What am I?

New coral bought as a plating purple coral. Owner bought it ad a frag swap as a sorted montipora and had it in his tank for the past 2 months. Has a nice purple coloring plating over the tile fragplug, he said ver the past 2 months since he had it it has started to grow up and mound. Had good PE at the store.

What is it??

 

looks more like an encrusting montipora then a plating.... but idk

 

I have no cue what it is besides some sort of stony coral so any tips woud be appreciated. I searched imaged for encrusting purple monti and some some "purple haze" for sale and it looks similar. Got the frag for $16 and it is a good 2.5by 2.5 inch frag or more

 

Purple Haze Montipora if green polpys start to show it a Rainbow Montipora. either way good find

 

It's definitely a monti, and all signs point to encrusting rather than plating.

 

So if it is an encrusting monti is it basically as Rawdogz said, either a purple haze or rainbow depending on polyp color?
Im assuming care wuld be similar to that of all montis, high light and flow with a moderate growth rate. Will it just encrust everything it comes in contact with or can I expect it to grow out as well?

 

I wouldn't even try to "name" what it is right now; plus unless you bought it as a named piece with lineage you really don't know what it might be.

That aside:

High light, medium flow. It will encrust over whatever it can grow on, as long as conditions in that direction are desirable (light and flow) and isn't facing another coral with a stronger sting. It won't grow upwards at all; it must have a hard surface to grow upon.

So the cryptic hint here; place it in an area with some room, as it does have the ability to grow right over neighboring corals if it's sting is stronger, including other montis.

 

Thanks evolved. I placed it maybe 6 inches from a montipora confusa. I guess I will have to just watch it and make sure it doesnt grow to much in that one direction. I like to ID everything so I have an idea of what is in my aquarium so for the time being I will go with Montipora mollis until it grows and shows otherwise.

 

Man I understand why you said that, after continued research on trying to find a scientific name I am lost. I guess I will just call it a Purple encrusting montipora, at least we know that for sure lol

 

:thumbs_up