Tubipora colonies are massive, formed of generally upright parallel tubes connected on horizontal platforms. These tubes are actually sclerites. The sclerites are fused to form the skeleton rather than being a hard calcareous skeleton like that found on stony corals. Not only does the colony grow on multi-level horizontal platforms that form a "step like" growth pattern, the many thin, small, fragile tubes look like little pipes, thus its common names Organ Pipe Coral or Pipe Organ Coral. T. musica can grow over 12" high (30 cm) and over 24" (60 cm) across.

 It has a striking handsome appearance. It has a beautiful bright or dark red colored skeleton. Its polyps are housed inside the many tubes, but the beautiful red skeleton is usually hidden when its polyps are extended. Yet the polyps themselves provide a striking contrast to the tubes with numerous color variations of white, silver, cream and green found on different specimens..