Pastel Alveopora
Alveopora Coral Care
Alveopora is a delicate type of LPS similar to Goniopora but with 12 tentacles instead of 24. Many aquarists find Alveopora easier to care for than Goniopora. Please see below for additional care tips for Alveopora as well as checking out our Top 5 Tips for setting up a reef.
Location
Islands of the Indo-Pacific including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. 
Lighting
In terms of lighting these corals, we have had success keeping Alveopora under a wide range of intensities. They will likely adjust to whatever lighting level you currently have in your home aquarium however we recommend that if you have particularly bright lights, give them time in moderate lighting to adjust.
Low Light
Low light translates to about 30-50 PAR
Medium Light
Medium Light is between 50-150 PAR
High Light
High Light is anything over 150 PAR
Lighting is a loaded topic, so for a more in-depth discussion of lighting, please see our Deep Dive article.
Water Flow
Moderate to strong water movement is recommended. Alveopora, like Gonipora, are sensitive to contact, but strong flow does not appear to bother them.
Feeding
Alveopora relies heavily on the products of their zooxanthellae. This coral may benefit from the addition of phytoplankton as a food source. While the coral itself may consume some phytoplankton, the real benefit is the increased population of rotifers that feed on the phytoplankton. Rotifers make a good meal to a vast array of corals. In the past, phytoplankton based foods were not commonly available but now they are easier to acquire.
If phytoplankton is not readily available, you may attempt to feed the coral finely ground meaty foods. The food should almost have a paste-like consistency before being administered.
Propagation
In terms of propagation, this genus has been successfully fragmented.
Acclimation
Proper acclimation is extremely important considering the stress imposed on the animals by the shipping process. Please take a moment to review our Acclimation Guide.
Photography
The images were taken with a Canon 5D mk II and 100mm macro lens under T5 Fluorescent lighting. Quite a lot goes into how we go about shooting the corals and anemones you see on Tidal Gardens. For an in-depth look at our methods, check out our comprehensive Reef Aquarium Photography FAQ.