TankBud

Honeycomb coral

Goniastrea

Also known as Brain Coral, Prism Coral, Bright Eyes Coral

SaltwaterCoral

Honeycomb coral (Goniastrea)
Hectonichus · CC BY-SA 3.0

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
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Common
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs, common on shallow reef flats

Overview

The honeycomb coral is a hardy, forgiving brain coral for a reef tank. It is best kept once you have a little reef experience.

Did you know

Certain Goniastrea species on exposed reef flats survive being left high and dry at low tide, in blazing sun, for part of the day. That level of heat and desiccation tolerance makes them some of the toughest reef-building corals on the planet.

Caring for the honeycomb coral

Give the honeycomb coral moderate light, roughly 75 to 150 PAR. Use moderate indirect flow that reaches into the valleys between polyps without blasting them. Place it low to mid on stable rockwork, where it can encrust outward over time. It needs a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L).

Keep the water at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. It tolerates the kind of parameter swings that would stress a more delicate SPS. Feed mysis, brine shrimp or reef roids two to three times a week, aimed at the polyps once they extend after dark. This supports steady growth and better color.

The honeycomb coral is mostly peaceful, but it extends sweeper tentacles at night much like its close relative Favia. Keep several inches of clearance from any coral placed nearby. It frags well by cutting the skeleton between heads or lobes, once a colony is large enough to divide.

Good to know

Goniastrea is a large polyp stony coral in the family Merulinidae. Its colonies show a honeycomb pattern of raised, well developed lobes inside each corallite wall. It is closely related to Favia and Favites and is sometimes confused with both. Its more uniform, tightly packed hexagonal cups usually give it away. It also goes by prism coral and bright eyes coral.

In the wild

The honeycomb coral is common on shallow reef flats across the Indo-Pacific. There it forms massive rounded or encrusting colonies.

Common questions

What size tank does a honeycomb coral need?

A honeycomb coral needs at least 20 gal (75 L).

What temperature and pH does a honeycomb coral need?

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

What does a honeycomb coral eat?

A honeycomb coral eats mysis, brine shrimp or reef roids. Feed it two to three times a week, aimed at the polyps once they extend after dark.

How big does a honeycomb coral get?

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

Related species