Plate Echinopora care guide

Plate Echinopora (Echinopora lamellosa) — reef coral, 24-26 °C, PAR 75-175, salinity 1.024-1.026.

Overview

Echinopora lamellosa is a plating, foliose LPS that forms layered tiers of overlapping plates. The colony is a fast grower and typically displays a uniform bright green colour under blue actinic lighting.

Taxonomy

Family: Merulinidae
Genus: Echinopora
Scientific name: Echinopora lamellosa
Common synonyms: Lamellose Echinopora, Lettuce Echinopora

Habitat

Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific. Wild colonies are typical of reef slopes at moderate depth where they form broad horizontal plates that maximise light capture.

Tank requirements

Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
Salinity (SG): 1.024-1.026
pH: 8.1-8.4
Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
Calcium: 400-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
Nitrate (max): 5 ppm

Placement and lighting

Lighting (PAR): 75-175 PAR
Flow: medium
Recommended tank age: 3 months
Growth rate: 0.3-0.6 cm/mo

Mount on rockwork in the middle of the aquarium with medium flow and moderate light. As the colony grows it forms overlapping plates that may shade neighbouring corals — leave generous open space.

Feeding

Primarily photosynthetic. Spot-feeding is not strictly required; occasional reef-roids can be used as an optional supplement.

Compatibility

Moderately aggressive — short polyps can sting after lights-out. Reef-safe with shrimp and fish. Maintain a small buffer from neighbouring corals.

Care notes

Fast growth makes it a good choice for actively growing reefs but requires planning of placement. Stable alkalinity and calcium support the rapidly forming skeleton.