coral Directory
Acanthastrea
Acanthastrea are LPS (Large Polyp Stony) corals. The most common coral in the Acantastrea family is the Acanthastrea lordhowensis coral. The “Acan Lord” coral is extremely popular in the aquarium trade due to its strikingly gorgeous coloration and fascinating feeding responses.
- Lighting: Moderate Light (50-150 PAR)
- Flow: Low to Moderate flow, most Acanthastrea species are placed toward or on the bottom of the tank.
- Feeding: Acanthastrea species enjoy a mix of meaty foods such as brine shrimp as well as a directing feeding of PolypLab Reef Roids once or twice a week.
- Location: Acanthastrea are found all over the Indo-Pacific region including islands such as Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
Euphyllia, Catalaphyllia, Plerogyra, Physogyra
This coral family is widely known in the aquarium trade. With exquisite color variations and extremely unique growth patterns, this coral species will add depth and movement to any size aquarium.
Commonly know as Hammer Coral, Frogspawn, Torch Coral, and Octospawn.
- Lighting: Moderate Light (50-150 PAR)
- Flow: Moderate to High, Euphyllia corals benefit from a strong flow while also being aesthetically pleasing with the way they sway in the aquarium.
- Feeding: Euphyllia rely largely on the products of their zooxanthellae but will also benefit from a direct feeding of powdered corals foods.
- Location: Euphyllia corals are commonly harvested from the waters of the Pacific including the islands of the Indo-Pacific such as Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef.
Scolymia
Scolymia Australis stands out due to its unusual appearance and structure, and distinguishing pigments. These corals are amongst the brightest in color patterns and variations.
- Lightning: Low to Moderate (50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Low, Scolymia do not require an intense amount of flow and are normally placed towards the bottom of the tank, be aware to not let sand and other debris enter the corals mouth.
- Feeding: Scolymia benefit from pellet/powdered food feedings once to twice a week.
- Location: Scolymia corals are most commonly found in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Cyphastrea
Cyphastrea play a big role in reef building in the ocean. In the aquarium trade you will most likely find encrusting species of Cyphastrea but there are also branching and plating species. Cyphastrea are one of the easier corals species in the SPS family which make them a great coral for any hobbyist wanting to get into SPS corals. Cyphastrea will make a great addition to any aquarium with their vibrant pop of colors.
- Lighting: Low to Moderate (30-100 PAR) Cyphastrea do well under lower light conditions. It is recommended to keep them in lower PAR level areas, if you're wanting to move them into a higher PAR area, it is recommended to do so very slowly so they may acclimate to higher lighting.
- Flow: Moderate, indirect flow.
- Feeding: Cyphastrea may benefit mostly from small zooplankton feedings and amino acid dosing.
- Location: While Cyphastrea is easily aquacultured, wild colonies are collected from Australia and Indonesia.
Other Large Polyp Stony Corals
LPS Corals (Large Polyp Stony Corals) encompass a large variety of different species of Corals. All having different coral growth patterns. LPS corals tend to be robust corals and make an excellent addition for any aquarium hobbyist.
Acropora
Acropora is a genus of small polyp stony coral in the phylum Cnidaria. Acropora species are some of the major reef corals responsible for building the immense calcium carbonate substructure that supports the thin living skin of a reef. Most of the hard corals live in the endosymbiosis with single-celled algae “Zooxanthellae”. These Zooxanthellae is what provides the colorless exoskeleton its extremely striking colorations and variations.
- Lighting: High (300-500 PAR)
- Flow: High, Acropora benefits highly from a strong flow inside the aquarium.
- Feeding: While Acropora are photosynthetic they also benefit from regular feedings of amino acids and small zooplankton.
- Location: Different species of Acropora can be found all over the world including the islands of the Indo-Pacific including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Montipora
Montipora is a genus of Scleractinian corals in the phylum Cnidaria. Members of the genus Montipora may exhibit many different growth morphologies, often growing in both horizontal and vertical direction.
- Lighting: High (250-450 PAR) Montipora are one ot the most light demanding coral species.
- Flow: High, Montipora benefits from strong flow although there is such a thing as too much flow as in not being in direct strong currents.
- Feeding: Just like Acropora, Montipora will mainly feed off of strong lighting but will also appreciate feedings of amino acids and small zooplankton.
- Location: Most species of Montipora in the hobby today are collected from Indonesia and Australia.
Other Small Polyp Stony Coral
In general, the colorful Small Polyped Stony corals have small polyps on a calcareous skeleton. In many instances they are either branching or plated. SPS corals are considered more difficult to keep than the LPS or soft corals and are not recommended for beginner aquariust.
Zoanthus, Palythoa
Zoanthus are the ideal starter corals due to their low requirements, and their amazing colorations. Zoanthids are every easy to grow into larger spectacular colonies.
- Lighting: Low (30-50 PAR)
- Flow: Low, Zoanthids/Palythoa do not require much flow and do well in indirect flow patterns.
- Feeding: Zoanthus/Palythoa benefit from feedings of powdered coral food and small shrimp.
- Location: Zoanthus/Polythoa are commonly found in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Mushroom Coral
Mushroom Corals come in a large variety of color variations and shapes. In the recent years this coral has exploded in popularity. The Mushroom coral is extremely easy to grow successfully and requires relatively low maintenance.
- Lighting: Low(30-50 PAR) Although higher lighting may lead to better coloration.
- Flow: Low, too much flow may lead to mushroom corals detaching from the substrate or rock they are attached to causing them to float around the aquarium.
- Feeding: Mushroom corals will eat just about anything such as small shrimp and zooplankton. Mushroom corals also benefit from dosing amino acids into the aquarium.
- Location: Most mushrooms such as Discosoma Mushrooms come from the Indo-Pacific region.
