Acropora ID

I was under the impression that it was an Acropora valida when I bough it in June, but now, after growing it out, I am thinking Acropora granulosa or Acropora lokani.

It had very dark purple tips (I know this isn't an accurate way to ID) before I moved to a new appt. You can see the remnant purple color if you look hard enough.

 

Looks very much like a Valida to me, in fact looks exactly like one I had.

 

I was pretty dead set on it myself, but the coralites don't seem to match Acropora valida.

I forget what the colony looks like. This mini-colony looks to be more smoothskin like.

 

My vailida's coralite became very long. I agree with Cheryl.

 

Yeah, maybe it still needs to grow out some and develop those pronounced coralites. You can see the radial polyps on the branches, but the coralites aren't pronounced.

 

Color description sounds like a typical Valida, however as you said this is not any way to ID an acro.

Its hard to argue with two such prominent members on the forum, my Valida never grew out like that though.

Is it in a low flow/light area? that might be why it is growing the way it is instead of typical Valida growth.

 

It's under 250 watts of (20k) halide. Its off to the side slightly. I would say flow is moderate to high.

I have 3 other corals that may be validas as well. They are all different:

 

Yeah, upon looking at the corallites more closely, first is definitely valida, along with the three images you posted.

Try increasing flow to the first one to make it look more like the others as far as flow (IMO)

You can really see the affects of flow and lighting between the first coral in post 7 and the third coral in post 7

 

The radial polyps on Valida grow tighter to the main branches. I don't think any of the photos look the part.

http://coral.aims.gov.au/factsheet.jsp?speciesCode=0077