From ReefPedia

[edit] Alveopora spp. Difficulty: Medium to Hard Light: Moderate Aggression: Not aggressive Hardiness: Very delicate Growth Rate: Slower Availability: Uncommon to rare

This species is believed to be Alveopora gigas.

Introduction

The Alveopora spp. corals are commonly known as "Flowerpot" corals, and are close relatives to Goniopora. Goniopora spp. are also known as "Flowerpot" corals, so it is worth noting that they share a common name, but are different genera of coral. Alveopora is the slightly easier to keep cousin to Goniopora. Both genera of corals, Alveopora and Goniopora are very delicate, and have limited success in the aquarium trade. A difference is noted between the two by looking at a polyp and counting the nubby tentacles around the polyp. Alveopora has twelve of these "petals", while Goniopora has twenty-four. There are several species of Alveopora with limited available photographs for identification, making it somewhat difficult to determine exactly which may be in your possession.

Clownfish have sometimes made this coral their home, as it has longer tentacles similar to those of an anemone. It is worth noting that some aquarists have experienced some damage to this coral from clownfish either playing roughly in it or sometimes even ripping off an entire polyp. However, these experiences are rare. While some may say that this is a partial reason for the decline in health of Alveopora in aquaria, this is simply observation and may not be the true cause of death, damage, or disease to these corals.

Common Names

Flowerpot coral

Daisy coral

Ball coral

Scientific Names

A. allingi

A. catalai

A. daedalea

A. fenestrata

A. gigas

A. japonica

...and others

Hardiness

Very delicate. This coral is known, along with Goniopora to be a very delicate species. Most colonies do not survive in aquaria, and they should be attempted by only experienced and knowledgeable aquarists.

Flow

Low to medium flow is desired, causing the polyps to wave in the water, but not be blown to one side. Strong water flow may damage this coral. Do not point powerheads or other flow sources directly at this coral. It is highly sensitive to pressure and flow, and will retract its polyps when sensing changes in pressure.

Lighting

Moderate light is desired for this coral. Power compact lights can be utilized. If using higher-powered lighting, such as T-5 or metal halide, it is recommended to keep this coral in the lower to middle sections of the tank, depending on intensity.

Placement

Placement should be determined by lighting intensity. If using very intense halide lighting (such as 400W), it is recommended to keep this coral near the bottom of the tank. Power compact lighting can allow higher placement. This coral should NOT be placed directly on the substrate, as this can damage polyps and cause infection.

Feeding

Feeding information on this coral is somewhat limited. It is believed that this coral may require supplemental feeding, on top of having photosynthetic zooxanthellae algae. Some have found some success by feeding a mixture of various foods that are combined into a paste. It is thought that a required food is the highly-nutritious Cyclopeeze, which is a small invertebrate with a very high protein and amino acid content. Other foods may include clams, shrimp, DT's Oyster Eggs, and other nutritious and meaty foods.

If feeding is done, it shFeeding should be done with minimal flow, using a syringe to place small gobs of the pasty food onto a good number of the polyps. When ingested, the food will feed the entire coral, so feeding each and every polyp is unnecessary. Feeding should be done about two to three times per week.

Propagation

Propagation can be quite tricky, as Alveopora are susceptible to infections. It is recommended to make as clean of a cut as possible with minimal damage to each polyp. Make sure the polyps are retracted before attempting propagation. A rotary tool, such as a Dremel, can be utilized to cut a portion of a branch off.

After removing the fragment, ensure that all debris is removed from the exposed inner flesh to prevent infection. When attaching to a rock, try to avoid getting any glue on the polyps, as this can encourage infection. Try to glue the stony skeleton onto a rock using cyanoacrylate gel. Once attached, place the coral in an ideal spot to help it recover.

Predators

No specific predators of this coral are known to me, other than those already known to eat coral polyps.