TankBud

Alveopora coral

Alveopora

Also known as Flowerpot Coral, Daisy Coral, Flower Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Alveopora coral (Alveopora)
Ryan Boren · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Photosynthetic
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Acroporidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, including Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef

Overview

The Alveopora coral is a peaceful, flower-like coral for the lower half of a reef tank. It is a step up from the easiest corals.

Did you know

The Alveopora coral and Goniopora look close enough to fool most reefers at a glance. Genetically they are not even in the same family, and Alveopora's closest relatives turn out to be the SPS staples Acropora and Montipora.

Caring for the Alveopora coral

Give the Alveopora coral moderate light, around 50 to 100 PAR. It tolerates more current than Goniopora and does best in medium to fairly brisk flow that keeps its short tentacles swaying. Place it low to mid in the tank, on the sandbed or lower rockwork, out of any direct jet. There it can react to passing current without being battered.

A tank of at least 11 gal (40 L) is enough. Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It is generally hardier and more forgiving than Goniopora, and it has no sweeper tentacles to sting or bother its neighbors.

It hosts zooxanthellae for the bulk of its energy, but it also captures fine food particles from the water column. Feed powdered plankton or small mysis and brine shrimp a few times a week, with no need for daily target feeding.

Good to know

The Alveopora coral was moved out of the family Poritidae and into Acroporidae after molecular studies. It is easiest to tell from Goniopora by tentacle count. Alveopora carries 12 short, blunt tentacles per polyp, while Goniopora carries 24 longer, wispier ones. The polyps stay extended most of the day, and the trade also sells it as flowerpot, daisy or flower coral.

In the wild

The Alveopora coral grows on protected reef flats and lagoon slopes through the Indo-Pacific. Its range includes Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. It often nestles among rubble, where gentle to moderate current keeps it clean.

Common questions

What size tank does an Alveopora coral need?

An Alveopora coral needs at least 11 gal (40 L).

What temperature and pH does an Alveopora coral need?

An Alveopora coral is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does an Alveopora coral eat?

An Alveopora coral gets the bulk of its energy from zooxanthellae and also captures fine food particles. Feed it powdered plankton or small mysis and brine shrimp a few times a week.

How big does an Alveopora coral get?

An adult Alveopora coral reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species