Soft Corals

SOFT CORALS – OVERVIEW:

Soft Corals is a term that applies to a large group of corals that lack hard calcium skeletons and are usually composed of just soft tissue. Many gain energy from a mixture of photosynthesis and micro planktonic food / dissolved organics.

Generally speaking the most popularly kept with aquarists are much easier to keep than their hard coral counterparts – as such are the best choice for beginners..

FLOW / WATER MOVEMENT: LOW to MEDIUM

Most soft corals like low to medium flow – some species secrete a mucus layer which does require sufficient water movement to be shed and stay in good health. Some of the more robust types can take higher flow. Care needs to be taken not to damage soft delicate tissue. Some corals such as mushrooms will inflate or open up more with less water current.

LIGHTING: MEDIUM / LOW

We aim to keep our Soft Corals in a par range of 50-150 PAR. Many will survive in lower lighting conditions. It is still important to provide the correct light in the right spectrum.

FEEDING / NUTRIENT LEVEL:

Many gain nutrients from the water column and can normally subsist on fish waste or uneaten fish food. They are able to tolerate slightly higher nitrate levels than hard corals but good water quality should still be maintained.

NOTES: As a group the softies are generally more forgiving than their hard coral counterparts. They can usually tolerate less than perfect water quality and changes in environment (within reason). They do not usually need quite as intense light or as much flow as hard corals either. Probably the best choice for newcomers to the hobby or those that cant dedicate quite as much time to maintain perfect water conditions. That said there are many stunning and interesting examples. Soft corals are generally hardy and easy to keep with a few exceptions. Note many soft corals produce toxins so care should be taken when handling.

*As a general guide only – there will be some exceptions to these rules – please research needs of particular species being kept.