Cyphastrea Coral Care Guide
Looking to add a splash of texture and color to your reef tank? Cyphastrea coral is a hardy, encrusting species that’s perfect for beginners and seasoned reefers alike. Let’s dive into how to keep your Cyphastrea happy and growing.
What Is Cyphastrea Coral?
Cyphastrea is a small polyp stony (SPS) coral known for its encrusting growth pattern and unique polyp structure. Native to the Indo-Pacific, it comes in a variety of color morphs—like the popular Meteor Shower and Rainbow varieties—and adds a textured, alien-like look to your aquascape.
Ideal Tank Conditions
- Lighting: Low to moderate (50–125 PAR). Too much light can cause bleaching.
- Water Flow: Moderate, indirect flow to prevent detritus buildup.
- Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°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
Start your Cyphastrea coral on the sand bed or lower rockwork, especially if your tank has strong lighting. It will encrust over rock surfaces, so choose a placement that allows it to spread naturally without shading other corals.
Feeding & Nutrition
While Cyphastrea is photosynthetic, it benefits from occasional feeding. Try:
- Reef Roids or powdered coral foods
- Phytoplankton or zooplankton
- Target feeding 1–2 times per week
Growth & Fragging
Cyphastrea grows slowly but steadily. To frag, use a coral saw or Dremel to cut a section of the encrusted base. Allow frags to heal in a low-flow area before reintroducing them to the display tank.
Common Issues
- Bleaching: Often caused by excessive light or unstable parameters.
- Algae Overgrowth: Keep nutrients balanced and flow adequate to prevent buildup.
- Slow Growth: May indicate low nutrients or insufficient feeding.
