Cylindrica Porites (Porites cylindrica) Care Guide
Porites cylindrica is an Indo-Pacific branching coral with finger-thick branches that forms micro-atolls; a hardy zooxanthellate species listed as Near Threatened.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Porites cylindrica is a branching small-polyp stony coral in the family Poritidae, described by Dana in 1846. It has numerous branches, some with secondary branches, growing in different directions and roughly half an inch thick. It can form micro-atolls and spread over several square meters.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poritidae
- Genus: Porites
- Scientific name: Porites cylindrica
- Authority: (Dana, 1846)
Habitat
The species ranges across the Indo-Pacific, including the western Pacific, Australia, the South China Sea, Japan, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. It is found in back reefs and lagoons, commonly at 1 to 11 m and observed to about 20 m.
Symbiosis and feeding
It is a zooxanthellate coral whose photosynthetic dinoflagellate partners provide nutrients; the sessile colony also captures suspended food particles. In aquaria it is maintained chiefly by lighting, with amino-acid supplements aiding growth.
Reef-tank requirements
- Lighting: 150-250 PAR (medium-high)
- Flow: medium-high
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Specific gravity: 1.025-1.026
- Alkalinity (dKH): 7.5-9
- Calcium: 420-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1300-1400 ppm
- Phosphate: below 0.05 ppm
- Nitrate: below 10 ppm
- Minimum tank maturity: about 3 months
Compatibility
It is a passive, reef-safe coral compatible with fish and shrimp. Stable chemistry and steady flow support healthy growth.
Breeding
It is a gonochoric species with separate male and female colonies and primarily propagates by asexual fragmentation, which makes fragging straightforward in aquaria.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (2014).
Porites cylindrica Propagation Guide
Overview
Porites cylindrica is a small-polyp stony coral of the family Poritidae with stout, cylindrical branches and the very small polyps typical of the genus. Like its relatives it carries symbiotic zooxanthellae and shows the halotolerance and general hardiness that make Porites a forgiving group of branching SPS corals.
Reproductive Mode
Porites disperse by planktonic larvae that settle onto the substrate, and the genus also spreads vegetatively when living fragments break away and lodge elsewhere on the reef to form new colonies. This natural fragmentation is what aquarists reproduce deliberately when propagating a branching species such as cylindrica.
Fragging / Asexual Propagation
Cut a stout branch section from a healthy colony with coral cutters, then mount it on a frag plug or rock. Dry the base of the cutting and the plug so the glue takes hold, apply a couple of dabs of cyanoacrylate, press the frag firmly into place, and return it to low flow while the bond cures. The frag encrusts the plug and continues thickening its cylindrical branches.
Conditions for Propagation
A cylindrica frag needs stable reef chemistry, moderate to high light, and steady flow to keep the small polyps clean. The species is slow-growing, so a fresh frag takes time to lengthen its branches; patience and consistent water quality matter more than aggressive feeding.
Common Challenges
The tiny polyps make early tissue loss easy to miss, so check frags regularly. Good flow over the cut surface helps the tissue heal onto the plug and limits algae from colonising the wound during the slow recovery.