Pocillopora Damicornis COTM June 2011

Discussion in 'Coral of the Month' started by Corailline, Jun 1, 2011.

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  1. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    Pocillopora Damicornis, Coral of the Month, June 2011.

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    Distribution: Occurs in shallow water habitat from exposed reef to mangrove swamps. Found throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
    Coloration: Ranges from brown to green, purple and some pink hues.
    Care level: With regard to the general guidelines for keeping other sps, EASY.
    Lighting: Moderate to intense. Grows well under PC lighting high in a tank. Coloration and growth is improved under T5 and Metal halide. I can not address how the coral does under LED.
    Placement: Tolerates a wide range of placement under T5 and Metal halide lighting, again with best coloration under the most intense lighting.
    For best results IMO mid to upper levels.
    Flow: Moderate to high, with dense growth under higher levels of flow.

    Specific gravity: 1.023-1.026.
    Calcium: 350-450.
    Alk: 8-11.
    Magnesium: 1350-1500.
    Temperature: 78-82.
    Nutrition: Occasional feedings with phyto (per liveaquaria) is recommended. I have never witnessed a feeding response. I do however offer Rod's Foods once a week.
    Common names: Califlower coral, Brush corals and Cluster coral.

    One of the easiest and hardiest of the sps. A fast growing that will out compete other sps, secondary to growth rate and it's ability to sting other sps with long sweeper tentacles. Sweeper tentacles can be seen in the second image.
    While I have had no spawning events of this coral, it is reported to spawn readily in the home aquarium. Other hobbyist have reported that after a spawning event the corals could be found growing on the sides of the tank and covering rock work, stinging existing corals. ORA also reports that Pocillopora has the ability to reproduce via poylp bailout.
    I have found this coral to be very easy to frag, with the mother colony and newly fragged pieces showing polyp extention almost immediately after cutting.
    While I have not found any specific scientific information regarding this corals aggression. I can say from my own observations, that it's best to watch it around more sensitive and expensive acropora. A small frag just recently caused some damage to my Formosa. I have had to move the mother colony on a number of occasions after it's sweeper tentacles came into contact with other corals.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2011
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  3. Aaron.Herk

    Aaron.Herk Sea Dragon

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    Very imformative write up. I have never had any pocillopora.
     
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  4. FaceOfDeceit

    FaceOfDeceit Hockey Beard

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    Very nice. On my list of soon to be purchased. Thanks for the extra info.
     
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  5. inwall75

    inwall75 Giant Squid

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    Great pics and write-up Cheryl. Once they get large enough, they will reproduce as ORA states. (In fact, it can be a little annoying).

    (They don't eat phyto though)
     
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  6. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    Thank you. :)

    Thank you. :) Mine is somewhat on the brown green side, you can find much more colorful ones at ORA and other sites.



    LOL, Curt I knew it would not get past you, and I almost put zooplankton, but I could not find any reference material. The reason I included the Rod's Food is because while not really zooplankton it does have a lot of protein via many seafood products like oyster eggs and such.
    :)
     
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  7. leighton1245

    leighton1245 Horrid Stonefish

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    Sweet I have one of these mine is bright almost neon green and I think it grows some what fast :) Ill take a pic tonight i have a Pocillopora crab in there also caring for it.
     
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  9. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    Great, I would like some images of Pocillopora with different colors, and the commensal sps crab.


    :)
     
  10. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    Very nice Cheryl! I can say this coral really gives a love hate relationship... You love it for growing so fast and so easily, but you hate it for killing everything else and spawning all the time!
     
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  11. progman2000

    progman2000 Astrea Snail

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    Great write up, I have been looking for an "easy" SPS, thanks
     
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  12. Magnus

    Magnus Sharknado

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    Very nice article and coral pics, Corailline!

    Sent from my phone using my two opposable digits
     
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