Dendrophylliidae: Characteristics of the Family: Most species lack zooxanthellae. In fact this family contains the most common azooxanthellate species found on reefs. They're either solitary or colonial, with corallites are mad up of walls that are porous, mainly filled with coenosteum in life, fused with distinct (Pourtales plan) septa. 

      Of the genus with photosynthetic endosymbiotic algae, Turbinaria often finds its members employed in ornamental aquatics. As far as ahermatypic species of this family, only Tubastrea is regularly imported. 

Range: 

Dendrophylliids are found in tropical and nontropical regions of the worlds oceans, some of the ahermatypic, azooxanthellate ones to a depth of a 1,500 meters. The genera Turbinaria and Tubastrea are prominent shallow reef species in large parts of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Some Dendrophylliids are inconspicuous, but found in the tropical West Atlantic.  

Dendrophylliid Genera You're Not Likely To See: (There are others); Balanophyllia, Dendrophyllia, Not distinguishable from very similar Tubastrea without examination of dead skeletal (septal fusion) characteristics.  Eguchipsammia: Mud dwelling, azooxanthellate. Heteropsammia...

Genus Balanophyllia: Solitary polyps, calyces appear round in cross section.

Genus Dendrophyllia: Near impossible to distinguish from Tubastrea w/o microscopic analysis of corallite skeletons.

Genus Duncanopsamia: One species. 

Genus Tubastrea Lesson 1829: Azooxanthellate branching, tree-like corals found in many places in the tropical and Indo-Pacific. Due to feeding nature they require little light (non-photosynthetic), but the aquarist must take care to see that each polyp is individually fed as they are separate.  About their biggest downside is the mess keeping Tubastrea can entail. With heavy feedings of meaty foods comes concurrent high nutrient levels. Often found in the wild in caves, but also in direct sunlight. Most species are palm-sized, composed of tubular polyps, with T. micrantha being the large exception. Easily encouraged to produce new polyps by regular feedings, especially when these foodstuffs are pre-soaked in a vitamin preparation (like Selcon, Microvit...).

Selection:

    Do pay special attention during the initial inspection and quarantine phases of acclimating new specimens for the presence of predaceous pests. Small, cryptically colored Nudibranchs (e.g. the Aeolid, Phistella melanobrachia) and Wendletrap Snails are often accidentally imported with wild-collected specimens. 

Acclimation:

    For azooxanthellate species should include the application of juice and bits of meaty foods sprayed with a turkey baster in the colonies direction at night time (when their polyps are typically open), even if their tentacles aren't evident.

Placement:

    Both photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic species can/should be placed in areas of good lighting... the latter to assure adequate water flow. Further, to prevent covering by detritus Dendrophylliids should not be placed on the bottom but anchored up and on rocky points to facilitate water flow around their colonies. 

Reproduction/Captive Propagation:

    Tubastrea has been reproduced by asexual budding, breaking as well as (sexual) planula release. Turbinaria are easily propagated by the breaking off of pieces from a well-adjusted, healthy colony. This genus has also been observed to release planula larvae in captivity.   

Foods/Feeding/Nutrition:

      Tubastrea need daily feedings to all polyps to stay healthy... a regular regimen of turning off filter pumps during these times (on timers best... so you don't forget to turn them back on) for fifteen minutes or so (with other, recirculating pumps running) is optimal. Photosynthetic Turbinaria can get by on foods manufactured by their endosymbiotic algae, but are better fed (small zooplanktonic items or mashes of larger items) a few times a month. 

Disease

    Without regular food offerings, azooxanthellate species will not open... begin tissue recession, and eventually succumb to algal overgrowth. 

Cloze: 

    The lack of success with this family is principally due to two factors, for the azooxanthellate Tubastrea et al. genera, a lack of feeding (or provision for the consequences thereof), and for the photosynthetic Turbinaria, a general lack of "promotion"... they're easily kept, as long as maintained off the bottom and swept/blown clean of detritus and mucus. 

Coral Search

Borneman, Eric H. 2001. Aquarium Corals, Selection, Husbandry and Natural History. Microcosm/TFH Charlotte, VT. 464pp. 

Fossa, Svein A. & Alf Jacob Nilsen. 1998 (1st ed.). The Modern Coral Reef Aquarium, v.2 (Cnidarians). Bergit Schmettkamp Verlag, Bornheim, Germany. 479pp.

Hoover, John. 1998. Hawai'i's Sea Creatures. A Guide to Hawai'i's Marine Invertebrates. Mutual Publishing, Honolulu HI. 366pp. 

Humann, Paul. 1993. Reef Coral Identification; Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL.  239pp.

Veron, J.E.N. 1986. Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific. U. of HI press, Honolulu. 644 pp. 

Veron, J.E.N. 2000. Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science. Queensland, Australia. three volumes.