Elegance Coral Care Guide
Looking to add a show-stopping centerpiece to your reef tank? The Elegance coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei) is a stunning LPS coral known for its flowing tentacles and vibrant colors. Here’s how to keep your Elegance healthy and thriving.
What Is an Elegance Coral?
The Elegance coral, also known as the Ridge coral or Wonder coral, is a large polyp stony coral native to the Indo-Pacific. It features long, fleshy tentacles and a central mouth, resembling an anemone. Its beauty and movement make it a favorite among reef aquarists.
Ideal Tank Conditions
- Lighting: Moderate (80–120 PAR). Too much light can cause bleaching.
- Water Flow: Moderate, indirect flow to prevent tissue damage.
- Temperature: 74–82°F (23–28°C)
- Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
- pH: 8.1–8.4
- Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
- Calcium: 400–450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
Placement Tips
Place your Elegance coral on the sand bed or in a low rock crevice with plenty of space around it. Avoid placing it near aggressive corals—it has long sweeper tentacles that can sting neighbors. Ensure it’s not shaded and receives gentle, consistent flow.
Feeding & Nutrition
While photosynthetic, Elegance corals benefit from supplemental feeding. Offer:
- Meaty foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, or krill
- Reef Roids or powdered coral foods
- Target feeding 1–2 times per week
Growth & Fragging
Elegance corals can grow quite large—up to 12 inches across. Fragging is difficult and not recommended for beginners due to their delicate skeleton and tissue. Focus on providing stable conditions to encourage natural growth.
Common Issues
- Elegance Coral Syndrome (ECS): A condition causing swelling and tissue loss. Quarantine new specimens and maintain excellent water quality.
- Bleaching: Often caused by excessive light or sudden parameter changes.
- Tissue Recession: May result from poor flow or pest irritation.
