What coral is this?

[Shazreef]

Is this a Goniopora coral?

 

[tbrown]

Looks more like an Alveopora.

 

[Shazreef]

Here's another picture with more warm lighting. The polyps look white.

 

[scchase]

Alveopora

 

[tbrown]

12 lashes on the polyps, so yes, Alveopora.

 

[Shazreef]

12 lashes on the polyps, so yes, Alveopora.

Do you happen to know the name of this Alveopora?

 

[tbrown]

Do you happen to know the name of this Alveopora?

Hard to say for certain since it's white. I know @TopShelfAquatics has a few lighter colored Alveopora?

 

[tbrown]

Yours might be bleached if it's almost all white. Was it high in the tank or under super strong lighting?

 

[thamnasteroid]

2nd on Alveopora

 

[Shazreef]

Yours might be bleached if it's almost all white. Was it high in the tank or under super strong lighting?

I bought it like this. Someone locally was selling it as a Goniopora. I have it under lighting that's about 50 PAR for about 2 months now. It hasn't really opened out and come out of its hard structure when the lights come on like my other Alveopora. What should I do to help this coral if it's bleached?

 

[tbrown]

If it's bleached and it's in lower lighting then the color will eventually return as the zooxanthelle (sp?) return to the coral. Make sure if has appropriate food/nutrition available, and play the waiting game.

People often lump goniopora, alveopora, and bernardopora into the Flower Pot group and then generically call them all Gonis. Gonis have 24 lashes, Alves have 12, and Bernards have between 15 and 24 I believe. All 3 are aggressive towards each other but typically can be with their own kind without aggression. I personally have had 2 Alveopora fight with each other and 3 Gonis fight with each other so I always just say to use caution and watch for aggression.

 

[tbrown]

Sometimes too much flow caused them to retract, sometimes not enough flow caused them to retract.

Also, pests can irritate them and cause them to retract.