>
Thanks for you time,
Mike
<<Regards, EricR>> Hard
Lessons on Coral Keeping: Look before you leap, please!
Dear WWM
Crew,
<cheers, mate>
Can you please take a look at the attached
picture of my new tankmate.
<thanks kindly. It is clearly a Goniopora
species. Very difficult if possible for any beginner to keep. Actually,
its extremely difficult for advanced aquarists to keep too. Most die
within weeks of import. This one will almost certainly not live to see a
year captive at any rate unless you make rapid changes in system design
or get it to someone that has a better shot at keeping it. Shame on your
dealer for selling it to you without advising you of its needs, and
quite frankly bud... you need to shoulder the same blame for buying a
living creature without knowing its needs and if you could meet them
first. It will likely cost this animal its life>
I am trying to
identify him and to get more info on habits, lighting, feeding, etc. to
keep him happy.
<please use the genus name "Goniopora" to do a
keyword search in our wetwebmedia.com archives (use the Google search
tool on the home page). There are many FAQs regarding this creature. I
will also say that the animal CAN indeed be kept... but not likely the
way you want to keep it. It needs deep sand bed systems (perhaps 6"
plus) that are mature and have been established for some time to
generate natural plankton. Seagrasses kept in-line in a fishless
refugium may also be extremely helpful for producing phyto and epiphytic
matter. It will benefit by being kept on the sand bottom in a colony
with others of its kind... but will likely suffer in time in a mixed
"reef aquarium" packed with a variety of species conducting silent
chemical warfare on each other (allelopathy). You are going to learn a
hard lesson on this coral most likely and I do hope that you will be
sure to not only research an animals need before you bring it home...
but also be sure to quarantine it. Again, please browse our archives
where there are many thousands of pages that should interest you (like
QT articles by Fellman). Be mindful too of infection with this coral.
The brown jelly infection that commonly afflicts Goniopora as they begin
to die can wipe out many/any of your other healthy corals in the
display>
Also, maybe how it breeds,
<I have had this coral
propagate naturally by issuing daughter satellites in modified tentacles
that form an incused calcareous nodule which tears away from the parent
to become free-living in time. Reproduction by fragmentation or sexually
produced planulae is unlikely here>
and if it is a risk to any other
type of animal. Most importantly what should I feed him?
<this coral
cannot eat anything prepared (from a bottle, bag, pack, etc) that you
can offer it... needs natural nanoplankton from a fishless refugium in
aquaristics. Research refugium methodologies too. Dude... you really
could not have picked a worse coral to buy on impulse... I regret to
say. I do wish the best of luck to you though.>
Thank you in advance!
Martin
<Anthony> Goniopora? - 3/28/03
Hi WWM experts!
<Hi. Paul here>
I have been reading many of your articles, and they
are absolutely helpful and useful! <Thank you very much. So many hard at
work for our readership, it's nice to be recognized> But I do have one
simple question, I recently bought this coral...<Uh oh.......looks like
someone needs to look a little before buying a coral, eh? =) Also an
even better idea, seriously though, is to purchase a book to help with
identification and self education. (never know when you will be asked
about a coral) I like Eric Borneman's books and Anthony Calfo's book
very much. Do a search on Amazon and look into purchasing them. Anyway,
the coral looks to be a Goniopora. See here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm> but I have no idea what
it is? <See previous statement. A good policy is to look before leaping
not only for your pocket book's sake but also the life you hold in your
care. I had to say this to you, please don't take it personally. I am
just doing my duty as a Conscientious Marine Aquarist. >Thanks in
advance! <My pleasure, I do appreciate you coming to this forum for help
and hope you will continue to do so. Knowledge is half the battle, my
friend. You are well on your way. Cheers, Paul>
Goniopora
Hi guys,
Can you tell me what this coral is
called ? I want to learn more about this, definitely don't want it
to die.
Thanks!
<... unfortunately this is a Goniopora, Flower
Pot Coral... one of the most notoriously poor candidates (easily
dies) for marine aquarium keeping. Please read here re:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/gonioporapix.htm on to the Related
FAQs (linked, in blue, at top)... and PLEASE investigate BEFORE
purchasing all livestock. Bob Fenner> | 
|
RE: Help with a coral
thank you, you guys are definitely the
greatest !
<Hmm, I thought that was Muhammad Ali? You're welcome.
Bob Fenner> |
Alveopora? or not? Count the
tentacles 2/18/04
Hi Crew, I was wondering how I could tell the
differences between a red Alveopora and a red Goniopora
<Alveopora
has 12 tentacles per polyp... Goniopora has 24>
because a LFS has a
coral marked as a red Alveopora but I think its a red Goniopora because
I have never seen a red Alveopora before.
<heehee... that's an odd
sort of logic? It doesn't exist because you've never seen one before :p
You're killing me here!>
I don’t want to be trick into getting a
difficult coral to care for.
<neither is easy... and Alveopora
still requires an advanced/specialized care... perhaps do resist. Maybe
buy a good book instead... seriously, to help you get better informed
and prepared for such corals in the future. Do consider Eric Borneman's
"Aquarium Corals" - he describes the difference between these corals in
there too ;)>
Also if it could be an Alveopora is there any special
requirements for it while it is in QT
<careful acclimation to light
as with all corals... and preparedness to use/employ a refugium to
provide food. Else do not buy the coral IMO. Anthony>
Re: Please help identify. (Goniopora)
Dear WWM Crew,
Can
you please take a look at the attached picture of my new tankmate. I
am trying to identify him and to get more info on habits, lighting,
feeding, etc. to keep him happy. Also, maybe how it breeds, and if
it is a risk to any other type of animal. Most importantly what
should I feed him?
<Umm, sorry to inform you, this is the
all-time easily lost Flowerpot Coral, Goniopora. Please see here re:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/poritidfaqs.htm
and the linked
FAQs and articles on the genus, family (in blue, above) beyond. Next
time... study before you buy. Bob Fenner>
Thank you in advance!
Martin | 
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