Ricordea yuma

Family: Ricordeidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Purple, Pink, Brown, Tan, Green
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Low
Light: Medium to High
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Placement: Medium
Care Level: Moderate

The Ricordea Mushroom Coral is a member of the order Corallimorpharia (Stephenson, 1937), and has short, club, or berry-shaped tentacles. It shares some similarities to stony corals, and is also termed a Disc Anemone. It is found in a variety of color forms, but green is the most common.

It may not be as hardy as some of the other mushroom corals. It requires a medium to high light level, but metal halide lighting may be too bright. It prefers a low water movement within the aquarium. It is considered semi-aggressive and requires adequate space between itself and other corals. It reproduces by longitudinal fission.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provide the majority of its nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. It also eats plankton and smaller invertebrates such as crustaceans.

aquariablog’s take: One of my absolute favorites. Can be expensive but are beautiful when they take over a rock and are easy to take care of “normally.”

Clavularia sp.

Family: Clavulariidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Brown, Tan, Pink, White, Green
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium to Strong
Light: Medium to High
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Placement: Medium to High
Care Level: Easy

Pachyclavularia sp.

Family: Clavulariidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: White, Brown, Green
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium to Strong
Light: Medium to High
Dominance: Peaceful
Placement: Medium to High
Care Level: Easy

The Star Polyp Corals are also referred to as Starburst, Eight Tentacle, Mat, or Daisy Polyps. They are usually white or brown with a white dot in the center of each polyp, although, some more rare Star Polyps are green. The green specimens have been called Clavularia viridis; however, they are now identified as a Pachyclavularia sp. They have the distinctive eight-leaved tentacles on each polyp. They are colonial animals with several individual polyps attached to a piece of live rock.

Accurately described as an encrusting coral, Star Polyp Corals rapidly grow over adjacent rock work, coral, or even the glass of an established reef aquarium. They are a peaceful coral armed with the defensive capability of being able to retract or deflate each of their polyps in response to predation. They will not harm other corals that are placed close to their colony, but are susceptible to being damaged by any aggressive corals in the reef aquarium. They are easy to maintain in the reef aquarium and make an excellent candidate for the beginning through expert reef aquarist. They require a medium to high light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

The experienced hobbyist cultures the colony by taking a cutting from their encrusting base. The cutting is then glued to a hard substrate such as a rock or dead coral head.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. They also benefit from weekly feedings of micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

Video: Green Star Polyps

aquariablog’s take: These corals are neat looking and easy to keep but GROW LIKE THE DICKENS and could take over their surrounding areas. I keep mine on a “rock island” out on the sand.

Palythoa sp.

Family: Zoanthidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Brown, Tan, Green
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium to Strong
Light: Medium
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Placement: Medium
Care Level: Easy

The Palythoa Button Polyp Corals, also referred to as Moon Polyps, Encrusting Anemones, or Sea Mats, are generally brown or tan in color, but may also be green and fluoresce under actinic lighting. They are a colonial animal with multiple individual polyps attached to a piece of live rock or coral rubble.

They are very easy to maintain in the reef aquarium. Their polyps have the ability to sting other animals and are semi-aggressive, therefore, they need to have space between their colony and any neighbors. They also grow rapidly and will crowd out their neighbors including any sessile life. They require a medium light level combined with a medium to strong water movement within the aquarium. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within their bodies provide the majority of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. They benefit from weekly feedings of micro-plankton or brine shrimp which should be fed to each individual of the colony.

aquariablog’s take: Also neat looking and easy to take care of. Handle with care as they also secrete a deadly slime coating.

Zoanthus sp.

Family: Zoanthidae
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Orange, Yellow, Pink, Lavender, Tan, White
Ideal Supplements: Iodine, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium
Light: High
Dominance: Semi-aggressive
Placement: Medium to High
Care Level: Easy

The Zoanthus Button Polyp Corals are also referred to as Moon Polyps, Encrusting Anemones, Sea Mats, or Button Polyps. Their most common color is green, but many are also found in other colors. They are colonial animals with multiple individual polyps attached to a piece of live rock.

