Can you cut a cone bottom Lobophyllia or Symphyllia

[Gophish1982]

I got this coral for free when I got a used tank. It is Lobophyllia or Symphyllia I think. It has a really large cone bottom, like 4 inches. It doesn’t look great and I was wondering if I could cut off the bottom to make it sit flat in the sand. I have a similar coral that has a flat bottom so I figured it was possible, but wanted to check before I broke out the diamond saw.

first 2 pics are the cone bottom, and the 3rd is the similar coral with flat bottom.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

I would not cut it unless you have access to a high quality coral bandsaw to use. If you do, leave at least 2.5-3" of skeleton below the skin of the coral so that you don't accidentally damage the mesenteries. Also, the other coral you have is in fact a Merulina (which I believe is now considered a species of Lobo, but I digress), which is an encrusting coral, thus the naturally flat base.

 

[Mr_Knightley]

OH! I forgot the most important part! Lobos HATE sand. They have no method to get it off of their surface and thus often wither in spots with sand on top. They are definitely corals for the rockwork, especially so if you have any sand-sifting gobies or digging inverts.

 

[Goaway]

OH! I forgot the most important part! Lobos HATE sand. They have no method to get it off of their surface and thus often wither in spots with sand on top. They are definitely corals for the rockwork, especially so if you have any sand-sifting gobies or digging inverts.

Kind of a bump with a question. If this is true, this makes my coral an imposter. As I bought it as a lobophyllia.
Sand does not stick to skin or embed. The coral just inflates it off.
I did have some issues though. All settled for now.

So. What is it, if not a lobophyllia?

 

[afrokobe]

Kind of a bump with a question. If this is true, this makes my coral an imposter. As I bought it as a lobophyllia.
Sand does not stick to skin or embed. The coral just inflates it off.
I did have some issues though. All settled for now.

So. What is it, if not a lobophyllia?

maybe an indophyllia or acanthophyllia?

 

[Goaway]

maybe an indophyllia or acanthophyllia?

Tissue recession from vermin snails. It's a little guy. I never owned any of those, pretty sure not indo though.

 

[afrokobe]

Tissue recession from vermin snails. It's a little guy. I never owned any of those, pretty sure not indo though.

hmm yea im a little stumped by that. especially at that size. first thought was maybe a baby cynarina? The colors are great on it

 

[Mr_Knightley]

Kind of a bump with a question. If this is true, this makes my coral an imposter. As I bought it as a lobophyllia.
Sand does not stick to skin or embed. The coral just inflates it off.
I did have some issues though. All settled for now.

So. What is it, if not a lobophyllia?

Acanthastrea Pachysepta (might be getting that wrong), it was once classified as a Lobophyllia so many people still call it one. They are super aggressive and will win any fight with another coral, so keep that in mind!