Pocillopora

Pocillopora damicornis

Care Level	Intermediate — hardy SPS
Lighting	Moderate to high
Water Flow	Moderate to high
Placement	Mid to upper rock
Aggression	Peaceful
Coloration	Pink, green, brown bumpy branches

Overview

Pocillopora (“Cauliflower” or “Bird’s Nest” relative) is a hardy, fast-growing branching SPS covered in wart-like bumps (verrucae). It is one of the most beginner-friendly SPS and often reproduces in the aquarium by dropping tiny “polyp bailout” babies that settle nearby.

Care & Placement

Give moderate-to-high light and turbulent flow. Mount mid-to-upper on rock. It is forgiving and fast-growing, and frequently self-propagates around the tank.

Feeding

Photosynthetic; stable parameters and light do the work. It also catches planktonic food and hosts symbiotic crabs in the wild.

Propagation

Easy to frag — snap a branch and glue to a plug. It also self-fragments via baby polyp colonies.

Cautions

Hardy but keep alkalinity stable. Good flow prevents detritus buildup. Can spread on its own, so place where new colonies are welcome.