Hump Coral

About

Hump Coral (Porites harrisoni) is one of those species that keeps you guessing with its appearance. Colonies can grow in a surprisingly wide range of forms, submassive mounds, nodular clusters, columns, or branching structures, all typically spreading from a broad encrusting base. Most colonies stay under a metre across, which makes them more manageable than some of the larger Porites relatives. Coloration tends toward dark brown in the wild, though pink and blue morphs do occur, and the hue can shift depending on lighting and water conditions in the aquarium. In the wild, this coral occupies shallow fringing reefs in the Western Indian Ocean, usually found anywhere from the surface down to about fifteen metres, so it is naturally accustomed to bright light and moderate water movement. In a reef tank, you want to replicate those conditions reasonably well, giving it a solid spot with good illumination and enough flow to keep detritus from settling on the colony. It is rated intermediate in care demands, so while it is not the most fragile coral you could pick, complete beginners might want a bit of experience under their belt before adding one. It is a genuinely interesting Porites for keepers who appreciate growth-form variety in their display.