Snowflake Alveopora

About this coral

Snowflake Alveopora is a named Alveopora, a large polyp stony (LPS) coral in the family Poritidae. Like other Alveopora, it is a flowerpot-type coral with beautiful flowing polyps. Each polyp sits on a long stalk and has 12 tentacles, so the coral is also called the daisy or flowerpot coral. Alveopora is related to Goniopora, and some aquarists consider it easier to keep. The care notes below are general guidance for the Alveopora genus, not details specific to this named variety. This coral suits reefkeepers with some experience who can keep water conditions stable and give it a lower or middle spot in the rockwork.

Features:

• An LPS flowerpot coral with flowing, daisy-like polyps on long stalks
• Photosynthetic: it gets most of its food from symbiotic zooxanthellae, the algae that live in its tissue
• Benefits from target feeding with planktonic foods such as phytoplankton or rotifers, generally one to three times per week
• Does best in moderate light; avoid strong direct light, which can cause bleaching
• Needs gentle to moderate flow that moves the polyps and clears waste without damaging the delicate tissue
• Leave space around it so the polyps can extend fully and stay clear of nearby corals

Specifications:

• Coral type: LPS, Alveopora (family Poritidae)
• Care level: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-aggressive; give it space from neighbouring corals
• Lighting: Low to moderate (about 50–150 PAR as a general guide)
• Water flow: Gentle to moderate
• Placement: Lower to middle rockwork, or sandbed, in a shaded or semi-shaded area
• Diet: Photosynthetic, plus supplemental planktonic foods
• Temperature: 76–80°F
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• Salinity: 1.025–1.026
• Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm