Coral Care

🌊 Lighting Needs

Corals need specific light intensity and spectrum based on species.

🟢 Soft Corals (e.g., Mushrooms, Xenia) – Moderate to low light

🟠 LPS Corals (e.g., Frogspawn, Hammer) – Moderate light

🔴 SPS Corals (e.g., Acropora, Montipora) – High-intensity light

💡 Pro Tip: Use full-spectrum reef lighting with proper PAR values (typically 100–300 depending on species).

🌊 Water Parameters

Stability is more important than perfection.

Ideal ranges:

Temperature: 76–78°F, Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG, Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH

Calcium: 400–450 ppm, Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm

Nitrate: < 10 ppm (Soft/LPS); near 0 for SPS, Phosphate: < 0.03 ppm

💡 Pro Tip: Test water weekly. Small, frequent water changes are better than infrequent large ones.

🌊 Coral Feeding

While many corals are photosynthetic, target feeding boosts growth and color.

Feed 2–3 times per week with coral foods like: Reef roids, Phytoplankton, Mysis shrimp (for larger polyp corals)

Turn off pumps during feeding to allow corals to capture food more efficiently.

🌊 Flow & Placement

Corals thrive in moderate to strong water movement—but avoid direct blasts.

🟢 Soft corals: Low to moderate flow

🟠 LPS corals: Gentle, indirect flow

🔴 SPS corals: Strong, turbulent flow

💡 Pro Tip: Use wave makers and flow controllers to simulate natural reef environments.

🌊 Pests & Coral Health

Early detection = easy prevention.

Watch for: Tissue recession, Algae overgrowth, Brown jelly disease (LPS), Flatworms, nudibranchs, and Aiptasia

💡 Pro Tip: Dip new corals in reef-safe coral dip before introducing them to your tank.

🌊 Acclimation & Dipping

Always acclimate and dip new corals to avoid shock and hitchhikers.

Acclimate corals to lighting and water parameters slowly over 30–60 minutes.

Use coral dip solutions like Revive, Coral RX, or iodine dips for 5–10 minutes before placing in the tank.

🌊 Stability is Key

Corals don’t like change—automate wherever you can.

Consider auto top-off (ATO) systems, dosing pumps for calcium/alkalinity, and stable temperature controllers.

Avoid sudden lighting or parameter changes. Make any adjustments gradually.

🌊 Recommended Equipment

• Reef LED lighting system (AI Prime, Kessil, Radion)
• Wave maker or powerhead
• High-quality salt mix
• Refractometer or salinity meter
• Coral dip & frag tools
• Test kits for Alk, Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4

🧠 Final Thought

Corals are living art—but they rely on you to thrive. By mastering the fundamentals and staying consistent, you’ll be rewarded with vibrant, growing reefs that bring your tank to life.

If you ever have questions or want a personalized coral plan, stop by The Fish Kingdom or message our reef team. We’re always here to help your reef tank succeed.