Yellow Tree Coral
(Nephthea sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Placement: All
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Purple, Tan, Yellow
Supplements: Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Nephtheidae

The Tree Coral is also referred to as the Stereonepthya Tree Coral, Cauliflower, Broccoli, or Branch Coral. The scientific name, Litophyton arboreum may also be given to this coral. It can be very difficult to identify exact species because there is so much variation even within each species.

It is a semi-aggressive coral and needs ample space between itself and others in the reef aquarium. Some can produce toxins which are harmful to other reef inhabitants. It is moderately difficult to maintain in the reef aquarium, and will require medium to high lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provide some of the nutritional needs via the light driven process of photosynthesis. It will also require feedings of food such as micro-plankton, baby brine shrimp, or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates. These should be regularly blown across the polyps.

The Stereonepthya Tree Coral is normally shipped attached to a small piece of live rock or rubble.

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Green Carnation Tree Coral
(Neospongodes sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Green, Tan, Yellow
Supplements: Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Fiji
Family: Nephtheidae

The Green Carnation Tree Coral originates from the reefs of Fiji, and under the right conditions, can attain a very bright yellow coloration. It is within the Neospongodes genus, and identifying the exact species is very difficult due to the similarities within this genus. This species of tree coral will develop many branches as it grows giving it a beautiful bushy appearance in the reef aquarium.

The Green Carnation Tree Coral does best in an aquarium with moderate to bright lighting with moderate water movement. The coloration of this species is highly dependant upon lighting. The more intense the light, the more intense the yellow coloration will become. Take plenty of time to acclimate this coral to intense lighting. When the coral arrives, it will be tan to light yellow in color. Place the coral in the bottom of the aquarium and only move the coral towards the light after it shows full expansion. This process should take approximately two to three weeks in an aquarium with metal halide lighting. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provides most of the nutritional needs via the light driven process of photosynthesis. It will also benefit from regular feedings of food such as phytoplankton, baby brine shrimp, or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

The Green Carnation Tree Coral is normally shipped attached to a small piece of live rock or rubble.

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Mushroom Finger Leather Coral
(Sinularia sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: High
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Green, Tan
Supplements: Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Fiji
Family: Alcyoniidae

The Mushroom Finger Leather Coral is referred to as Sinularia Coral, Finger Leather, or Trough Corals. They are found in various shades of green and brown, with white or gold polyps. Sinularia Leather Corals from Fiji are easy to maintain in the reef aquarium and make an excellent coral for the beginning through expert reef aquarist.

Mushroom Finger Leather Corals are relatively peaceful, but adequate space should be provided between them and other corals in the reef aquarium. Some can produce toxins which are harmful to other reef inhabitants.

Mushroom Finger Leather Corals require high lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provides the majority of its nutritional needs from the light driven process of photosynthesis. It will also benefit from additional food such as microplankton, baby brine shrimp, or food designed for filter feeding invertebrates. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

Culturing by the experienced hobbyist is often accomplished by cutting off a portion of the Coral’s branches and attaching that piece to live rock or placing it in the sandy bottom of the reef aquarium.

It is normally shipped attached to a small piece of live rock or rubble.

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Green Finger Leather Coral
(Sinularia sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: High
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Green
Supplements: Strontium, Iodine, Trace Elements
Origin: Fiji
Family: Alcyoniidae

The Green Finger Leather Coral is also referred to as Sinularia Coral, Finger Leather, or Trough Corals. They are found in various shades of brown and green, with white or gold polyps. It is difficult to identify many species because they all have the similar appearance of long tentacle-like appendages, each with a distinct stalk and capitulum (cap). As they grow, their finger-like appendages get larger.

The Green Finger Leather Corals are relatively peaceful, but adequate space should be provided between them and other corals in the reef aquarium. Some can produce toxins which are harmful to other reef inhabitants. The more plain Sinularia Leather Corals from Indonesia and Fiji are easy to maintain in the reef aquarium and make an excellent coral for the beginning through expert reef aquarist. Finger Leather Corals require medium to high lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

Culturing by the experienced hobbyist is often accomplished by cutting off a portion of the Coral’s branches and attaching that piece to live rock or placing it in the sandy bottom of the reef aquarium.

The symbiotic algae zooxanthellae hosted within its body provide the majority of its nutritional needs from the light driven process of photosynthesis. It will also benefit from additional food such as micro-plankton, baby brine shrimp, or foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

It is normally shipped attached to a small piece of live rock or rubble.

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Blood Red Carnation Tree Coral
(Stereonephthya sp.)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Expert Only
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Low
Waterflow: Medium to Strong
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Color Form: Assorted
Supplements: Calcium, Strontium, Trace Elements
Origin: Tonga
Family: Nephtheidae

The Carnation Tree Coral or Stereonepthya Carnation is one of the most beautiful and peaceful corals, and is also known as the Cauliflower Soft Coral, or Strawberry Soft Coral. There are over 250 different identified Stereonepthya species. It is found in a variety of flamboyant colors with red or orange being the most common. It is normally shipped while attached to a small piece of live rock or coral rubble.

It is extremely difficult to maintain in the reef aquarium, and should be housed in an established reef aquarium, by the more advanced marine aquarist. It requires low lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. It is necessary to have a constant current with an abundance of algal plankton. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of strontium, iodine, and other trace elements to the water.

It does not contain the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae. Therefore, its diet should include live, baby brine shrimp, micro-plankton, and other small foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates, in order to survive in the reef aquarium. These foods must be available almost constantly. Again, only expert aquarists should attempt to keep this coral.

It is normally shipped while attached to a small piece of live rock or coral rubble.

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