Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

I bought a Sailfin tang and a Hydnaphora coral (Acropora family I think) from Aquaria in Pensacola.

I'll try to get some actual pictures of the Hydnaphora coral soon, but here is one I found on the Internet that is very similar except mine is more brownish and more branching. Does anyone know anything about this coral?

Don't quote me but i think the Hydnophora are in the family Merulinedae (spelling isn't right but I don't have a book handy). They are separated from the Acroporidae because of their coralite structure. The hydnophores are there instead of the polyps on other SPS. Good luck with it. Some people have good luck and growth and others just live and don't grow. I am in the latter category unfortunately.

Thanks for the info, I'll try to look up some more stuff on it later with that name.

This coral is very "furry". It is completely covered in small polyps. It'll be interesting to see how it does.

You were right, I did find this information... http://www.wetwebmedia.com/merulinidae.htm

Looks interesting Jeff.... I'm sure it'll do great in your tank, since everything else does

ShagMan wrote:Looks interesting Jeff.... I'm sure it'll do great in your tank, since everything else does

Thanks!

Here are the actual pics... what can I say, I like brown stuff.

I've never seen a brown one before. Is it just the hydophores that are covering the color. If not it may change color. I have seen them from hunter green to a neon green and sometimes a blueish green. Shawns that was a darker green grew pretty fast.

This one is definately brown (for now). It shows a hint of blue/green when the polyps are closed up. Maybe under my lights it will color up, I really don't mind the brown color though... that's why I bought it.

When you asked about the Hydnaphores... do you mean the polyps?

Did shawn lose his after Ivan? Anyone know if he had any pictures?

This is the best picture I've found yet that looks like mine:

Here is a picture of mine. This is from last February and Brandon took the picture hence the good quality. Mine actually got covered in sand from a stupid goby and about half of it died and it doesn't grow very fast if at all.

That looks pretty good. I read somewhere that it's also called the "coral killer" because it has the ability to throw out some pretty awesome sweepers that pack a pretty big punch. I'll have to put him in a corner somewhere.

Yeah, John had a Acropora humulis fall on one and it caused the acro to RTN. I have never seen sweepers longer than 0.5 inch but they are very powerful. You can also feed them. I have seen then digest chopped scallops. It's pretty cool because they don't injest, they digest on the surface of their mesoglea (I think thats what it's called).

This just gets better and better! I've always liked "fun" stuff!