Id (solved)

I had always thought this was an encrusting montipora that was just taking a while to grow out.. Now I have had it for about 6 months and the growth pattern is not like any encrusting monti I have seen.

Any ideas?

 

That is a type of Chalice. There should be several eyes on it that will become apparent when it extends feeding tentacles after lights out.

 

Every time I've seen a picture of that one, I've always thought it was a chalice.

I still think it's a chalice.

Echinophyllia aspera, if you like latin.

 

It's a *Blind* Chalice! LOL~no eyes

 

Interesting, it's eating much more light than I would have thought possible. I thought it was chalice when I saw it growing out,, but then I figured a chalice couldn't handle 220 par.

Further shows that you can't make generalizations about any coral just because of Genus.

 

LOL you can't. Some love low light some like medium to medium high. You really need to figure out what they like if you buy them online and not from a local.

 

Agree; it's highly variable depending on each particular one. I've seen some watermelons kept directly under a 250 MH, near the top of a tank. Some like lots, some like very little.

 

Think it may be echinophyllia orpheensis, similar to the aspera, but the eyes grow more in a raised bump pattern. Facing in different directions, aspera typically has the eyes facing same direction. The color pattern and skeletal structure look similar to a pink lava chalice, I have something similar but with a different skirt.