Two corals for ID

[frantz]

Honestly the first one here might not even be coral. I see no polyps on it, but it does grow (very slow) and color has gotten darker since I moved it out of direct light. It almost looks like a shell growing over the rock.

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The second one is between the monti and GSPs. It seems about natural with the monti in chemical warfare, with maybe a slight advantage, it is very slow growing in my tank but has pretty coloration. Small hairlike polyps. This coral is only encrusting, the branches seen are where it has grown over another skeleton.

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Both came as hitchhikers and I have had them for a little less than a year.

 

[hiimsean]

not sure on #2 but the first is a sponge

 

[Jaycen B.]

#2 I think is pavona decussata.

 

[frantz]

Sponge huh? I'll buy that. I thought maybe but I never really saw a defined opening like other sponges and it "looks" hard.

Jaycen I think you're right, mine just hasn't started leafing out. It was good meeting you last week!

 

[Jaycen B.]

Doug, it was nice meeting you as wll. Some species of pavona do not make a leaf type structure.

 

[ripped tide]

I think #1 is a blue ridge coral

http://www.getahugetank.com/blue-ridge-coral-soldier-p-1655.html">http://www.getahugetank.com/blue-ridge-coral-soldier-p-1655.html</a>

Edit: It may take a while before it gets polyps, or appears blue in any way.

Edit: Number two could be pavona, might be merulina.

 

[frantz]

Never had heard of blue ridge coral before, could be and that'd be neat. I moved #1 up to brighter light. If its a brown sponge then no loss if it died, if its blue ridge then that should help it grow. The polyps seem more like the pavona to me but I'll keep merculina in mind too as it grows. Thanks for all the suggestions thus far.

 

[ripped tide]

One way that you can tell if it is blue ridge or not is by breaking off a small piece. If the inner skeleton is blue, then you will know!