Flowerpot Coral

About

Found across tropical Indian Ocean reef systems, Goniopora paliformis is a stony coral that belongs to the group commonly called flowerpot or daisy corals, named for the way their long, waving polyps extend dramatically from a stony base. Each polyp tips with a ring of tentacles that gives the colony the appearance of a living bouquet in constant gentle motion, especially under moderate current. In the wild this species grows in reef-associated environments across tropical waters, where conditions are relatively stable year-round. That stability is something to keep in mind in the aquarium, because Goniopora as a group have a reputation for being finicky long-term residents. Paliformis is no exception. It falls squarely in the intermediate care category, meaning it is not the best starting point for someone new to reef keeping. High-quality lighting is important, as is consistent water chemistry, since this coral is sensitive to the kinds of fluctuations that more forgiving LPS corals can shrug off. Given the right setup and attentive husbandry, though, it can be a genuinely rewarding coral to keep, with its swaying polyp display making it one of the more visually dynamic additions to a mature reef tank.