CORAL Bonus: Expanded CORAL Visions May/June 2017

It’s hard to think that with the May/June 2017 issue, we’ll have already completed publishing an entire year’s worth of mouthwatering corals in CORAL Magazine’s newest recurring department, VISIONS. This latest installment features nine of the “best of the best,” provided by magazine partners who often submit dozens of additional candidates for consideration every two months. For each coral photo immortalized in the printed edition of VISIONS, many exceptional candidates must be passed over.

What becomes of the dozens of stunning corals that don’t make it onto the printed page? Herewith, have a look at some exceptional coral morphs and cultivars that did not make it into the current issue, but that we believe worthy of a second look.

For the sumptuous print edition of VISIONS, look for a copy of CORAL Magazine at your LFS or Barnes & Noble bookstore and see the corals that beat out the ones below. Comments or suggestions to our editors may be posted below. 

—Matt Pedersen

QM FRINGED BOUNCE RHODACTIS
Rhodactis sp
Quality Marine
Los Angeles, California
qualitymarine.com
Geographic Origin: Indonesia
Light Level: Low to Moderate
Flow Level: Low to Moderate; gentle, indirect
Care Level: Easy
Notes: High levels of dissolved nutrients are not a problem for this mushroom, but laminar flow will kill it quickly. Exposing this corallimorph to brighter lights though slow acclimation will give the fringes a more bulbous appearance and enhance the neon color underneath.
Photo Credit: Eli Fleishauer for Quality Marine

BLUE EYE MOONSTONE
Favia sp.
A&M Aquatics
Lansing, Michigan
amaquatics.com
Geographic Origin: Indo-Pacific
Light Level: Low to Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Easy
Notes: An amazing coral, the Blue Eyed Moonstone is easy to care for. Feeding will increase its growth rate.
Photo Credit: Brian Dowling for A&M Aquatics

TRI-COLOR OULOPHYLLIA
Oulophyllia crispa
Tidal Gardens Inc.
Akron, Ohio
tidalgardens.com
Geographic Origin: Indo-Pacific
Light Level: Moderate to High
Flow Level: Low
Care Level: Easy
Notes: This coral can develop long sweeper tentacles that will sting or kill neighboring corals, so furnish appropriate space.
Photo Credit: Ben Clark

RAINBOW PHOENIX MONTI
Montipora danae
Cairns Marine
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
cairnsmarine.com
Geographic Origin: Northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Intermediate
Photo Credit: Rob Lanceley, Cairns Marine

Favites pentagona
Carolina Aquatics
Kernersville, North Carolina
carolinaaquatics.com
Geographic Origin:Indonesia
Light Level: Low to Moderate
Flow Level: Low to Moderate
Care Level: Easy
Photo Credit: Josh Davis

Acropora sp.
Carolina Aquatics
Kernersville, North Carolina
carolinaaquatics.com
Geographic Origin: Australia
Light Level: Moderate to High
Flow Level: Moderate to High
Care Level: Advanced
Photo Credit: Josh Davis

RED DEATH PROTOPALYTHOA
Protopalythoa spp.
Unique Corals
Van Nuys, California
uniquecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Unknown, most likely Indonesia
Light Level: Low to High
Flow Level: Low to Moderate
Care Level: Easy, but toxic.
Notes: Always be mindful of Palytoxin when working with any protopalys, palys and zoas. Wear protective gloves when handling these animals. The Red Death multiplies easily; it is a rare color form and is considered a collector’s item by hobbyists.
Photo Credit: Toni Xiong

MASTER SCOLY
Homophyllia australis
Unique Corals
Van Nuys, California
uniquecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Eastern Australia; west side of the lower Great Barrier Reef
Light Level: Low To Moderate
Flow Level: Low To High; avoid direct or pounding current
Care Level: Easy
Notes: Master Scolys are easy to care for once acclimated to aquarium life. They strongly benefit from direct feeding. Prevent light shock by starting this coral low in the tank, and gradually raise it, watching for bleach marks. They prefer water temps on the cooler side of the tropical range; 74-76 F is ideal in a mixed tank. This coral was formerly known under the genus Scolymia.
Photo Credit: Joseph Caparatta

CARPET ANEMONES
Stichodactyla sp.
Eye Catching Corals
Vienna, Ohio
eyecatchingcoral.com
Geographic Origin: Indo-Pacific
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Difficult
Photo Credit: Eye Catching Corals

TRACHYPHYLLIA RADIATA
Eye Catching Corals
Vienna, Ohio
eyecatchingcoral.com
Geographic Origin: Indo-Pacific
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Low to Moderate
Care Level: Moderate
Photo Credit: Eye Catching Corals

SAVOY BRANCHING CYPHASTREA
Cyphastrea decadia
Aqua Medic Live
Loveland, Colorado
aquamedicusa.com
Geographic Origin: Unknown
Light Level: Low
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Easy
Photo Credit: Chad Wohlers

AML PINK PUCKER CHALICE
Oxypora sp.
Aqua Medic Live
Loveland, Colorado
aquamedicusa.com
Geographic Origin: Indonesia
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: Moderate
Care Level: Moderate
Photo Credit: Chad Wohlers

ORANGE PASSION
Acropora tenius
Jason Fox Signature Corals
Baltimore, Maryland
jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Indonesia
Light Level: High
Flow Level: High
Care Level: Difficult
Notes: This coral stands out from many other A. tenius cultivars because of its amazing orange polyps.
Photo Credit: Christopher Jason Studios

WWC SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW MILLE
Acropora millepora
World Wide Corals
Orlando, Florida
worldwidecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Unknown
Light Level: High
Flow Level: High
Care Level: Intermediate
Photo Credit: World Wide Corals

WWC ROGER DODGER ACROPORA
Acropora sp.
World Wide Corals
Orlando, Florida
worldwidecorals.com
Geographic Origin: Indo-Pacific
Light Level: Moderate
Flow Level: High
Care Level: Intermediate
Photo Credit: World Wide Corals