Pulse corals (e.g., Xenia and Heteroxenia spp.) are among the more enigmatic sessile invertebrates. Many hobbyists and non-hobbyists alike find their rhythmic, hypnotic pulsing behavior fascinating and relaxing to observe, but precisely why they pulse the way they do has…
Corals
How to: Take Extreme Macro Coral Photos
Much of what we do revolves around our ability to take nice looking photos and videos. Every now and again, we are lucky enough to pick up a new piece of equipment that allows us to shoot from a truly…
Corals Gone Wild: Don’t Let Encrusting Polyps Take Over Your Tank!
I have a confession to make. When I mention my 75-gallon “reef tank” in my posts here at Saltwater Smarts, I’m not being entirely truthful in my terminology. When I first set up the tank almost 14 years ago and…
5 Ways to Counteract Coral Combat in the Marine Aquarium
At a casual glance, corals would appear to be an inoffensive lot, generally espousing a “live-and-let-live” philosophy. After all, when you’re firmly affixed to the substrate, how much trouble can you really cause for your neighbors? Plenty, as it turns…
Zoanthids vs Palythoa Identification
Over the years, we’ve seen hundreds of different Palys and Zoas. In that same time, there were varieties we confidently called Palythoa and others Zoanthids. For example, I can easily point to a Palythoa grandis and say for sure that…
Discosoma Mushrooms: Beautiful, Adaptable, Beginner-Friendly Corals
Some of the most beautiful creatures in this hobby are neither rare nor difficult to keep but get glossed over by experienced reef aquarists because they are not the “latest and greatest” coral specimens that landed on our shores. So…
Feeding Corals with Sustainable Aquatics Hatchery Diet
Much of our aquaculture process depends on the fast growth of our corals and the long-term health of our colonies. Coral nutrition is a major factor. We constantly experiment with different foods for our coral. Corals that are fed consistently…
The Translucent Allure of Cynarina Corals
Cynarina are commonly referred to as meat corals or cat’s eye corals. They are large-polyp stony (LPS) corals that grow as a single massive polyp. In many ways, Cynarina share similar traits to Scolymia, Acanthophyllia, and bubble corals of the…
Top 5 Beginner-Friendly LPS Corals
With so many corals available on the marine aquarium market today, even experienced reefkeepers can have a difficult time deciding which species to choose. But for the novice reefkeeper, figuring out which corals are beginner-friendly and which are best left…
Acclimating Corals in 4 Easy Steps
Is there a better feeling than adding something new to your reef tank? Buying new corals feels like opening presents on a holiday. We got in some new corals and while acclimating them to our tanks, it reminded me how…