Caring for Your Corals
1. Coral Acclimation & Dipping Protocols
Proper acclimation and pest prevention are essential before adding new soft, LPS, or SPS corals to your system. Never add shipping water directly into your display tank.
Important: Always inspect new arrivals carefully under good lighting for hitchhikers such as flatworms, red bugs, or nudibranchs before dipping.
Step-by-Step Acclimation Protocol
- Temperature equalisation: Float the sealed coral bags in your aquarium or sump for 15–20 minutes to match temperatures.
- Unbagging: Carefully open the bag and transfer the coral and shipping water into a clean bucket or container.
- Pest dip treatment: Add a dedicated coral dip (e.g. Coral Rx, Two Little Fishies ReVive) according to the manufacturer’s dosage instructions. Gently circulate water around the coral for 5–10 minutes using a small powerhead or pipette.
- Rinse: Remove the coral from the dip solution and submerge it in a separate container of clean tank water to rinse off any residual dip.
- Placement: Place the coral on your frag rack, or low in the rockwork under reduced lighting, for the first 48 hours.
2. Target Water Chemistry Parameters
Maintaining stability in core water chemistry is far more critical than chasing exact numerical figures. Avoid rapid swings in alkalinity, salinity, or temperature.
| Parameter | Soft Corals & Zoanthids | LPS Corals | SPS Corals | Acceptable Tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinity | 1.025 SG (34 ppt) | 1.025–1.026 SG | 1.026 SG (35 ppt) | ± 0.001 SG |
| Temperature | 24°C – 26°C | 24°C – 26°C | 24.5°C – 25.5°C | ± 0.5°C daily limit |
| Alkalinity (dKH) | 7.5 – 9.0 dKH | 8.0 – 9.5 dKH | 8.0 – 8.5 dKH | ± 0.3 dKH / 24h max |
| Calcium | 380 – 420 ppm | 400 – 440 ppm | 420 – 450 ppm | ± 15 ppm |
| Magnesium | 1250 – 1350 ppm | 1300 – 1380 ppm | 1350 – 1450 ppm | ± 30 ppm |
| Nitrate (NO₃) | 5 – 15 ppm | 5 – 10 ppm | 2 – 5 ppm | Do not bottom out to 0 |
| Phosphate (PO₄) | 0.03 – 0.08 ppm | 0.03 – 0.05 ppm | 0.02 – 0.04 ppm | Do not bottom out to 0 |
3. Lighting & Water Flow Requirements
Matching coral placement with adequate photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and suitable indirect water movement is key to long-term health and polyp extension.
| Coral Category | PAR Range | Flow Type | Ideal Tank Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Corals / Mushrooms | 50 – 100 PAR | Low to moderate (indirect) | Substrate/bottom third |
| LPS (Euphyllia, Brains, Acans) | 75 – 150 PAR | Moderate, random/gentle sway | Bottom to mid-rockwork |
| SPS (Acropora, Montipora) | 200 – 400+ PAR | High, turbulent & random | Upper structure / direct light |
Flow tip: Avoid aiming powerheads directly at LPS coral polyps or fleshy tissues, as strong flow can tear delicate flesh against the hard skeleton.
4. Coral Feeding & Nutrition
While photosynthetic zooxanthellae provide up to 90% of a coral’s energy needs, target feeding with organic foods and amino acids significantly accelerates growth and colour saturation.
- Micro-plankton & phytoplankton: Best for soft corals, gorgonians, feather dusters, and small polyp stony corals.
- Target pellets & mysis shrimp: Ideal for large polyp stony corals (e.g. Scolymia, Acanthastrea, Duncan corals, Torch corals), fed 1–2 times weekly.
- Amino acid dosing: Best administered during night-time hours, when polyps extend their feeder tentacles.
5. Diagnostic Troubleshooting
Issue A: Coral Tissue Bleaching (Turning White)
- Possible cause: Excessive PAR (light shock) or a high temperature spike.
- Action plan: Lower the coral into a lower-PAR zone or reduce light intensity. Verify heater/chiller function with a calibrated thermometer.
Issue B: Tissue Necrosis / Receding (RTN / STN)
- Possible cause: Alkalinity instability, severe nutrient starvation (0 ppm nitrate/phosphate), or bacterial infection.
- Action plan: Check dKH stability over a 48-hour period. Ensure nitrates and phosphates are measurable. Frag off healthy tissue above the death line if necessary.
Issue C: Polyps Closed or Shrinking
- Possible cause: Irritation from hitchhikers/pests, excessive direct water flow, or a salinity swing.
- Action plan: Inspect closely for pests, both night and day. Adjust powerhead direction and verify salinity with a calibrated refractometer.
