Help ID coral (pics)

pthoma79

pthoma79

Member
Got this coral through a friend. Not sure what it is (some kind of xenia?). Ideas? Also, I have PC lighting (96w for a 30 gal tank), should that be enough light for it? I'm sure I have enough flow going on it.
Thanks!
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V

vince-1961

Guest
So far, it is alive and well. No sudden algae "die offs". Polyps come out to feed almost all the time. I removed several large-ish (1" diameter body), brown-ish crabs that were living in them and appeared to be eating them (as opposed to cleaning them) and a sea urchin that seemed to be on them a wee bit more frequently than I liked. As for water flow, I got a single model 4 Koralia water fan mounted inside the DT; otherwise, main pump circulates the 250 gallon total water volume, including sump, at approx. 1000 gph.
From what I have read, brown is a good color for these guys to be exhibiting. My 9 year old daughter came home from a summer camp type ativity and told me that white means it's dead. The white ones in my tank are most definitely NOT dead. They just need some algae to give them color. There is a small amount of purple showing on several of them.
I give at least 12 hours actinic light per day (4 39 watt T5's), plus 8 hours of 2 more 39 watt actinic T5's, plus 6 39 watt 10,000 kelvin T5's. I feed phytoplankton every now and then and let protein skimmer run 24/7 although sometimes I'll turn it off for the night after adding phytoplankton.
I also keep some polyester fill as a mechanical filter. It is great for catching diatoms and other stuff that makes it through the sponges and wet/dry lava rock. Does that also catch the phytoplankton?
 
V

vince-1961

Guest
I've done some internet searches and found out that my coral is Oculina varicosa, or ivory branch coral. It is found in both deepwater and shallow water. It is healthiest when it is either totally white (deepwater - no zooxanthellae growth for lack of light) or light brown (shallow water). It feeds on plankton.
So, apparently, mine are quite healthy!!! Yipee!
 
mx#28

mx#28

Active Member
Originally Posted by vince-1961
http:///forum/post/2817116
I've done some internet searches and found out that my coral is Oculina varicosa, or ivory branch coral. It is found in both deepwater and shallow water. It is healthiest when it is either totally white (deepwater - no zooxanthellae growth for lack of light) or light brown (shallow water). It feeds on plankton.
So, apparently, mine are quite healthy!!! Yipee!
Are you sure? The branches look much thicker than Oculina varicosa. Can you post a clearer photo?
 
libog2fish

libog2fish

Member
pom pom Xenia...
no doubt about it...
I had the same coral in my 120 gallon set-up I shut down 3 months ago...
great coral and very qiuck in growth and spreads with ease....
don't forget to dose the calcium...
 
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