Please help me identify this

[Kyle Rinker]

I got this encrusted rock from someone locally for a few bucks. When I bought it I assumed it was a montipora but I'm not 100% sure on the identification. At first I thought it was a montipora digitata but I'm not so sure. There are obvious fingers and white ends around where it is growing, but it is smooth as a baby's butt with no discernible polyps. It is very hard like a montipora tends to be and can crack and crumble fairly easily. It came from a tank that has been poorly maintained with presumably sky high nutrient levels. Any ideas?

 

[CastAway]

Is it brown?

 

[Sabellafella]

I got this encrusted rock from someone locally for a few bucks. When I bought it I assumed it was a montipora but I'm not 100% sure on the identification. At first I thought it was a montipora digitata but I'm not so sure. There are obvious fingers and white ends around where it is growing, but it is smooth as a baby's butt with no discernible polyps. It is very hard like a montipora tends to be and can crack and crumble fairly easily. It came from a tank that has been poorly maintained with presumably sky high nutrient levels. Any ideas?

Isnt this a blue ridge coral?

 

[Kyle Rinker]

No, it's hard to see in the picture. It's sort of purple.

 

[Kyle Rinker]

You know, it could be a Blue Ridge. It's easy to see why it could be confused with an SPS. The only thing is I have not seen any polyps on it yet. But then again, it's only been in my tank for about 4 days.

 

[Sabellafella]

You know, it could be a Blue Ridge. It's easy to see why it could be confused with an SPS. The only thing is I have not seen any polyps on it yet. But then again, it's only been in my tank for about 4 days.

Blue ridge coral every so often retracts its polyps to shed skin. Maybe give it some high flow and a week or 2 to see. Pretty neat coral

 

[Kyle Rinker]

Yes it does make sense. It has a shiny surface over the top of it now which kind of resembles a leather coral when it's getting ready to shed. I've already got nearly 20,000 gallons per hour of flow in my 125, so I think I'm all set for that :-). Thanks.

 

[Salty1962]

Isnt this a blue ridge coral?

+1, I've had a couple before and they looked like that. When not happy, they will become a tan color.

 

[Nohate]

Definitely Blue Ridge,

 

[fragit]

I have one it is for sure a Heliopora which is actually a soft coral that makes a stony skeleton. It is the only softy to do this and as far as I know the only coral period to make a blue skeleton. Mine is purple in color with bluefish ridges. Polyps will stay retracted for a few days at times.