Honeycomb Coral Care Guide

Honeycomb Coral (Diploastrea heliopora) is a LPS coral. Care covers 75-200 PAR, medium flow, reef parameters and feeding; intermediate level.

Overview

Honeycomb Coral (Diploastrea heliopora) is a LPS coral in the family Diploastreidae. Massive boulder-forming LPS with neat hexagonal corallites. Centuries-old wild colonies recorded.

Taxonomy

Family: Diploastreidae
Genus: Diploastrea
Scientific name: Diploastrea heliopora
Common synonyms: Diploastrea

Habitat

In the wild, Diploastrea heliopora is reported from Indo-Pacific, where it occupies mid to lower reef slopes and lagoons (typically 5-30 m). The species adopts a massive growth form on hard substrate within zooxanthellate reef communities.

Tank requirements

Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
pH: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness (dKH): 8-11
Calcium: 400-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
Minimum system age: 6 months

Placement and lighting

PAR (placement zone): 75-200 PAR
Water flow: medium

Mount this LPS coral on the lower or mid rockwork or on the sand bed (for free-living forms) where light is moderate. Strong direct flow can damage the fleshy tissue; aim for indirect, varied movement.

Feeding

Diploastrea heliopora hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae and derives most of its energy through photosynthesis. Additional feeding is generally not required when lighting is adequate.

Compatibility

This coral is passive toward neighbours. Reef-safe with most fish and invertebrates.

Care notes

Difficulty level: intermediate. Reported skeletal growth in well-tuned reef tanks is approximately 0.05-0.15 cm/month. Propagation by fragmentation is straightforward for massive colonies — separate branches or polyps with a bone cutter, glue to plug, allow 1-2 weeks for healing. Maintain stable alkalinity (avoid swings above ±0.5 dKH per day) to preserve tissue health.