Green Encrusting Montipora Coral
(Montipora nodosa)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: All
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Purple
Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace Elements
Origin: Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga
Family: Acroporidae
Polyp Size: SPS - Small Polyp Stony

The Green Montipora Encrusting Coral is a small polyp stony (SPS) coral often referred to as Cabbage, Lettuce, Velvet, or Velvet Rock Coral. The Montipora Corals come in a vast variety of forms and colors. This variety is encrusting, and is green in color. The polyps of these corals are very small, giving it a velvety appearance.

The Green Montipora Encrusting Coral is peaceful and can be placed in close proximity to other similar peaceful corals in the reef aquarium. It is relatively easy to maintain, but should be housed in a mature reef aquarium. It will require medium lighting combined with a medium water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

It will also benefit from additional food fed weekly in the form of micro-plankton or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

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Merulina Coral
(Merulina ampliata)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: High
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Middle to Top
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Blue, Green, Purple, Red
Supplements: Calcium, Trace Elements
Origin: Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Red Sea
Family: Merulinidae
Polyp Size: SPS - Small Polyp Stony

The Merulina Coral is a small polyp stony (SPS) coral also known as Lettuce, Cabbage, Ridge, or Ruffled Coral. Most aquarists will receive the species M. ampliata that commonly lives in lagoons and other sheltered areas of the reef. Merulina Coral colonies begin life as an encrusting coral. With time, growth, and prevailing conditions, they start to develop the more spectacular structures that have made them famous with reef aquarists everywhere. It is normal to see the intricate skeleton frame through its skin. Fan-like plates are usually the first to form. More plates then form in the center of the fan, creating a ruffled appearance that truly resembles a head of cabbage or lettuce.

The Merulina Coral will need a high light level and placement at mid-level or higher in the aquarium with a medium water movement. While it rarely exposes its polyps, they may occasionally be seen at night. The sweeper tentacles that are used to gather food will reach about three inches in length. It is, therefore, a good idea to keep other corals outside of this range. For continued good health, it will require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

It will benefit from additional food in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp twice a week.

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Spiny Cup Pectinia Coral
(Pectinia sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: All
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Blue, Green, Tan
Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace Elements
Origin: Indo-Pacific, South Pacific
Family: Pectiniidae
Polyp Size: SPS - Small Polyp Stony

The Pectinia Spiny Cup Coral is a SPS coral, also referred to as a Lettuce, Hibiscus, Palm, or Cabbage Coral. They form cabbage-like colonies with ruffled branches that terminate in very sharp points. The coloration within these corals vary, and typically darken towards the center of the colony. They add a unique form and presence to a reef aquarium.

Its behavior is peaceful and can be placed in close proximity to other peaceful-natured corals. The Pectinia Lettuce Coral is not a coral for the novice reef keeper as it is moderately difficult to maintain. Its home will require medium lighting combined with a medium water movement. 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 in the form of micro-plankton or other foods designed for plankton feeding animals, and should be fed when its tiny tentacles are visible during the evening.

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Lace Stick Coral, Purple
(Distichopora sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Difficult
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Low
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Placement: Middle
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Purple
Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Fiji
Family: Stylasteridae

The Distichopora Purple Stick Coral is often mistaken for a small polyp stony coral (SPS) because of its hard purple exoskeleton, when in fact, it is classified as a Hydrocoral. Unlike Fire Corals, which are also Hydrocorals, most species will not sting other corals in the reef aquarium. It is commonly referred to as Lace, Ember, or simply Stylaster Coral. Its body is made up of calcium carbonate, and its beautiful, lacy, fan-shaped branches with blunt tips are very fragile. Its tiny, clear polyps will extend from the grooves along its fan-like branches.

The Distichopora Purple Stick Coral is peaceful towards other corals in the reef aquarium. It should only be added to well-established tanks. Provide low lighting and a medium to strong water current in the aquarium, along with the addition of calcium, iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water. Placement under overhangs will provide a good environment.

It does not contain the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae, and is dependent on regular feedings of supplemental foods such as micro-plankton.

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Green Eyed Cup Coral
(Mycedium sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Black, Green, Purple, Red, Tan
Supplements: Calcium, Trace Elements
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea
Family: Pectiniidae
Polyp Size: SPS - Small Polyp Stony

The Mycedium Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral, and is often referred to as the Green Eyed Cup, Plate, or Peacock Coral. The most commonly imported species is Mycedium elephantotus, dubbed “Elephant Nose,” from the Fiji Islands. A blue to green base color with bright green polyps is the standard color variety available. Occasionally, other color morphs are available including grays, browns, purples, and pinks. They are a relatively hardy coral that offer a variety of shape and color, and are a wonderful addition to a reef aquarium.

The diameter of each individual polyp can range from less than 1/8th of an inch in newly-formed colonies, up to a 1/2 inch in mature colonies that have reached sizes exceeding 6 feet. The polyp’s round shape is surrounded by a raised skeleton wall giving the polyps their bump-like appearance. The morphology of Mycedium as a colony adapts quickly to any niche in which it finds itself. Its peaceful nature, combined with adaptability, allows it to grow into a number of different shapes. One of the more common forms is a flat fan shape. The sweeper tentacles and polyps are normally only extended at night.

A medium to strong water flow across the surface of the coral is recommended in order to carry food to the polyps. In the home aquarium, the Green Eyed Cup Coral will do best if attached to live rock at a midpoint in the aquarium. As with all hard corals, calcium and other trace element supplements added to the water are required for optimal aquarium conditions.

Supplemental target feeding of brine shrimp once a week will also foster increased growth.

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