Alveopora allingi Care Guide
Alveopora allingi is an LPS coral with 12-tentacle polyps, easier than Goniopora, preferring moderate light and low flow.
Overview
Alveopora allingi is a large-polyp stony (LPS) coral whose polyps each bear 12 tentacles, distinguishing the genus from the similar Goniopora, which has 24. Alveopora polyps are large and fleshy, usually extended both day and night, and often carry swollen knob-like tips. Colonies grow on a very light, porous skeleton.
Taxonomy
- Family: Acroporidae (reclassified from Poritidae)
- Genus: Alveopora (Blainville, 1830)
- Scientific name: Alveopora allingi
- Authority: Hoffmeister, 1925
Habitat
The genus is native to the Indo-Pacific and is generally uncommon, often found on reef slopes in turbid water. Colonies are usually white, pale grey, cream or light brown, sometimes with contrasting colored tentacles, and host symbiotic zooxanthellae.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- dKH (alkalinity): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Lighting: medium, around 75-175 PAR; benefits from less intense, less direct light
- Flow: low to moderate to protect the fleshy polyps
Diet
Alveopora hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae for photosynthesis but has a weak sting and low nematocyst concentration, making it hard to catch food from the water column. It benefits from regular feeding of fine foods such as mysis, reef-roids and phytoplankton in a mature tank of at least 6 months.
Compatibility
It is reef-safe, passive and non-aggressive, and compatible with reef fish and shrimp. Because it lacks strong stinging tentacles, it should be protected from more aggressive corals.