Soft Coral
Soft corals are exactly as the name describes, they are soft and lack a calcium carbonate exoskeleton. These corals are relatively easy to grow in a large variety of different aquarium systems. This coral makes an excellent candidate to add to an aquarium system if you would like to become familiar with corals or just want to add an easy-care coral to your preexisting reef aquarium. Soft corals come in unique colors which can make them very desirable.
Chalice Coral
The phrase Chalice Coral represents a variety of corals including the Echinophyllia, Echinopora, Echinomorpha, Oxypora, Mycedium, Pectinia, Lithophyllon and Physophyllia genus. Chalice Corals are relatively easy to care for and are great for all levels of aquarist.
- Lighting: Low(50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Moderate, indirect moderate flow is best for chalice corals as direct flow can damage the tissue of Chalice corals.
- Feeding: Chalice corals have an abundance of mouths throughout the entire coral and capture food in the water column. Chalice corals also benefit from occasional direct feedings using powdered coral food.
- Location: Most Chalice corals are collected in the Indo-Pacific region.
Acanthophyllia
Often referred to as a "doughnut" or "meat" coral, Acanthophyllia corals are a single large polyp coral. Acanthophyllia come in an array of stunning colors often times with large striations of contrasting colors. These corals are a true centerpiece for any aquarium as they are often very vibrant and large in size.
- Lighting: Low (50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Low, as Acanthophyllia are large fleshy corals they tend to prefer a lower amount of flow and are almost always placed on the sandbed as a "showpiece" in an aquarium.
- Feeding: Acanthophyllia are one of the least picky eaters in the aqauarium hobby, they will eat an array of food such as mysis shrimp, whole krill and have been even known to eat whole silversides when the coral itself is on the larger side. These corals also benefit from amino acids.
- Location: Acanthophyllia are found throughout Australia and Indonesia.
Duncan Coral
Duncan corals are a beloved coral in the aquarium trade as they are easy to care for and peaceful as well as giving the aquarium some movement with thyre whisker-like tentacles. Duncan corals grow in a dense tubular like structure.
- Lighting: Moderate (100-150 PAR)
- Flow: Moderate, Duncan corals do best with indirect moderate flow. Too much flow can cause an inability to capture food.
- Feeding: Duncan corals will catch floating food out of the water column but benefit from direct feeding of small shrimp and powdered coral food or pellets.
- Location: Duncan corals are commonly collected in the Indo-Pacific region.
Fungia Coral
Fungia corals are a flat, solitary coral generally found with a single mouth. Normally found in a round shape but some are elongated such as the "Tongue Coral". Also known as plate corals which is a group of corals reffered to a group of species from the Fungiidae family. The most common varieties seen in the aquarium hobby are Fungia, Heliofungia, Diaseris, Cycloseris, and Lithophyllon.
- Lighting: Low to Moderate (30-100 PAR) Fungia Corals are almost always placed on the sandbed of the aquarium but do well in a wide range of lighting intensities.
- Flow: Low to Moderate, Fungia prefers to not be in a high direct flow as too much flow can damage Fungia as they are a fleshy coral.
- Feeding: While Fungia Corals are photosynthetic they benefit from direct feeding from pellets or meaty foods such as shrimp.
- Location: Plate Corals are found throughout the Pacific.
Pectinia Coral
Commonly referred to as spiny cup corals, Pectina have a plate-like structure but shoot up spikes, Pectinia have one of the most interesting growth patterns in the aquarium hobby.
- Lighting: Moderate (50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Low to Moderate, Pectinia do not need an excessive amount of flow as too much flow may cause the flesh to be pushed against the skeleton. Pectinia need just enough flow to keep detritus to keep from building up on them.
- Feeding: Pectinia are photosynthetic but are very active eaters and will benefit from feedings of pellets and frozen foods such as shrimp and krill.
- Location: Indo-Pacific.
Lobophyllia
Lobophyllia comes in many different colors and textures and make a great centerpiece for any hobbyist.
- Lighting: Low to Moderate (50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Low to Moderate, it is recommended to have just enough flow to keep detritus and waste away from their mouths.
- Feeding: Lobophyllia benefit from a direct feeding of pelet and powdered foods.
- Location: Most Lobophyllia originate from the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
Goniopora Coral
Goniopora has quickly became a very desirable coral in the aquarium industry, mostly due to its long tentacles and bright coloration. Often found in lagoons and turbid water conditions. Goniopora have numerous daisy-like polyps that extend outward from the base
- Lighting: Moderate (50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Low to Moderate, preferably with the flow having some random pulses within it.
- Feeding: Goniopora benefit from amino acid dosing as well as powdered coral food.
- Location: Australia and Indonesia.
Wellsophyllia/Trachiphyllia
Trachyphyllia are a large polyp stony coral that is commonly referred to as an Open Brain Coral. They are a free living coral meaning that colonies with the ability to inflate their tissues and move around with the help of the water current. Commonly referred to as Open Brain Corals, Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia are desired by hobbyist due to their normally large structure and vibrant colors.
- Lighting: Low to Moderatev(50-100 PAR)
- Flow: Low to Moderate, make sure there is enough flow to keep the coral free of detritus.
- Feeding: Wellsophyllia/Trachyphyllia are aggressive feeders and will eat just about anything including shrimp, krill, pellets and powdered foods.
- Location: Generally collected in the Indo-PAcific region.
Favia
Favia have an encrusting base but normally grow into a dome-like shape. Favias are a great coral for a beginner and experts alike as they are relatively easy to care for and come in a plethora of colors.
- Lighting: Moderate to High (100-200 PAR)
- Flow: Moderate.
- Feeding: Favia benefit from frozen shrimp as well as powdered coral food as they use their feeding tentacles to capture food in the water column.
- Location: Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic.