Anemone Coral

About

Anemone Coral (Goniopora somaliensis) is one of those corals that rewards a closer look. Colonies grow as thick or thin encrusting plates that can sprawl to impressive sizes in the wild, with a relatively smooth surface formed by shallow, closely-packed calices roughly 3 to 5 millimeters across. The polyps are short compared to many other Goniopora species, giving the colony a dense, carpet-like texture when they're extended. Though during daylight hours you'll often find them pulled in tight, which can make a freshly placed frag look deceptively dull until it settles in. Coloration tends toward grey and brown, but there's usually a pleasing contrast between the polyp tips or oral discs and the surrounding tissue that adds some visual interest. In the wild this species favors sheltered reef spots, particularly beneath overhangs where light and flow conditions are buffered, so replicating that sort of moderate, non-turbulent environment in the aquarium makes sense. Like most Goniopora, it falls into intermediate territory care-wise. Not the first coral you'd hand a beginner, but not as demanding as some of the more temperamental reef-builders either. High-output lighting and steady, moderate flow are the practical priorities.