Acan Lord

Acan Lord
Acanthastrea lordhowensis
“I am considered royalty among corals – hence my name ‘Lord’!”

In aquatics, the Acan Lord is the only creature called ‘Lord’!

The Acan Lord Acanthastrea lordhowensis, also called ‘The Lord’, is extremely colorful in the Acanthastrea genus. Colors include many different combinations, ranging from blue, red, green, purple, orange, brown, rust, pale tan and pale gray. Other names the A. lordhowensis goes by are the Closed Brain Coral, Pineapple Brain Coral, the Acan Lord Howe, the Pineapple Starry Cup Coral, Brain Coral, and Lordhowensis.

The A. lordhowensis has so many color combinations because of how successfully it has been propagated in captivity. Reef farmers have even more names for the Acan Lord, including the Blood Diamond Aussie Lord, the Green Acan Lord, the Watermelon Aussie Lord, etc., which are all based of of their color combinations. In the Acanthastrea species, the A. lordhowensis is one of the two most popular corals. The other one most sought after is the Acan Echinata A. echinata or the Starry Cup Coral… Read More

The Giant Sun Polyp

Giant Sun Polyp
Protopalythoa grandis
“I’m the largest button polyp out there, with a small bit of sunshine too!”

The Giant Sun Polyp is the biggest Zoanthid with its large oral disc!

The Giant Sun Polyp Protopalythoa grandis, is also called a Zoanthid. It is one of the very attractive button polyps. Their colors include white, green, and brown mottling. Iridescent coloring is also not uncommon, with occasional striations which look similar to wagon wheels. The Giant Sun Polyp is considered to be one of the largest Zoanthid species, just like most of the other Protopalythoa genus. Because this polyps oral disc can reach up to 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter, this polyp is actually thought to be the largest one of all.

In fact, it is not completely agreed upon as to whether the Giant Sun Polyp belongs to the Protopalythoa genus or the Palythoa genus. Originally they belonged to the Palythoa genus, but were later switched to the Protopalythoa genus because of their growth form. But now there are experts believing they should go back to the Palythoa genus and consider them to be. The scientific community has not yet settled completely on one or the other… Read More

The Blasto Coral

Blasto Coral
Blastomussa wellsi
“What’s the best way to have a blast?… Consider adding a Blasto Coral to your aquarium!”

The Blasto Coral is a unique coral and is popular among aquarists!

The Blasto Coral is one of the Blastomussa Corals and they have many color variations. The Blasto Coral Blastomussa wellsi is actually one of two Blastomussa corals that many people like. The other one is the Pineapple Coral Blastomussa merleti.

Most people actually prefer the The Blasto Coral B. wellsi over the B. merleti because it can be aquacultured into many colors – such as purple, green, pink, red, yellow and occasionally blue, as well as a many combinations of these colors. But it does have downfalls, such as being more difficult to care for and maintain. This coral also goes by the names Open Brain Coral, Swollen Brain Coral, Wellsi’s Brain Coral, Blastomussa Coral, Big Pipe Blastomussa, Pineapple Coral, and Blastomussa Wellsi… Read More

Moon Polyps

Moon Polyps
Palythoa sp.
“This is a sea mat type of button coral! They form clusters of polyps on “mats” of sand!”

Moon Polyps received their name from the way their clusters of polyps appear –

in the shape of half moons!

The Moon Polyps Palythoa sp., are called by other names as well, including Encrusting Anemones, Sea Mats, and Zoanthid Button Polyps. They are actually colonial anemones and are fairly common in home reef aquariums. This genus alone, however, has lots of variety. They have polyps which are partially embedded in a mat and are quite short. Every polyp has flat discs that are covered with tentacles on their rims. Some species have tentacles which are very long and thin while others are knobby and short. Colors range from white, yellow, brown, cream, coffee, or yellow!

Palythoa sp. have a “mat” called the coenenchyma which connects the polyps. These polyps have little parts of sand and/or sediment that they use in the mat to make it more stiff and easier to support a colony. These extra bits of sand and sediment which make up the debris account for about 45% of the weight. The colonies grow in half-moon shapes (convex) and grow anywhere from 4″ to 12″ (10 – 30 cm) in diameter… Read More

The Acan Echinata (Coral)

Acan Echinata
Acanthastrea echinata
“If you want all colors of the rainbow in your reef, try the Acan Echinata!”

The Acan Echinata comes in all rainbow colors and is quite beautiful!

The Acan Echinata Acanthastrea echinata is a member of the Mussidae family and is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral. They come in color combinations of brilliant oranges, reds and greens. This is the most popular Acanthastrea species after the Acan Lord A. lordhowensis. Other names the A. echinata are called by include the Starry Cup Coral, Pineapple Coral, Echinata Coral, Artichoke Coral, Rainbow Acan, Acan Brain Coral, and the Rainbow Acanthastrea.

