{"id":11160,"date":"2026-02-17T22:40:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/purple-branch-hard-coral-porites-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T22:40:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:40:09","slug":"purple-branch-hard-coral-porites-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=purple-branch-hard-coral-porites-sp","title":{"rendered":"Purple Branch Hard Coral Porites Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Purple Branch Hard Coral (Porites sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Branching Porites, Finger Coral, or Small Polyp Stony Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Purple Branch Hard Coral (Porites<\/em> sp.) is a resilient and long-lived small-polyp stony (SPS) coral<\/strong>, prized for its slender, finger-like branches<\/strong> and deep purple to lavender hues<\/strong>. It forms compact colonies with a smooth or slightly porous texture, creating a striking visual contrast against green and orange corals in reef aquariums. Known for its durability and ability to adapt to a range of lighting and flow conditions, Porites<\/em> is a staple in SPS-dominated systems. While slower-growing than some SPS species, it rewards patience with rich colouration and intricate structure, making it an excellent choice for aquarists looking to introduce branching complexity to their reefscape.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Native to the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>, including the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Fiji, Tonga, Indonesia, and the Red Sea<\/strong>. Commonly found in lagoon slopes, reef flats, and upper reef crests<\/strong>, where it thrives under bright sunlight and strong, turbulent flow.<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Porites<\/em> corals are primarily photosynthetic<\/strong>, relying on zooxanthellae<\/strong> for energy. While capable of absorbing dissolved nutrients, they also benefit from occasional feeding of fine particulate foods. Feed 1\u20132 times per week<\/strong> with:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

    Marine snow or phytoplankton<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Micronised coral foods or powdered SPS blends<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Rotifers or bacterioplankton-based supplements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Feed in moderate flow to ensure fine foods can settle and circulate around the colony.<\/p>\n

    Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    High lighting.<\/strong> Porites<\/em> thrives under intense, full-spectrum illumination from LED, T5, or metal halide systems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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    • \n

      PAR range: 200\u2013400 \u00b5mol\/m\u00b2\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Acclimate gradually to prevent bleaching.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Blue and violet spectrums enhance its natural purple pigmentation and maintain vivid tones.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Water Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Strong, turbulent flow.<\/strong> Provide alternating or randomised currents to promote gas exchange and prevent detritus from collecting between branches. This mimics natural reef conditions and supports healthy tissue and polyp extension.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Position on the upper to mid rockwork<\/strong>, where it receives strong light and water movement.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Allow 5\u201310 cm (2\u20134 inches)<\/strong> of clearance from other corals, as Porites<\/em> is peaceful but can be overgrown or irritated by more aggressive neighbours.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Avoid shaded areas \u2014 consistent lighting is essential for maintaining colour and growth.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Tank Mates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Reef safe.<\/strong> Compatible with:<\/p>\n

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        • \n

          Peaceful reef fish (wrasses, tangs, gobies, anthias, clownfish, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Invertebrates such as shrimp, snails, and hermit crabs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Other SPS corals with similar light and flow requirements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Aggressive LPS corals (e.g., Euphyllia, Galaxea, Hydnophora) nearby<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Large angelfish or butterflyfish that may nip polyps<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Aggression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Peaceful.<\/strong> Porites<\/em> does not possess long sweeper tentacles and is easily outcompeted by aggressive species. Maintain clear spacing to prevent encroachment or damage from neighbours.<\/p>\n

            Experience Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Intermediate to advanced.<\/strong> The Purple Branch Coral is hardy but thrives best in mature reef systems with stable, low-nutrient conditions and consistent flow. It\u2019s an excellent choice for aquarists experienced in maintaining SPS-dominant environments.<\/p>\n

            Water Parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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            • \n

              Temperature:<\/strong> 24\u201327\u00b0C (75\u201381\u00b0F)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              pH:<\/strong> 8.1\u20138.4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Salinity:<\/strong> 1.025\u20131.026 SG<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Alkalinity (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201310<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Calcium:<\/strong> 420\u2013450 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Magnesium:<\/strong> 1250\u20131350 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Nitrate:<\/strong> <5 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Phosphate:<\/strong> <0.03 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 150 litres (40 gallons)<\/strong>; larger systems preferred for stability and flow management<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Stable alkalinity and low nutrients are critical for maintaining strong skeletal growth and vibrant purple coloration.<\/p>\n

              Reef Compatibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Fully reef safe.<\/strong> The Purple Branch Hard Coral is a classic SPS species that brings elegance, structure, and rich colour to high-energy reef systems. When provided with stable parameters, intense lighting, and strong flow, it develops into a stunning, long-lasting centrepiece coral.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Purple Branch Hard Coral (Porites sp.) (Also known as Branching Porites, Finger Coral, or Small Polyp Stony Coral) Overview The Purple Branch Hard Coral (Porites sp.) is a resilient and long-lived small-polyp stony (SPS) coral, prized for its slender, finger-like branches and deep purple to lavender hues. It forms compact colonies with a smooth or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":11159,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11160","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-hard-corals","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/11160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=11160"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=11160"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=11160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}