Meandering Pocillopora
Pocillopora meandrina
Pocillopora meandrina is a colonial scleractinian coral with robust, often meandering branches. The polyps are small and retractile, giving a rough texture to the surface. Color ranges from light brown to pink, often with lighter tips. It can withstand moderate to strong currents. This species hosts symbiotic zooxanthellae. Its growth is relatively fast in aquariums. It can reach 50 cm in diameter.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–28 |
| pH | 8.1–8.4 |
| GH | 8–12 |
| KH | 8–12 |
| Salinity | 1.023–1.025 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 10 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.1 |
Care
Care notes
Maintain temperature 24-28°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025. Intense lighting (LED or T5) is required. Strong water flow is recommended to mimic its natural habitat. Nitrate levels should stay below 10 ppm, phosphates below 0.1 ppm. Calcium (400-450 ppm) and magnesium (1300-1400 ppm) are essential. It is moderately aggressive towards other corals, so provide spacing. Propagation by fragmentation is easy.