The A. echinata has been bred and grown in captivity very successfully which has led to a variety of colors being available. Colors that come from captive bred specimens include rust oranges, gray lavenders, green combinations, and fused or grafted specimens that have more than one color. Specimens which are propagated to have certain color combinations are often called names such as the Rainbow Acan Echinata, the Orange Crush Acan Echinata, the Lavender Green Acan Echinata, and so on… Read More

The Corky Sea Finger

Corky Sea Finger
Briareum asbestinum
“This coral actually gets its shape by growing on and over other Gorgoninas – which makes him more “quirky” than corky!”

The Corky Sea Finger reproduces easily and is quite easy to care for – making it a great

beginner coral!

The Corky Sea Finger Briareum asbestinum, also goes by the name of the Purple Corky Finger. It is quite beautiful and has a finger shape, which is helped formed because it actually grows over and on other gorgonian species. These Gorgonians thrive in many conditions and are native to areas all over the Western Atlantic Ocean, including pristine and clean waters as well as more nutrient rich areas of water. They most often inhabit knee deep shallow waters. These corals are extremely popular and are collected more often than any other species. Other names this species goes by include the Purple Corky Finger, the Caribbean Corky Finger, the Moss Coral, the Deadman’s Finger, and the Sea Stalk Briareum.

These Gorgonians have another neat quality – if they have green tentacles with a purple base, then they have a fantastic glow when kept unter actinic lighting! The mat of the Corky Sea Finger is usually tan or purplish and gray with calyces that are basically just nubs and which are slightly raised… Read More

The Leaf Coral

Leaf Coral
Pavona decussata
“What looks like a head of Romaine lettuce, but feels like a rock? You got it…me!”

The Leaf Coral is another coral which makes a great beginner coral!

The Leaf Coral Pavona decussata is attractive and has a frilled appearance. Quite like the Cactus Coral P. cactus, it has upright and flat fronds but they are thicker and not quite as twisted looking. Horizontal plates can also be formed. It has a surface that looks spiked due to tentacles that are spindly and pointed. Colors come in anything from brown, to green, to yellow cream. Other names for the Leaf Coral are the Frilly Coral, the Lettuce Coral, and the Cactus Coral. Other specimens of the Leaf Coral that have been aquacultured have names such as Green Pavona Decussata, Green Decussata, or Pavona Sp.

The genus which this Leaf Coral belongs to, the Pavona genus, typically has corals with small polyps stony (SPS) and are best for starting aquariums with. They do best with strong currents and high lighting but can also thrive in more moderate conditions… Read More

Palm Tree Polyps

Palm Tree Polyps
Clavularia Sp.
“How about a grove of palm trees in your reef aquarium? This beauty can do just that!”

The Palm Tree Polyps are an easy to care for and beautiful coral!

The Palm Tree Polyps C. viridis is named after the way it looks – like a palm tree! Actually, its tentacles look like palm fronds and each one is surrounded by what is called a pinnule or feathery looking structure. The coloring varies and can include yellow, green or tan in different areas. Other names the Palm Tree Polyps are called are Fern Polyps and Clove Polyps.

Out of the many Clove Polyps, the Palm Tree Polyps is only one! The polyps are contained within unlayered flat stolons that are connected and housed in a structure that reminds you of mesh. These corals are mat-like and encrust. The mats as well can be a variety of colors – including gray, tan or brown. The tubular calyces that house the polyps are small – only 0.5 to 2 inches tall (1 to 5 cm). The size depends on the species. There are a total of 8 tentacles, which again come in a variety of colors! White, brown, purple, green, yellow, and pink with possibly a combination of contrasting colors. Also, if needed the polyps have a base that allows complete retraction… Read More

The Idaho Grape Montipora

Idaho Grape Montipora
Montipora undata
“Can you guess what I am and where I’m from? I’m purple, but I am NOT a grape, and I’m NOT from Idaho!”

The Idaho Grape Montipora is a popular, very wanted, and expensive coral!

The Idaho Grape Montipora Montipora undata is an SPS (small polyp stony). It has beautiful colors and actually has not been assigned an “official” name. It is often called an “Idaho Grape” because of its common purple colors. Other colors it comes in are green, pink or brownish. It has contrasting polyps which are usually pink, brown, white and/or rust-colored. It is considered an aquacultured coral.

The M. undata is most often in digitat form or branching. The growth variations include vertical to horizontal tubes or plates, with the branches and columns growing fairly thick. Mature colonies are the best ones to observe these variations.

This Montipora is more of an intermediate coral in terms of care but is not as likely to get the typical diseases common to Acropora corals or to bleach. The biggest consideration is the temperature it’s kept at, and lighting and water movement are not quite as important… Read More

Organ Pipe Coral

Organ Pipe Coral
Tubipora musica
“Want a little music in your reef tank? Check out the awesome ‘red pipes’ on this Pipe Organ Coral!”

The Organ Pipe Coral actually resembles and organ with its unique red calcite tubes!

The Organ Pipe Coral Tubipora musica is not a stony coral, but a unique soft coral. Similar to the Green Star Polyps Pachyclavularia violacea, this coral has mat polyps and is a member of the Tubiporidae Family. Only one other type of the Octocorals has an external skeleton that calcifies like the Organ Pipe Coral, and that is the Blue Coral or Blue Fire Coral Heliopora coerulea. They both have actual colorful skeletons – red and blue!… Read More

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