Flower Pot Coral, Blue/Purple (Goniopora sp.)

The Blue &; Purple Flower Pot Coral is often referred to as Daisy Coral, Ball Coral, or Sunflower Coral. Whether collected in Australia, Tonga, or Aquacultured, the Blue &; Purple Flower Pot Coral exhibits a dreamy blue and purple coloration with hypnotic movement for the LPS coral enthusiasts. All of the flower references are because of its appearance when all of its polyps are opened. It takes on the visage of a bouquet of flowers. It is the rounded or ball-shaped variety and should not be confused with its branching relatives. It can be aggressive so space should be provided between itself and other neighboring corals. Its polyps can extend far past its base into the reef aquarium, where it can sting other species of corals.

Being a moderately difficult coral to care for and requires moderate lighting combined with moderate water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provides the majority of its nutritional requirements from the algae's light driven process of photosynthesis. It will also benefit from additional food in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp. Clownfish will often be found in association with the Flower Pot Coral and play in its polyps if no anemone can be found in the reef aquarium.

Approximate Purchase Size:
Australia/Tonga Small: 1-1/2" to 2-1/4"; Australia/Tonga Medium: 2" to 3-1/2"; Australia/Tonga Large: 3-1/2" to 5-1/2"
Aquacultured Small: 3/4" to 1-1/4"; Aquacultured Medium: 1-1/2" to 2-1/4; Aquacultured Large: 2-1/2" to 4"

Care details

• Temperature: 72 - 78° F
• dKH: 8 - 12
• Specific Gravity: 1.023-1.025
• Color: Purple and Blue
• Family: Poritidae