Is this an acropora valida or lokani?

Discussion in 'SPS Corals' started by justonwo, Jun 16, 2016.

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  1. justonwo

    justonwo Fire Shrimp

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    I have what a know to be a blue lokani, and it looks a bit dissimilar from this large colony of acropora. I've been told by some folks online that it's a lokani and others that it's a valida. Any ideas?

    [​IMG]
     
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  3. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

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    Not sure arent validas more "stocki" I would say valida but im far from being any sort of valid reference for acros
     
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  4. DSC reef

    DSC reef Giant Squid

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    Resembles a bansai to me. Acropora can be difficult to ID
     
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  5. civiccars2003

    civiccars2003 Great Blue Whale

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    Treat it as an acro. Exact ID isnt so important.
     
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  6. justonwo

    justonwo Fire Shrimp

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    Yep, I've always treated it as an acro. I'm asking because I'm curious, by the way, not because I intend to use the answer to alter the kind of care.
     
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  7. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Neither of those, for sure.

    It's getting close to loripes, but I'm not totally convinced. Acropora loripes
     
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  9. Va Reef

    Va Reef Giant Squid

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    Doesn't look like a lokani any more that's for sure. How is the flow by it? It's definitely not a valida or secale (bonsai).

    There are a couple species that look very similar to loripes, such as cophodactyla, rosaria, and granulosa.

    I would suspect one of those in relatively low flow.
     
  10. justonwo

    justonwo Fire Shrimp

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    It's sitting in pretty high flow and has thrived in that condition. Interesting that it's such a mystery! VA, I have a frag for you if you're still interested.
     
  11. Ballgame

    Ballgame Millepora

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    That's nice
     
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  12. jorenry0

    jorenry0 Plankton

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    Looks like a Valida to me i have them growing here ..
    It all depends on the flow ...When they have heaps of flow the branches get a lot thinner it may do better with more flow but then again it looks happy there ... we find them when we are diving and they are no more then 3 to 4 meters deep so plenty of wave action and heaps of sunlight well done on keeping the purple nice and rich in time the green polyps will show up more

    Chris

    Sustainable Reefs Cairns Australia.
    https://m.facebook.com/sustainablereef