Alveopora catalai

Wells, 1968

Branching Flower Pot Coral

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

Natural Environment: Inhabits soft substrates in deep water or shallow turbid areas protected from wave action and generally seen at depths between 10 to 65 feet (3 - 20 m).

General Husbandry: Not collected for the trade, yet cultured frags seem to be available.

Placement in the aquarium is best in lightly shaded areas having slow moving water current.

Care should also be taken as to its position in the aquarium, as this species is basically defenseless against other corals, even those that are not overly aggressive.

Even though its thought capable of producing all its nutritional needs via photosynthesis, liquid nutrients foodstuffs fed occasionally may be beneficial/promote quicker growth.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Poritidae

Genus: Alveopora

FYI: In the wild, usually pale tan when retracted and amber or yellowish with oral discs, sometimes with white tentacles when expanded.

A species possibly best kept in older, more nutrient rich environments.

Recommend anemonefishes not be kept in the same tank, as they may tend to use its long stemmed polyps as they would an anemone and that would stress the coral. This undue stress would soon cause the polyps to cease extending, with its demise soon following.

Experience Level: Expert

Diet: Photosynthetic/Absorb dissolved organic matter

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Difficult

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Temperature Range: 74 - 83°F (23 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons

Lighting: PAR 200 - 300

Water Movement: WM 1

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.