Family
Common name: Blue Coral
Scientific name: Helioporidae
Helioporidae, commonly known as Blue Coral, is the sole family within the order Helioporacea. This family is unique due to its blue skeleton, which is made of aragonite, a form of calcium carbonate. Members of this family are hermatypic, or reef-building, corals and are found in the Indo-Pacific region. They are known for their branching growth forms and can contribute significantly to reef structures. Blue Coral is symbiotic with zooxanthellae, which are photosynthetic algae that provide the coral with nutrients. In the aquarium, they require stable water conditions and moderate to high lighting to thrive.