Cauliflower Coral

About

Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora effusa) is a small-polyp stony coral native to the eastern and western central Pacific, with its natural range concentrated along the Pacific Central-American coastline from roughly the coast of Mexico down toward Ecuador. In the wild it occupies shallow to moderately deep reef zones, turning up anywhere from just below the surface down to around 40 meters. Like other pocilloporids, it builds tightly branching, bushy colonies covered in small raised bumps called verrucae, which give the surface a distinctly textured, almost warty look that sets the genus apart from smoother branching corals. The branches tend to be fairly fine and compact rather than sprawling, lending the colony a neat, rounded form under good conditions. In the aquarium, this coral falls into intermediate territory. Not the most demanding SPS coral you could keep, but not a beginner piece either. It appreciates genuinely strong, randomized flow and high-output lighting, and like most small-polyp stony corals it responds poorly to neglect in water quality. Reefers who already have a handle on stable calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium maintenance will find it a rewarding next step. It is fully reef safe and poses no threat to neighbors when given adequate space to grow.