What is this sps?

[mred]

Anyone know what this is? Might it be a monti or anacropora? It is a pretty shade of purple and is growing about 6" directly under a 175w 10K halide. Grows slowly.
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[lant]

That's a very interesting growth formation. How much flow do you have in there?

 

[mred]

It is not in heavy flow, but not stagnant either.

 

[marquiseo]

Looks like an acropora based on the lowest branching portion. Need a better closeup to confirm.

 

[mred]

It does not encrust at the base like acros. It seems to branch laterally. I tilted a piece up to show the base. Here is the best I can do with my S4 camera.
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[marquiseo]

Nope not an acro.

 

[tonymission]

My first thought was a tabling acro but that last picture looks unique

 

[dawgface]

Looks almost like branching coralline algae.

 

[dawgface]

 

[dawgface]

Or Distichopora Purple Stick Coral.
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[mred]

Well it is definitely not a coralline algae. But is does look like that Distichopora.

 

[mred]

Now that I have read a little about Distichopora and how it is supposedly a non-photosynthetic coral, I have my doubts. I have never fed this or any of my corals and it is directly under a halide. But the picture is certainly a look-a-like, if not it.

 

[jdavid]

Does it ever have polyp extension?

 

[lant]

Where did you get it from to begin with?

 

[mred]

I haven't seen any distinct polyp extension. Always looks rough surface. Why I wondered if it might be an anacropora. Looking at the images on this website, http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=anacropora&qpvt=anacropora&FORM=IGRE">http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=anacropora&qpvt=anacropora&FORM=IGRE</a> I can't say any are close enough to identify.

Don't remember where. It wasn't very attractive and was in the back of my tank for a long time. Just sat there, mostly light brown for a couple years. Then I moved that piece of live rock and it came with it closer to the top of my tank. After a couple months it started to grow and became this pretty purple form.

 

[mcphock]

Check with the fine folks over at WetWebMedia.com

 

[1mbrews8]

browned out spongodes?

 

[dawgface]

mred;973684 wrote: Well it is definitely not a coralline algae. But is does look like that Distichopora.

Honestly looks more like budding or branching coralline algae than Distichopora I suggested but thats just from the photos supplied. Google branching and budding coralline algae.

 

[lant]

DawgFace;973769 wrote: Honestly looks more like budding or branching coralline algae than Distichopora I suggested but thats just from the photos supplied. Google branching and budding coralline algae.

I think so too. I was looking at "Corals of the World" last night and didn't see anything similar.