Pipe organ Coral

From TRT Marine Species Wiki

Tubipora

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Coelentrata
Class	Anthozoa/ Alcyonaria
Common names	pipe organ coral, organpipe coral
Lighting	moderate
Temperament	76-80
Care Level	hard

The polyps of these corals retract into red, pipe-like structures held together with calciferous (calcium carbonate containing) horizontal plates. This often leads new aquarists to mistake them for stony corals when they are actually classified as soft corals.

Appearance

Usually an eight "leaf like" pieces to it. these can be almost any color and many look like several differnt corals. they can look loke Clavularia,Briareum and Pachyclavularia. One form lacks the pinnules and looks like stony coral Alveopora, the differnce is the Alveopora has 12 and the Tubipora has 8

Care

These corals can be difficult to keep because they are difficult to feed. They tend to fair better in established aquariums with well populated sand beds. The manner of collection may be a factor in the difficulty of maintaining these corals in aquariums. A coral that is well established on a rock base will usually fare well while a coral that has been collected by being sliced from the top of a colony in the wild will not. The coral's feathery polyp tentacles help it catch food suspended in water. They appreciate food of smaller particle size, but shouldn't be target. Oyster eggs and other such small particle foods are recommended. Though adaptable, these corals prefer more intense lighting. Ideal lighting will depend on the depth and clarity of the water at which the coral was collected or cultured. As always, please acclimate to new lighting conditions. Moderate to strong water flow is important for effective feeding and to prevent sediment damage. Pipe organ corals are not aggressive. Provide enough space for the coral polyps to extend without inhibition. Polyps can reach up to a foot in height when fully grown and fully extended.

Distribution and habitats

Indo-Pacific, Res sea, East africa, Japan to the Marshall Islands.

References

http://www.asira.org http://www.thereeftank.com

Corals aquick reference guide, J.Sprung 1999

External links

• [1]
• [2]

Additional photographs

	by ladyreefneck	by ladyreefneck	by carym
by carym