Coral Database on R2R??

[Russellaqua]

Plate coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Sandolitha sp.
Family: Fungiidae
Behavior: moderately aggressive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: green, purple

Needs:

Water current: low to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: moderate to high
Care level: beginner

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: This plate coral is easily confused with other plate corals and there is no easy way of distinguishing it from the others for the hobbyist. It should be placed on the sand bed.

Photo courtesy of Jendub

 

[FaviaFreak]

Russellaqua, amazing job on filling in the gaps with this thread! way to go!!

 

[Russellaqua]

Thanks Kevin!

 

[Russellaqua]

Meat coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Cynarina sp.
Family: Mussidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: green, purple, red

Needs:

Water current: low to moderate
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: moderate
Care level: beginner

Likes meaty foods: yes
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: This coral is often confused with Scolymia sp., but is much fleshier than the aforementioned coral. It is extremely hardy making it a great beginner coral.

Photo courtesy of Jendub

 

[Russellaqua]

Open brain coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Symphyllia sp.
Family: Mussidae
Behavior: Quite Aggressive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: green, purple, red, tan

Needs:

Water current: low to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: low to high
Care level: beginner

Likes meaty foods: yes
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Symphyllia sp. typically has a contorted brain look to it and can be very colorful like the specimen below. Its' ease of care makes it a good beginner coral for those looking for a splash of color.

Photo courtesy of Jendub

 

[Russellaqua]

Hedgehog coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Echinopora sp.
Family: Faviidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: purple, red, tan, blue, green

Needs:

Water current: moderate to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: Moderate to high
Care level: Experienced

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Echinopora sp. comes in many shapes from branching to plate-like scrolls. Corallites stand above the coenosteum. It is not a super-hardy coral and so should be kept by experienced to expert reefers,

Photo courtesy of Jendub

 

[Russellaqua]

Knob coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Cyphastrea sp.
Family: Faviidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: purple, red, tan, blue, green

Needs:

Water current: moderate to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: Moderate to high
Care level: Beginner to experienced

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Cyphastrea decadia is the only branching species, all others are encrusting or massive.

Photo courtesy of Jendub

 

[Russellaqua]

Cat's paw
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Psammocora sp.
Family: Siderastreidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: tan, green

Needs:

Water current: low to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: low to high
Care level: Beginner

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Colonies form branching or massive structures.

Photo courtesy of Jendub

 

[Russellaqua]

Sea mat
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Palythoa sp.
Family: Zoanthidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: Nearly any color

Needs:

Water current: low to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: no
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: low to high
Care level: Beginner to expert

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: All species produce a powerful neurotoxin known as palytoxin. Some form such dense mats that they may overgrow corals. Some have long stalks, although others barely protrude from the mat. Because of the varying conditions they're found in in the wild a great variety of conditions must be met in the aquarium, making some hard to keep, others very easy.

Photo courtesy of Brad Syphus

 

[Russellaqua]

Mushroom
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Actinodiscus sp.
Family: Discosomatidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: Nearly any color

Needs:

Water current: low
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: no
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: low
Care level: Beginner

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Many species exist but are difficult to classify other than A. striata, the striped mushroom, and A. mutabilis, the spotted mushroom. High light and flow causes the coral to stay partially closed, so lower flow and light tanks are recommended to capture the full beauty of these animals.

Actinodiscus striata
Photo courtesy of TritonsGarden

 

[Russellaqua]

Pulsing coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Xenia sp.
Family: Alcyoniidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: brown, blue

Needs:

Water current: low
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: low
Care level: Beginner

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Many species exist but the aquarist cannot differentiate them. The tentacles pulse when sufficient calcium is available in the water. Xenia sp. possesses the ability to move and is one of the first corals to colonize a reef.

