An octocoral that builds a skeleton of bright red, parallel calcium carbonate tubes joined by horizontal platforms, like organ pipes. Feathery polyps, usually green, grey or purple, extend from each tube. Placement: anywhere on the rockwork out of direct current; the skeleton is brittle. Light and flow: moderate to high light and medium, intermittent flow that keeps detritus and algae off the tubes. Water: needs an established reef with stable, clean water and low nitrate and phosphate. Because it builds a calcium carbonate skeleton, keep calcium and alkalinity steady. Growth: slow and compact; it does not spread aggressively. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/pipe-organ-coral-4-5-wysiwyg-copy). Checked October 2026.
Diet
Mostly photosynthetic (zooxanthellae). LiveAquaria recommends weekly micro-plankton or filter-feeder foods, especially in tanks with few fish.
Breeding
Slow. A section of skeleton with living polyps can be snapped off with bone cutters and glued to a plug, but frags are slow to establish.
Compatibility and tank mates
Peaceful, with no sweeper tentacles; it can sit near other peaceful corals. Algae growing on the bare skeleton is the main threat.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
About Aquatic-Auctions
Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.