Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites flavus) is a branching species native to the shallow, protected fringing reefs of Papua New Guinea in the Western Central Pacific. Its colony structure is built from thin, tapered branches that irregularly fuse together as the coral grows, giving mature specimens a somewhat tangled, organic form. One of its more distinctive visual traits is the coloration: the branches are a uniform pale grey for most of their length, transitioning to yellow at the tips. A subtle but attractive contrast. The corallites themselves sit near the surface rather than being deeply recessed, which gives the branches a noticeably smooth texture compared to the rougher look of many other stony corals. In the aquarium, this species falls into intermediate territory. Not a beginner coral, but not one that demands the kind of obsessive fine-tuning that some SPS species require. It appreciates strong lighting and moderate water movement to keep it healthy and support the zooxanthellae that fuel its growth. As with most Porites, patience is a virtue here since this genus is not known for rapid growth. Keeping water quality stable and nutrient levels in check will go a long way toward keeping a colony looking its best over the long term.