Photo courtesy of TritonsGarden

 

[Russellaqua]

Cactus coral
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Pavona sp.
Family: Agariciidae
Behavior: Aggressive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: brown, green, pink, orange

Needs:

Water current: moderate to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: moderate to high
Care level: Beginner

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: This coral is both colorful and rugged, making it a great beginner's coral. Several species exist giving it both encrusting and pillar-forming growth forms. Tentacles are more obvious on P. decussata than many of the other species.

Pavona maldivensis

Photo courtesy of The Nomad. Note the sweeper tentacles.

 

[ahayes13]

photo courtesy of Eggie

Monti. Cap
Submitted by: ahayes13
Coral type: SPS
Scientific Name:Montipora capricornis
Family: Acroporidae

Behavior: passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: green, purple, red, white, blue. many color variations

Needs:
Water current: moderate
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: water change
Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: high
Care level: easy

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Beautiful plating corals that are very fast growers. Adding multipe colors of this coral together can creating beautiful multi-colored swirling growth patterns. Monti. caps can also be easily fragged with broken pieces easily encrusing and forming new colonies. Placing monti. caps to the lower portion of your tank can keep them from shading out all of your other corals.

 

[ahayes13]

Clove Polyps
Submitted by: ahayes13
Coral type: softie
Scientific Name: Clavularia sp.
Family: Clavulariidae

Behavior: semi-aggressive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: multiple colorations

Needs:
Water current: moderate
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: no
Trace Elements Supplement: water change
Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: moderate
Care level: moderate

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Clove polyps are beautiful polyps that will flow in the tank flow. Place them along the bottom half of the tank. Clove polyps will grow quickly under proper additions, give them plenty of space to expand their colony.

 

[ahayes13]

photo courtesy of Eggie

Stag, Acro Stag
Submitted by: ahayes13
Coral type: SPS
Scientific Name: Acropora staghorn
Family: Acroporidae

Behavior: passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: multiple colorations

Needs:
Water current: moderate to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: water change
Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: high
Care level: easy

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: Beautiful coral that once its acclimated will grow quickly. It received its name from looking similar to deer antlers.

 

[Russellaqua]

Sea rod
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Plexuara sp.
Family: Plexauridae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: Purple, tan

Needs:

Water current: moderate to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: no
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: moderate to high
Care level: Beginner

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: This is a photosynthetic gorgonian, making it good for beginners as it does not need constant feeding.

Photo courtesy of ahayes13

 

[Russellaqua]

Cat's paw
Submitted by: Russellaqua
Scientific Name: Stylophora pistillata
Family: Pocilloporidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: tan, green, pink

Needs:

Water current: moderate to high
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: yes

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: moderate to high
Care level: Experienced

Likes meaty foods: no
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: As an SPS coral it is generally recommended for experienced to expert reef keepers. It is hardy though. It can be confused with birdnest, but has thick, blunt tips, and hoods that the polyps emerge from.

Photo courtesy of H@rry. Typical pink color of S. pistillata.

Photo courtesy of H@rry. More unusual green form of S. pistillata.

 

[ahayes13]

Pipe Organ Coral
Submitted by: ahayes13
Scientific Name: Tubipora musica
Coral Type: Soft
Family: Tubiporidae
Behavior: Passive
Hosts Zooxanthellae: yes
Color variations: green, pink, red, white, grey

Needs:

Water current: moderate
Iodine supplement: yes
Calcium Supplement: yes
Trace Elements Supplement: water change

Needs meaty foods: no
Needs Phytoplankton: no
Needs Microplankton: no
Lighting: high
Care level: moderate

Likes meaty foods: yes small
Likes Phytoplankton: yes
Likes Microplankton: yes

Description: The pipe organ coral is a soft coral but is often mistaken for a hard coral due to its pipe like calcareous skeleton. Sometimes it is mistaken for other similar lookiing corals such as daisy polyps or clove polyps. Items such as oyster eggs and the like are great foods for this coral.

 

[FaviaFreak]

awesome Amanda!!

 

[ahayes13]

thanks