Hydnophora coral

ScubaDoo613 · Dec 18, 2019

Hello,

I just purchased a hydrophora coral the other day, its a pretty sweet looking coral. I was wondering if anyone has any insight on what parameters it grows best in. The local store I got it from was hoping I could grow it out and supply them with some frags . Any information on this coral will help, Thanks!

Skipbacon · Dec 18, 2019

I’m not an SPS expert, but I also got one this week and have since learned they need to be placed away from other corals due to their aggressive sweepers. I love this coral though.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 18, 2019

Hydno is an encrusting coral that requires moderate flow and moderate to high lighting. It will grow and spread across rockwork with the right water and lighting conditions and yes does produce a potent sting to other neighboring corals. Very bright color under blue lights. Salinity 1.025-1.026 and ph 8.1-8.3

ScubaDoo613 · Dec 18, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Hydno is an encrusting coral that requires moderate flow and moderate to high lighting. It will grow and spread across rockwork with the right water and lighting conditions and yes does produce a potent sting to other neighboring corals. Very bright color under blue lights. Salinity 1.025-1.026 and ph 8.1-8.3

Thanks! How far should they be kept from neighbors? also thanks for correcting me with the name....I guess I couldn't read the name the store owner had written down oops!

DSC reef · Dec 18, 2019

Hydnophora is not just an encrusting coral, it's also branching as well. Very aggressive and similar requirements to other SPS, typically an easy coral to grow. Give it plenty of space between other corals. Post a pic so we can determine if you have branching or encrusting hydnophora

dwest · Dec 18, 2019

ScubaDoo613 said:
Thanks! How far should they be kept from neighbors? also thanks for correcting me with the name....I guess I couldn't read the name the store owner had written down oops!

I don’t have a hydnophora any more, but I had one for about 8 years. Mine grew very large and essentially took over the the right 1/3 of my 125 gallon tank at the time. I thought it was a great coral, but very aggressive. It’s very interesting to watch at night attacking and defending its territory. If I were to get another one, I would put it on its own rock, with at least 6” of space around that rock.

ScubaDoo613 · Dec 18, 2019

DSC reef said:
Hydnophora is not just an encrusting coral, it's also branching as well. Very aggressive and similar requirements to other SPS, typically an easy coral to grow. Give it plenty of space between other corals. Post a pic so we can determine if you have branching or encrusting hydnophora

I am pretty positive it is the branching hydnophora (seems pretty obvious since there are indeed branches), I don't have a pic at the moment, but when I get it I'll post.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 18, 2019

DSC reef said:
Hydnophora is not just an encrusting coral, it's also branching as well. Very aggressive and similar requirements to other SPS, typically an easy coral to grow. Give it plenty of space between other corals. Post a pic so we can determine if you have branching or encrusting hydnophora

Mine is encrusting but again there is a potential for branching. I'd imagine affected by type pf lighting and flow. Mine is 4" away from everything around it.

Sallstrom · Dec 18, 2019

A got a small Hydnopora frag when I bought my first live rock back in 2001. It’s still alive and now living at my work, a public aquarium

I agree on the posts above, keep the water and the light good enough for SPS corals, and the Hydnopora colony will be happy.
I haven’t tried it in a high nutrients tank, so I can’t say how they will do in those conditions.

DSC reef · Dec 18, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
Mine is encrusting but again there is a potential for branching. I'd imagine affected by type pf lighting and flow. Mine is 4" away from everything around it.

They both have similar requirements but growth is way different so spacing and placement will be different as well.