Skip to main content

Porites

Genus

A hardy SPS coral growing in finger or massive forms. Slow growing but very hardy and long-lived.

Porites (Porites)

Names & Synonyms

  • CommonPorites
  • Commonポリテス

Overview

Porites (family Poritidae) is a genus of small-polyp stony corals distributed across tropical reefs of the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean, encompassing encrusting, hemispherical, and branching growth forms. Massive colonies of some species reach several meters in diameter and are among the oldest living organisms on Earth, with some documented specimens centuries old. The surface texture is smooth and dense, with tiny polyps coloring in green, brown, pink, purple, and yellow. Moderate to high lighting (150–300 PAR) and moderate flow are recommended. Parameters (24–27°C, KH 8–10, Ca 400–440 ppm) should be stable, though Porites demonstrates excellent tolerance for environmental variation—one of the hardiest SPS genera available. Boring worms and polychaetes occasionally infest colonies; monitoring is advised. Fragging is feasible but technically demanding due to the fine polyp structure. Established large colonies contribute unrivaled structural gravitas and ecological realism to mature reef aquariums.

Care Specifications

TypeLPS
Temperature24〜27℃
Specific gravity1.023〜1.025
Salinity33〜35 ppt
KH (carbonate hardness)8〜12 dKH
Calcium (Ca)400〜450 mg/L
Magnesium (Mg)1280〜1350 mg/L
LightingMedium
Water flowMedium
PlacementMiddle

Care Points

  • LightingMedium to strong light
  • FlowMedium flow
  • GrowthSlow growth rate
  • NotesOne of hardiest SPS, even for beginners

Regulatory & Conservation

CITES:
Appendix II
Notes:
イシサンゴ目(Porites, Poritidae)。CITES 附属書II。

Sources

Related corals of the same type

Related care articles

Get this species

Buy livestock directly from breeders and specialist shops on BreederDirect (br-choku), our sister marketplace for corals and marine fish.

* Opens an external site (BreederDirect / br-choku, Japanese) in a new tab.