These polyps have the ability to sting other polyps or corals. While the sting is not strong, they are semi-aggressive and need to have space between their colony and any neighbors since they tend to crowd them out. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony. They are easy to maintain, making them a good choice for beginner reef aquarists. They require a high light level combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine and other trace elements to the water.

They contain the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae which provide some of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis. Each individual polyp of the colony must also be given additional feedings of micro-plankton or baby brine shrimp.

aquariablog’s take: Love’em…have them everywhere. Easy to take care of. Handle with care as they give off a poisonous slime.

Galaxea sp.

Family: Oculinidae
Polyp Size: LPS – Large polyp stony
Range: South Pacific
Color Form: Gray, Green, Pink, Brown
Ideal Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium
Light: High
Dominance: Aggressive
Placement: All levels
Care Level: Moderate

Caulastrea furcata

Family: Faviidae
Polyp Size: LPS – Large polyp stony
Range: Indo-Pacific
Color Form: Blue/Green, Brown/Green, Yellow/Green
Ideal Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium
Light: Medium
Dominance: Peaceful
Placement: All levels
Care Level: Easy

Duncanopsammia axifuga

Family: Dendrophylliidae
Polyp Size: LPS – Large polyp stony
Range: Western and Northern Australia and the South China Sea
Color Form: Green, Purple
Ideal Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace Elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Water Flow: Low
Light: Low to Moderate
Dominance: Peaceful
Placement: Low
Care Level: Moderate

Previously uncommon to the United States, this beautiful coral specimen is now captive-grown in our Aquaculture Coral and Marine Life Facility. Colonies form via long, tubular corallites with stunning neon green oral discs. Boasts vibrant purple tentacles that retract when disturbed, but otherwise remain extended day and night. The brood stock for these frags were acquired from a few of the first imports of Australian corals shipped to the United Sates.

Native to the deeper waters of Western and Northern Australia and the South China Sea, this coral prefers to attach to solid objects in soft, sandy areas. Here, they readily propagate and often form a continuous mat of tentacles that conceal the overall shape of the underlying colony. In the home aquarium, place in low current areas with low to moderate light.

This coral is peaceful and does well with other non-aggressive corals and invertebrates, provided it has ample room to grow. Though they feed through photosynthesis via the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae that thrive on the colony, this coral also benefits from regular target feedings of meaty marine foods such as enriched mysis and brine shrimp.

It also benefits from the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water column.

Duncan @ Night

aquariablog’s take: One of my favorites. Beautiful & easy to take care of. Grows pretty fast too.

Euphyllia ancora

Family: Caryophylliidae
Polyp Size: LPS – Large polyp stony
Range: Indo-Pacifc
Color Form: Green, Tan, Brown
Ideal Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace elements
Reef Compatible: Yes
Tank Conditions: 72-78ºF; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4
Water Flow: Medium
Light: Medium
Dominance: Aggressive
Placement: Low
Care Level: Moderate

The Euphyllia Hammer Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral and often referred to as Ridge, Hammerhead, or Anchor Coral. Its common names are derived from the appearance of its hammer-, or anchor-shaped tentacles. Its polyps are visible throughout the day and night and hide its skeletal base. It may be green, tan, or brown in color, with lime green or yellow tips on the ends of its tentacles that glow under actinic lighting. Some varieties may be branched which makes them look similar to a Torch Coral (E. glabrescens).

It is moderately difficult to maintain, but with proper water conditions in the aquarium, it will thrive. It will require a medium light level combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. At night, its sweeper tentacles can extend up to six inches in the reef aquarium, stinging other species of corals and animals. Allow plenty of room between it and other neighboring corals. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

It will benefit from additional food fed weekly in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp.

Hammer @ Night – May 2009

aquariablog’s take: Another beauty. Like Frogspawn you should keep it away from your other corals.