- Common name
- Alveopora
- Scientific name
- Alveopora spp.
- Category
- Coral
- Group
- Large-polyp stony corals
- Environment
- Marine reef aquarium
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific; exact distribution and habitat are species-dependent
- Care level
- Intermediate to advanced
- Adult size
- Unknown at genus level — colony size and growth form differ substantially among species
- Expected lifespan
- Potentially decades under stable conditions; colony age is open-ended because surviving polyps and propagated fragments can continue the same genet.
- Minimum housing
- Unknown at genus level — use a mature reef system with enough clearance for the identified species and future colony expansion
- Temperature
- 24–27 °C
- pH
- 8.0–8.4 with a stable daily range
- Hardness / minerals
- Alkalinity 7–9 dKH; calcium 400–450 mg/L; magnesium 1,250–1,400 mg/L
- Salinity
- Specific gravity 1.024–1.026, measured consistently
- Lighting
- Unknown at genus level — species occupy habitats from shallow exposed rock to deeper or turbid protected sites
- Placement / zone
- Species-dependent; use secure support with room for full polyp extension
- Filtration
- Use mature reef biological filtration with skimming and removable mechanical capture. Maintain measurable balanced nutrients, prevent detritus settling between extended polyps and size export for increasing colony and feeding demand.
- Aeration
- Maintain strong whole-system gas exchange through surface movement, overflow and skimming while giving the colony broad indirect movement. Avoid direct tissue-blasting jets and stagnant pockets.
- Maintenance
- Trend temperature, salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate; remove settled detritus; inspect tissue and skeleton; quarantine additions; and expand clearance as the colony grows.
Identity and search names
This guide covers Alveopora at genus level. Species-specific profiles should override generic placement advice.
Search names: Alveopora coral, Daisy coral, Flowerpot coral
Environment and housing
Use a mature reef aquarium with stable salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, temperature and nutrient availability.
Social structure: Sessile colonial animal; welfare depends on colony condition rather than group number.
Feeding and nutrition
Feeding ecology: Photosynthetic with supplementary capture of suspended plankton-sized foods
Feeding routine: Use conservative fine feeding only where nutrient export can support it. Stop if tissue becomes coated or water quality declines.
Breeding, reproduction or spread
Sexual spawning occurs in nature; aquarium propagation is normally by careful fragmentation of healthy established colonies.
Detailed care and app-ready planning
- Identity scope
- This guide covers Alveopora at genus level. Species-specific profiles should override generic placement advice.
- Adult size and space
- Colony growth is open-ended. Reserve permanent horizontal and vertical expansion room, gentle movement around all polyps and access for inspection and cleaning.
- Social structure
- Sessile colonial animal; welfare depends on colony condition rather than group number.
- Swimming zone or placement
- Species-dependent; use secure support with room for full polyp extension
- Feeding ecology
- Receives energy from symbiotic algae and captures fine suspended particles.
- Feeding plan
- Use conservative fine feeding only where nutrient export can support it. Stop if tissue becomes coated or water quality declines.
- Water stability
- Avoid rapid alkalinity, salinity or temperature changes. Stability matters more than chasing a single exact number.
- Habitat structure
- Stable support, multidirectional water movement and enough clearance from stinging neighbours.
- Compatibility plan
- Do not allow direct contact with aggressive corals. Account for sweeper tentacles and growth from both colonies.
- Breeding or reproduction plan
- Fragment only healthy, growing colonies with clean tools; isolate damaged tissue and maintain stable flow during healing.
- Quarantine
- Inspect for tissue loss, algae, boring organisms and hitchhikers. Quarantine where practical before adding to the display.
- Welfare checks
- Check polyp extension, tissue recession, bleaching, mucus, exposed skeleton, sediment load and neighbour contact.
- Biosecurity and release
- Do not release coral, fragments, water or pests. Confirm CITES, Australian import and state possession requirements before acquisition or movement.
- Main risk
- Applying generic “moderate light and flow” advice to an unidentified species with different habitat needs.
- Adult projected load
- As colony surface and skeleton increase, calcification demand, night-time respiration, space use, detritus interception and optional feeding load all rise. Plan dosing, gas exchange and nutrient export for the mature colony.
- Filtration
- Use mature reef biological filtration with skimming and removable mechanical capture. Maintain measurable balanced nutrients, prevent detritus settling between extended polyps and size export for increasing colony and feeding demand.
- Aeration
- Maintain strong whole-system gas exchange through surface movement, overflow and skimming while giving the colony broad indirect movement. Avoid direct tissue-blasting jets and stagnant pockets.
- Maintenance
- Trend temperature, salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate; remove settled detritus; inspect tissue and skeleton; quarantine additions; and expand clearance as the colony grows.
- Overridable warnings
- Non-overridable: do not ignore progressive tissue recession, bleaching, exposed skeleton, pest evidence or direct coral contact. Light, flow, spacing or dosing may differ only after gradual acclimation and documented colony stability.
- Identity
- Alveopora is a valid coral genus. Similar extended polyps can be confused with Goniopora; skeletal characters and provenance improve identification.
- Environment
- Use a mature reef aquarium with stable salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, temperature and nutrient availability.
- Feeding
- Maintain photosynthetic lighting appropriate to the identified species and offer occasional fine suspended foods without degrading water quality.
- Breeding
- Sexual spawning occurs in nature; aquarium propagation is normally by careful fragmentation of healthy established colonies.
- Adult size and space
- Colony dimensions are unknown at genus level. Allow generous clearance for expansion and polyp movement.
- Placement Zone
- Secure rock or substrate placement appropriate to the identified species; prevent falls and burial by sand.
- Propagation plan
- Fragment only healthy, growing colonies with clean tools; isolate damaged tissue and maintain stable flow during healing.
- Biosecurity and release
- Do not release coral, fragments, water or pests. Confirm CITES, Australian import and state possession requirements before acquisition or movement.
- Welfare Risk
- Rapid chemistry changes, sediment damage, excessive direct flow and coral aggression are the main welfare risks.
Compatibility, welfare and risk
Compatibility: Leave clearance from neighbouring corals and prevent sediment accumulation or direct tissue contact
Welfare: Check polyp extension, tissue recession, bleaching, mucus, exposed skeleton, sediment load and neighbour contact.
Main warning: A genus-level name is not enough to prescribe one universal light, flow or placement setting.
Biosecurity and release
Do not release coral, fragments, water or pests. Confirm CITES, Australian import and state possession requirements before acquisition or movement.