Hello, an interesting piece

[ZHB]

Hello, everyone,
I am a new comer to this forum and SPS, just set up my first SPS tank.

I got a piece of coral several days ago. It's a flat oval one with light blue growing points and white flower on the top. All the growing points are shorter than 1cm. It's a wild one from Hai Nan, China. Pic 1 shows it.

The interesting thing is on the bottom (or base?). There are 4 colors on it, brown, white, green and light blue. And, there are 2 flower colors, white and half brown half white. It ends up with a mix, i.e. brown base with white flower, brown base with half brown half white flower, green base with half brown half white flower, light blue base with white flower, etc. Pic 2 shows part.

My questions are, Is it a normal thing to a SPS in its very beginning stage? Anyone experienced this before? If so, what it will be in the future? (Don't tell me it will go all brown. )

I even don't know it's name now, call it A. Palette. So if anyone knows, please do me a favor.

Happy New Year!
ZHB

Pic 1


Pic 2

[Echidna09]

Polyps resemble a species of Montipora, possibly Undata. It could go all brown or turn light blue like the tips. SPS turns brown when it is making more zooxanthellae.

[ZHB]

Thanks, Echidna.

But those tips more look like Acropora to me. Below is another pic of the middle part for your reference.

Pic 3

[Whisperer]

Agree on the acropora. The coralites gives the impression of an acro. Too early to ID.

[kev apsley]

that's an acro, A.minuta perhaps or A. palmerae or A. whoknows

[danfrith]

Wow thats some crazy encrusting. Maybe A. loripes.

[ZHB]

Thanks, guys. So let's just call it A. Palette for now. I will update the growth progress.

I still want to know that is it normal for a SPS to have a mixed color base?

[ycnibrc]

I would not be suprise if your coral turn in to purple or jade green if your water parameter and light are good.

[kev apsley]

yes, please keep us posted as to how it is doing and if you get it to color up, I would be very interested in seeing what it does..Thanks for sharing

[trueblackpercula]

very nice ..........there is an sps id fourm try there
Michael

[ZHB]

I am looking for a suitable flat rock to stick it on and let the encrusting go as it wish. See what will happen...

ycnibrc,
So far my parameters are ok, and with 250W * 2 SolarMax (10K &14K), all SPS are growing. This piece is about 30cm under surface. But please don't get offended that I really don't want it go to the two colors you mentioned, because I paid for the light blue tips, really love it...... A bit worrying ...

Hi, Michael,
Is that the one on Zeovit website?

I will update this every month for you all reference.

Cheers,
Denny

[trueblackpercula]

try here
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...hp?forumid=482

[ZHB]

Originally posted by trueblackpercula
try here
http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumd...hp?forumid=482

Thanks a lot.