blue ridge coral Questions

[wrightme43]

I traded for a tiny piece of blue ridge coral. I have this much info on it so far. It grows very fast, it has a blue skeleton, and brown skin, sometimes it puts out feeding tentecles, usually not, it likes brite light, it has grown from 1/4 " spike to now 1 and 3/4" encrusted area on live rock. It has taken about 5 months to do so. Mitch my friend who invented the Aquatic Revolution (giant circular revolving aquarium) has huge pieces of it. He says it is bullet proof. Does any one know what species it is. Where it comes from. Is it a s.p.s. or what? Is it agressive? I know its to late now. Though I sure would like to know before I transfer a piece to my big tank. Ha, Ha, big to me. One day maybye I'll be cool and have a 300 gallon monster tank too. Thanks alot!!!! Steve

 

[DonW]

Its actually a soft coral.


Don

 

[wrightme43]

thanks, Don. Do you know any thing else about it?

 

[Fragman]

I believe its an OctoCoral, I would not call it a soft coral as it builds a heavy skeleton. I have kept it for 4+ years now and have numerous pieces. I gave a 12" 10lb colony away two years ago that was spectacular! I like it because yes it is bullet-proof and it is a wonderful reef builder. it cements together separate rocks into one as it encrusts. Color wise its not much to look at but it has great shape caracteristics when it gets larger. The large folds look cool, especially when it is polyped out. It is non-agressive. I have had it fuse with other corals mostly SPS with interesting results. Often times they just get along and don't kill each other. Just sit back and enjoy it.

Paul

 

[kevinpo]

The scientific name is Heliopora coerulea. It is an octocoral in that the polyps have 8 tentacles. In the hobby octocorals are generally referred to as soft corals but in this case it has a calcerous skeleton. The other similar coral that comes to mind is the Pipe Organ coral (Tubipora musica). It also is an octocoral with a hard skeleton.

The ridge coral can tolerate some of the highest temperatures of any coral and prefers 85F water. It mostly occurs on the equator in shallow water.

I have a couple of frags I received from Paul's colony a couple of years ago. It tolerates a wide range of light and flow. It turns rather dark under low light and bluish white under very intense light. I would rate it as quite hardy and an interesting addition to any tank.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[wrightme43]

Paul and Kevin, Thank you very much. You are right about the "not much to look at colorwise" I really like the folded structure. Thanks again for your help. Steve

 

[kevinpo]

Here's a picture of one of mine.

Kevin

 

[Maxx]

Kevin, I havent seen frags of it for sale around here in St Louis. Do sell frags of yours?
Nick

 

[Ritsuko Nashida]

Wow, I guess I picked up a couple of things here today. Wasnt sure about the taxonomy of this coral. Now I know.

Yes it is kinda bland brown looking, but as mentioned before the shape is really nice and unique. It has some really nice looking delicate white polyps that come out periodically. It grows really fast and will encrust over Live Rock, tank sides if touching and tank decorations too. Its doing great under my halides. I am hoping to frag mine here in the not to distant future. Dont know too much more about it than that.

 

[NaH2O]

Ritsuko Nashida - Welcome to Reef Frontiers!

 

[wrightme43]

Kevin, thanks again. That is very nice reef. You should be proud. Is that montipora growing up the side of it? If so thats even better because the closest coral frag to mine is a brown plate montipora. Welcome Ritsuko, glad you are here.

 

[kevinpo]

Do sell frags of yours?

Nick,
If you look at the picture on the lower right you can see where I cut a fag off a while ago. I sometimes have them available.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[kevinpo]

Is that montipora growing up the side of it?

Yes it is. That Montipora is very fast growing so I chip off pieces on a regular basis to keep it from covering everything in the tank

Regards,
Kevin