Pore Coral

About

Pore coral (Montipora angulata) is one of the more structurally interesting members of a very large genus, forming dense, compact clumps built on a broad encrusting base from which short branches extend upward. The corallites themselves are slightly funnel-shaped and sit immersed within the coenosteum, which is generally smooth but can develop low ridges between individual polyps. Natural coloration tends toward pale brown, though aquarium lighting and zooxanthellae density can shift the appearance somewhat. In the wild this coral occupies fringing reef flats across a wide swath of the Indo-Pacific, where it experiences intense sunlight and consistent water movement, typically in relatively shallow water though it has been recorded at considerable depth. Those natural conditions translate directly into demanding aquarium requirements. This is not a beginner coral. It needs genuinely high flow to keep detritus from settling into the coenosteum and to support gas exchange, and the lighting demands are real rather than approximate. Water quality needs to be consistently excellent, as Montipora species in general are sensitive to elevated nutrients and parameter swings. If you can provide a mature, stable reef system with the right conditions, this is a rewarding coral with an unusual growth form that stands apart from the flatter encrusting Montiporas more commonly seen in the trade.