Coral Care Guide - Essential Tips for Healthy Corals

Complete Coral Care Guide

Welcome to Empire Corals' comprehensive coral care guide! Whether you're new to reef keeping or looking to refine your skills, this guide covers the essential elements for maintaining healthy, thriving corals.

The Five Pillars of Coral Care

Successful coral keeping comes down to mastering five key elements: lighting, water flow, water quality, feeding, and placement. Let's dive into each one.

1. Lighting Requirements

Lighting is crucial for photosynthetic corals. Different coral types have different needs:

Light Intensity (PAR - Photosynthetically Active Radiation)

  • Low light (50-100 PAR): Mushrooms, some zoanthids, leather corals
  • Moderate light (100-200 PAR): Most LPS, zoanthids, soft corals, some Montipora
  • High light (200-400+ PAR): SPS corals, clams, most Acropora

Lighting Tips

  • Start new corals at lower intensity and gradually increase
  • Maintain consistent photoperiod (8-10 hours daily)
  • Use timers for consistency
  • Consider blue/white spectrum for coral coloration
  • Replace bulbs according to manufacturer recommendations

2. Water Flow

Proper water flow delivers nutrients, removes waste, and prevents detritus buildup.

Flow Requirements by Coral Type

  • Low flow: Mushrooms, some LPS (Acans, Favites), leather corals
  • Moderate flow: Most LPS (Hammers, Torches, Duncans), zoanthids
  • High flow: SPS corals, most Acropora, Montipora

Flow Best Practices

  • Use random, turbulent flow rather than direct laminar flow
  • Avoid blasting corals directly - aim for gentle, indirect movement
  • Ensure all areas of the tank receive some flow
  • Watch coral polyp extension - if polyps won't open, flow may be too strong
  • Use multiple powerheads for better coverage

3. Water Parameters

Stable water chemistry is critical for coral health. Test regularly and maintain consistency.

Essential Parameters

Parameter Ideal Range Notes
Temperature 76-78°F (24-26°C) Stability is more important than exact number
Salinity 1.025-1.026 (35 ppt) Use refractometer for accuracy
pH 8.1-8.4 Test at same time daily
Alkalinity 8-11 dKH Critical for coral growth
Calcium 400-450 ppm Consumed by coral skeletons
Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm Helps maintain calcium/alk balance
Nitrate 5-10 ppm Some nutrients beneficial; zero not ideal
Phosphate 0.03-0.1 ppm Ultra-low can stress corals

Testing Schedule

  • Daily: Temperature, salinity
  • Weekly: Alkalinity, calcium, nitrate, phosphate
  • Monthly: Magnesium, pH

Water Change Schedule

  • 10-20% weekly or 20-30% bi-weekly
  • Use quality salt mix matched to your system
  • Match temperature and salinity before adding

4. Feeding Your Corals

While many corals get energy from light, supplemental feeding promotes growth and coloration.

Feeding by Coral Type

Soft Corals & Zoanthids

  • Primarily photosynthetic
  • Absorb dissolved nutrients from water
  • Optional: phytoplankton, amino acids

LPS Corals

  • Benefit greatly from target feeding
  • Feed 2-3 times per week
  • Foods: mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, coral pellets, reef roids
  • Turn off flow during feeding

SPS Corals

  • Primarily photosynthetic but benefit from amino acids
  • Broadcast feed phytoplankton, amino acids
  • Some species accept small particulate foods

Feeding Tips

  • Feed at night when polyps are extended
  • Don't overfeed - causes water quality issues
  • Remove uneaten food after 30 minutes
  • Observe coral response and adjust accordingly

5. Coral Placement

Proper placement ensures corals receive appropriate light and flow while avoiding aggression.

Vertical Placement Guidelines

  • Top third (high light/flow): SPS corals, clams
  • Middle third (moderate): Most LPS, some soft corals
  • Bottom third (low light/flow): Mushrooms, some zoanthids, low-light LPS

Spacing Considerations

  • Leave 3-6 inches between corals for growth
  • Watch for sweeper tentacles (especially Euphyllia, Galaxea)
  • Some corals are aggressive and need more space
  • Consider growth patterns when placing

Acclimation Process

Proper acclimation is critical for coral survival:

  1. Float the bag: 15-20 minutes to temperature acclimate
  2. Drip acclimate: 30-60 minutes minimum
  3. Dip (optional but recommended): Use coral dip to remove pests
  4. Initial placement: Start in lower light/flow area
  5. Observe: Watch for 24-48 hours before moving
  6. Gradual adjustment: Move to final location over several days

Common Problems & Solutions

Coral Not Opening/Extending Polyps

  • Check water parameters
  • Reduce flow if too strong
  • Check for pests or predators
  • Ensure proper acclimation

Brown/Dull Coloration

  • May need more light
  • Check nutrient levels (nitrate/phosphate)
  • Consider supplemental feeding

Bleaching (Turning White)

  • Usually too much light - reduce intensity
  • Check temperature (heat stress)
  • Verify water parameters

Tissue Recession

  • Check for pests (flatworms, nudibranchs)
  • Verify water quality
  • May be losing coral war with neighbor
  • Consider bacterial infection - may need dip

Maintenance Schedule

Daily

  • Visual inspection of all corals
  • Check temperature
  • Feed fish
  • Top off evaporation

Weekly

  • Test alkalinity, calcium, nitrate, phosphate
  • Water change (10-20%)
  • Clean glass
  • Target feed corals 2-3x

Monthly

  • Clean powerheads and equipment
  • Test magnesium
  • Inspect for pests
  • Trim/frag overgrown corals

Essential Equipment

  • Lighting: LED or T5 appropriate for coral types
  • Powerheads: 20-40x tank volume turnover
  • Protein skimmer: Rated for your tank size
  • Heater: Reliable with backup recommended
  • Test kits: Alkalinity, calcium, nitrate, phosphate minimum
  • Refractometer: For accurate salinity testing

Ready to Start Your Coral Collection?

Now that you understand the fundamentals of coral care, you're ready to build your reef! Browse our collections:

Need More Help?

Check out our other resources:

Remember: Patience and consistency are the keys to reef keeping success. Take your time, test regularly, and enjoy the journey!