Reef Video » LPS Corals

Rare Australian Orange Hammer Coral

admin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:29:05 +0000

Everyone is familiar with the green varieties of hammer corals. Many are not aware that these beautiful LPS corals come in pink and orange as well. This video is of an orange hammer coral from Australia.

Like most LPS corals orange hammer corals thrive in areas of the tank that get moderate light and moderate flow. It is also good to target feed them once every 1-2 weeks with something like mysis shrimp.

Hammer corals will sometimes be hosted by clownfish (if the clown feels inclined) and they are usually considered moderately easy corals to take care of. If you are a beginner it is probably best to try to get your hands on a green hammer coral as the orange hammers tend to run 4-5 times the price. If you can get your hands on a propagated hammer coral that is always ideal. Hammer corals can be fragged but it usually take a while for a colony to get large enough to frag without disrupting the soft flesh of the coral.

Type of Coral: Large Polyp Stony Coral
Level of Care: Moderate
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom
Family: Caryophylliidae

Brain Coral Feeding (Real Time)

admin — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:30:32 +0000

This is a real time video of a brain coral getting ready to feed. Brain corals are large polyps stony (LPS) corals and keep their feeding tentacles closed during the day. At sunset or when fed, they turn themselves “inside out” and display their tentacles.

The fascinating thing about these corals is how quickly they go from their day time state to their night time feeding state. Usually after the lights go out I notice that this LPS coral is in feeding mode. But I have never taken the time to site and watch the transformation take place.

Brain corals are fairly sturdy corals and can be kept by beginners. They come in a whole slew of colors and the recent demand for rare corals has beautiful brain corals popping up all over the internet for hundreds of dollars. Brain corals can be propogated, but they are one of the more complicated ones to frag. Only do this if you are sure of what you are doing.

Type of Coral: LPS Coral
Level of Care: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Medium
Waterflow: Low Medium
Placement: Sandbed
Family: Trachyphylliidae

Torch Coral Video

admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 16:21:16 +0000

The torch coral is an LPS coral that is found in many aquariums. It has a very fluid and relaxing movement. This along with its bright colors make it a wonderful addition to a reef tank.

It is relatively easy to take care of but like most corals blossom in an aquarium with good water parameters. Keeping proper calcium, magnesium and alkalinity levels will help these corals thrive. As with most LPS corals keeping the Euphillia Torch Coral in moderate light with moderate flow is ideal. It is also okay to feed these corals some meaty foods like mysis shrimp every 1-2 weeks.

It is important to provide plenty of space between torch corals and other corals as they have long sweeper tentacles that can sting other corals.

Type of Coral: Large Polyp Stony Coral
Level of Care: Moderate
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom
Family: Caryophylliidae