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ID help needed for this coral (2 Viewers)

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TLKAg87

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Any ideas what this might be? the first photo is from August, and the second one is in January coral1.jpg IMG_1690.jpg
 
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TLKAg87

TLKAg87

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It started out as a little green dot on that "rock". I got the tank in July from a co-worker, who got it from another co-worker that left town. No one really knows what that started out as.

Someone on another forum suggested merulina coral. I researched that type of coral, and concluded there is no way I could have kept that type of coral alive in my tank. I'm just now learning how to dose. and the nitrates were over 400 in July when I got it.
 
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TLKAg87

TLKAg87

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Rock nem? I'm afraid I don't know what that is.

I took a water sample to the pet store for testing before I moved the tank. They told me it was over 400ppm. Everything was covered in algae. I got the nitrates down pretty quickly, but it took a few months of fighting the algae. I got rid of the canister filter and went to a protein skimmer w/a diy refugium. This free reef tank I got last summer has cost me a sack full of money since then. lol
 

frankc

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Looks to me more like one of the open brain types, Lobophyllia, Symphyllia, or Trachyphyllia.

That was my first thought as well, but I can't imagine any of those growing that much in 5 months. My hitchhiker Lobophyllia spent many years looking like a mushroom before it started folding in on itself to look like a Lobo.

I also agree it's definitely not a Merulina - it doesn't really look much like one and they are quite challenging to keep and would not grow that fast.

The live part in the first picture looks very similar to a Pectinia I have that almost completely died when my tank leaked, but the skeletal structure looks quite different.

Whatever it is, it's pretty cool-looking. These kinds of surprises are one of the best parts of the hobby for me.
 
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TLKAg87

TLKAg87

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the second one (top left corner of photo) started as a little pin head size green dot. I'm actually kind of proud that I have done well enough for them to grow that much. Although that was short lived because I think I shot the alkalinity through the roof. Started a kalkwasser drip two weeks ago, but did a big water change and I think the Red Sea Coral Pro Salt was such that I should not have continued the drip right after the WC. One of the leather corals started shedding for about 10 days, but I think it is ok now. I have one colony of zoas that are still pretty upset about something.

I was trying to get the dkh to around 9, but it went to almost 11. oops.
 
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