Psammocora stony corals are typically encrusting and massive corals
that are found attached to live rocks from the Pacific. The usual color
morphs range from drab brown to dull green to very bright green. This
particular species was imported as a massive stony coral colony from
the Solomon Islands around 1997 to 1998. Under bright metal halides,
with from 250 to 400 watts, the coral develops a bright red pigmentation.
Its leading growth edge also develops a bright lime green coloration.
The small tentacles of the polyps have a purplish to blue coloration.
This is a very unique and rare coloration for what is a very easy to keep
and grow species. Steve Tyree acquired the original colony. When Steve
closed his North San Diego County Research Facility, just prior to the
millenium celebrations, he sold the remaining fragment to Bill Schroer of
Piece of the Reef. Bill would not sell or make a fragment of this coral to
anybody. When Bill closed his shop in the year 2001, to become a collector
and exporter, Steve Tyree acquired the fragment back, which had grown
into a small colony. This coral is currently being farmed by Steve Tyree
and it is located within two of his 125 gallon naturally filtered Tri-Zonal
EG reefs. Fragments consist of small sections of massive corals attached
to small rocks. This particular growth morph is very easy to keep and
handles fragmentation very well. Please note this coral was retired on
December 2008 due to the loss of the seed.
TM
