Porites sp.
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Lighting | Moderate to high |
| Water Flow | Moderate to strong |
| Placement | Rock, mid to upper tank |
| Aggression | Peaceful |
| Coloration | Green, purple, red |
Color Variations
Porites is available in several designer color morphs. The coloration is purely cosmetic — every one takes the same care described above.
Overview
Porites is a small-polyp stony coral that grows as mounds, plates, or branches with a soft, fuzzy look when its tiny polyps are extended. It is best known as the coral that hosts Christmas tree worms, and it is a hardy, if slow, reef-builder that now comes in eye-catching designer morphs.
Care & Placement
Moderate. Give it moderate to high light and good flow, with rock-solid stable alkalinity and calcium like any SPS. It grows slowly and can be a little particular about stability, but once established it is durable; strong flow keeps its surface clean and healthy.
Feeding
Photosynthetic, with very small polyps that take little food, so feeding is a minor factor. Stable water chemistry and good light are what matter.
Propagation
Fragged like other SPS, but slow to heal and regrow, so cut conservatively and give frags time.
Cautions
It is sensitive to parameter swings and can brown out or recede if conditions are unstable. If you keep the Christmas-tree-worm variety, remember those worms are filter feeders that also depend on stable, well-fed water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Porites host Christmas tree worms?
Yes — Porites is the classic host for Christmas tree worms, which bore into its skeleton. Keeping that variety means caring for both the coral and the filter-feeding worms.
Is Porites hard to keep?
It is a moderate SPS: undemanding once settled, but it wants stable alkalinity and calcium, good light, and good flow. Its slow growth and dislike of swings are the main challenges.
How fast does Porites grow?
Slowly. It is a stony reef-builder that adds skeleton gradually, so buy a size close to what you want to display and be patient.