Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites eridani) is a hard coral from the Western Central Pacific, found growing in shallow, sheltered reef environments where water movement is gentler and sediment less disruptive. Colonies develop as broad, flattened basal sheets that frequently throw up contorted, irregular branches, giving each specimen a somewhat lumpy, unpredictable silhouette. The corallites are scattered unevenly across both the flat portions and the branches, which gives the surface a textured, porous appearance typical of the Porites genus. Coloration is predominantly brown, though the exact shade can vary with lighting intensity and the density of zooxanthellae the coral is hosting. Like most members of its genus, this is a slow-growing but durable coral once established, and it tends to be more tolerant of minor fluctuations than some of the showier SPS species. That said, it is not really a beginner coral. It does best under high-output lighting and appreciates steady, moderate flow to keep its surface clear of detritus without blasting the tissue. Keepers who are comfortable managing stable reef water quality and have some experience reading coral health will find Porites eridani a rewarding, long-term resident of a mixed reef system.