Mustard Hill Coral

About

Knobby porous coral (Porites astreoides) is one of the most recognizable and ecologically important reef-building corals across the Western Atlantic, showing up in just about every reef environment from shallow surge zones down to around 70 meters. Colonies tend toward a massive or encrusting growth form, usually staying on the smaller side but occasionally spreading to several meters across over time. The surface texture is typically lumpy and irregular, though some colonies grow smoother or develop a more nodular profile. Coloration ranges from bright mustard yellow to muted grey-brown, with occasional green morphs. The yellow forms in particular are what earned it the common name mustard hill coral. One of the more interesting things about this species is that its polyps are frequently extended during daylight hours, which is not the norm for many stony corals and gives colonies a noticeably fuzzy or soft appearance during the day. In the aquarium, this is an intermediate-level coral that appreciates strong lighting and moderate water movement. It is reef safe and generally a hardy representative of its genus, though like all Porites it grows slowly and rewards patient, consistent husbandry over flashier short-term results.