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Hard Coral

Hard Coral Care Sheet

hard coral care sheet

This care sheet covers a variety of coral species, including

  • Brain corals
  • Bubble corals
  • Frog spawn corals
  • Torch corals
  • Hammer coral
  • Flower pot coral
  • Scolymia coral
  • Branching coral
  • Plating coral
  • Encrusting coral

 

Overview

Scientific name: Favia sp., Plerogyra sp., Euphyllia sp., Goniopora sp,. Homophyllia sp., Acropora sp., Montipora sp., Stylophora sp., Seriatopora., Scamacora., Pavona sp., Pocillopora., Porites sp.

Corals are some of the oldest living species on the planet. Stony, or hard, corals are animals who have a hard calcium carbonate skeleton. They are a popular saltwater invertebrate for aquariums because of their beautiful colors and unique appearance. Corals are a popular and rewarding addition to any reef system, providing hours of peaceful enjoyment. The majority of corals offered in the hobby are aquacultured. Corals are not recommended for beginning marine aquarists.

 

Typical appearance and behavior

  • Small and large stony polyp (SPS and LPS) corals consist of a calcium skeleton with fleshy polyps and come in an array of colors
  • Environmental requirements, care and temperament vary by species. Some hard corals, such as Acropora, require intense lighting, stable water conditions and strong, intermittent water flow
  • Most LPS hard corals develop sweeper tentacles, containing stinging cells, or nematocysts, that they use for defense and capturing food

 

Characteristics

Care Difficulty Beginner to advanced, depending on species
Average Life Span Depends on species and care
Average Adult Size Depends on species and age
Diet Photosynthetic and/or filter feeders
Minimum Habitat Size 10+ gallons, depending on species
Water Temperature 74-80°F
Specific Gravity 1.023-1.025

 

Habitat

Habitat size

Keep in an appropriate size aquarium of 10 gallons or larger, depending on the species and the other aquatic life in the aquarium. A larger aquarium is always encouraged, as water conditions can change rapidly in smaller water volumes. 

 

Building your habitat

  • Water health - Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health. Slow to strong water circulation, based on the species, should be provided to mimic water currents found in the hard coral's natural habitat. Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing. The addition of a protein skimmer can aid with maintaining great water quality and high dissolved oxygen levels. An aquatic heater should be used to stabilize water temperature, ensuring it does not fluctuate more than +/-2 degrees in a 24-hour period. The specific gravity should remain stable. Do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than +/-0.001 in a 24-hour period
  • Lighting – Full-spectrum lighting, such as metal halide, LED or T5, is recommended
  • Décor - Provie a stable platform for sessile corals to attach to, such as live rock

 

Feeding

A well-balanced hard coral diet consists of:

  • Many corals contain photosynthetic algae, or zooxanthellae, in their bodies that help provide a large portion of their nutritional needs
  • Liquid or powdered coral diet can supplement dietary requirements
  • Mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill or microplankton can be fed to some species

 

Things to remember when feeding hard coral:

  • Feed tiny bits of brine shrimp, mysis shrimp or planktons once or twice a week
  • Corals naturally feed at night
  • Thaw frozen foods before feeding

 

Hard coral care

Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to help keep your hard coral healthy

  • Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment
  • Weekly: Test water quality at least once a week
  • Weekly to monthly: Change 10 to 25% of the total volume of water every two to four weeks, or as needed. Change filter media monthly

Supplements such as calcium and strontium should be added weekly after testing for these elements

Avoid overcrowded conditions, as this is a major cause of stress and disease

Use of copper-based medications is toxic to corals.

 

Where to buy hard corals

Various hard corals are available for purchase at your local Petco Pet Care Center location. If visiting your local location, please call ahead to check availability

 

Supplies

 

Habitat mates

Some hard corals can injure others and must be kept segregated

Some aquatic life may feed on coral polyps

 

Health

Signs of a healthy hard coral

  • Bright, even coloring
  • Extended polyps
  • Free of pests or disease
  • No tissue damage

 

Red flags (If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian.)

  • Loss of color
  • Tissue deterioration
  • Polyps retracted for extended periods of time

 

Common health issues

Health Issue Symptoms or Causes Suggested Action
Health IssueTissue or surface recession or erosion; polyp retraction for extended periods. Symptoms or CausesPoor water quality; pests; nutrient deficiency. Suggested ActionTest and address water parameter concerns immediately; look coral over for signs of pests and remove; maintain proper nutrition and lighting. Consult your local aquatic specialist or aquatic veterinarian for treatment.
Health IssueBleaching Symptoms or CausesPoor water quality; fluctuations in water parameters. Suggested ActionTest and address water parameter concern(s) immediately.

 

FAQs

  • Is coral hard to keep? Corals require very specific water quality, lighting and nutrition and their hardiness and care varies by species, however, some species are more suited for beginning aquarists.
  • Is it hard to grow coral? Coral growth varies by species as well as the nutrition, lighting and water quality provided.
  • What is the difference between hard and soft coral? Hard corals have a hard calcium carbonate skeleton whereas soft corals are fleshy with no hard skeletal structure. Soft corals tend to be hardier than hard corals and grow rapidly.
  • Is hard coral alive? Corals are live invertebrates made up of polyps that grow on a hard skeletal structure.
  • What does hard coral eat? Many corals contain photosynthetic algae, or zooxanthellae, in their bodies that help provide a large portion of their nutritional needs. Liquid or powdered coral diet can supplement dietary requirements and mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, krill or microplankton can be fed to some species.

 

 

Notes and resources

Ask a Pet Care Center associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases, such as atypical mycobacterium and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life and/or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of diseases.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing and/or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, please contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

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