Subseriata Stylophora (Stylophora subseriata) Care Guide
Stylophora subseriata is a branching Indo-Pacific SPS coral in the family Pocilloporidae, hosting zooxanthellae and grown in reef aquaria under moderate light and flow.
Overview
Stylophora subseriata is a colonial stony coral in the family Pocilloporidae. The genus Stylophora comprises branching corals with finger-like branches of varying width and blunt tips; colours range across orange, pink, magenta, purple, green and brown and shift with light and water movement. It is a zooxanthellate coral kept as a small-polyp stony (SPS) species in reef aquaria.
Taxonomy
- Family: Pocilloporidae
- Genus: Stylophora
- Scientific name: Stylophora subseriata
- Authority: (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1834)
- Note: originally described as Porites subseriata; synonymized with S. pistillata by Veron & Pichon (1976), then revalidated by Veron (2000) and accepted by WoRMS as a distinct species
Habitat
The genus is native to the Red Sea, the Indo-Pacific region and eastwards to the Pitcairn Islands, growing on reefs where its form and colour vary with light level and water movement.
Symbiosis and feeding
As a zooxanthellate coral it hosts symbiotic dinoflagellates that supply most of its energy through photosynthesis. In aquaria it is maintained primarily by lighting, and amino-acid supplements can support growth.
Reef-tank requirements
- Lighting: 150-300 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
Stylophora subseriata is a passive coral without aggressive sweeper tentacles, and is considered reef-safe alongside fish and shrimp. Stable water chemistry and consistent flow are key to maintaining colour and growth.