{"id":3152,"date":"2026-02-16T23:24:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/cauliflower-hard-coral-pocillopora-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T23:24:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:24:34","slug":"cauliflower-hard-coral-pocillopora-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=cauliflower-hard-coral-pocillopora-sp","title":{"rendered":"Cauliflower Hard Coral Pocillopora Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cauliflower Hard Coral (Pocillopora sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Cauliflower Coral, Brush Coral, or Cluster Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

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

The Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora<\/em> sp.) is a beautiful and hardy small-polyp stony (SPS) coral<\/strong> recognised for its dense, compact growth<\/strong> and bushy, cauliflower-like branches<\/strong>. Its surfaces are covered with small, evenly spaced corallites that give it a textured, velvety appearance. Colours range from pink, green, and brown<\/strong> to yellow and vivid purple<\/strong>, often glowing under actinic or blue LED lighting. Fast-growing and resilient, Pocillopora<\/em> is an excellent SPS coral for aquarists progressing from soft or LPS corals into more advanced reef species.<\/p>\n

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

Native to the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>, including Fiji, Tonga, Indonesia, and the Great Barrier Reef. Found in shallow reef slopes, lagoons, and upper reef crests<\/strong>, where it receives strong light and turbulent water flow.<\/p>\n

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

The Cauliflower Coral is photosynthetic<\/strong>, hosting zooxanthellae<\/strong> that provide most of its nutrition through photosynthesis. It can, however, benefit from occasional supplemental feeding to promote growth and colour intensity:<\/p>\n

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    Marine phytoplankton and microplankton<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Fine powdered coral foods (e.g. Reef-Roids)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Amino acid or trace element supplements<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Feed 1\u20132 times per week<\/strong>, especially in ultra-low nutrient systems or heavily skimmed reefs.<\/p>\n

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

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

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      PAR range: 250\u2013400 \u00b5mol\/m\u00b2\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Gradually acclimate to intense light to prevent bleaching.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Under optimal lighting, colours become more vibrant and growth dense.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      Strong, turbulent flow.<\/strong> Random and multidirectional currents are essential to keep the coral clean, deliver oxygen, and prevent detritus buildup. This also encourages thick, even growth. Avoid direct laminar flow that could damage delicate branch tips.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Place in the upper to mid-levels<\/strong> of the aquarium, where lighting and water movement are strongest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Mount securely to rockwork or a frag plug \u2014 colonies can grow quickly and form substantial branches.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Allow space around the coral to prevent shading or contact with aggressive neighbours.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

        Peaceful and reef safe.<\/strong> Compatible with:<\/p>\n

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          All reef-safe fish (clownfish, tangs, gobies, wrasses, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Reef-safe invertebrates (snails, hermits, shrimp, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Other SPS corals with adequate spacing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Corals with long, aggressive sweeper tentacles (e.g. Galaxea, Euphyllia)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Butterflyfish and large angelfish that may nip at polyps<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

            Peaceful.<\/strong> Does not extend long sweeper tentacles but can engage in mild chemical warfare with nearby corals if placed too closely. Maintain several centimetres of spacing.<\/p>\n

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

            Intermediate.<\/strong> Pocillopora<\/em> is more forgiving than many SPS corals, tolerating moderate fluctuations if general water quality is stable. It\u2019s an ideal coral for aquarists ready to transition into SPS care.<\/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

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

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              Hardness (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201312<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Calcium:<\/strong> 400\u2013450 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

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

            • \n

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

            • \n

              Nitrate:<\/strong> <10 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 75 gallons (280L)<\/strong> for stable water chemistry and flow<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Regular testing and dosing of calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium are crucial for steady skeletal growth and polyp health.<\/p>\n

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

              Fully reef safe.<\/strong> The Cauliflower Coral adds texture, colour, and structure to reef aquariums. Its dense, branching colonies provide habitat for small reef fish and invertebrates, and its resilience makes it a cornerstone species for SPS or mixed reef environments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Cauliflower Hard Coral (Pocillopora sp.) (Also known as Cauliflower Coral, Brush Coral, or Cluster Coral) Overview The Cauliflower Coral (Pocillopora sp.) is a beautiful and hardy small-polyp stony (SPS) coral recognised for its dense, compact growth and bushy, cauliflower-like branches. Its surfaces are covered with small, evenly spaced corallites that give it a textured, velvety […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3151,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3152","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\/3152","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\/3151"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=3152"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=3152"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=3152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}