Good Corals for the Bottom of the Tank

Brightly colored corals are a fun addition to any aquarium, but it is important to be aware of the proper maintenance and care of each species. Though many receive their nutrition through photosynthesis, some must be fed. Many corals are best placed at the bottom of the tank, as they must be kept away from bright lights. Some must even be placed in a cave or under rocks or other coral to keep them in very dim light.

  1. Mushroom Corals

    • Mushroom corals come in many colors and sizes and are one of the easiest corals to keep in an aquarium. They must be kept at the bottom of the tank due to their intolerance for bright lights. Mushroom corals have soft bodies and use their feet to attach onto rocks, but move around if they decide a different location is preferable. It is not necessary to feed them as they are nourished through photosynthesis, but if there is food present in the tank they may eat it. Mushroom corals are often sold as several polyps on a rock, because they propogate by budding. This happens when a smaller coral is produced by a larger one. It slowly moves away, seeking its own light. Eventually it will stop moving and grow into a full, independent mushroom.

    Short Tentacle Plate Coral

    • One of the few fungia corals that are easy to maintain, short tentacle plate corals are resilient and low maintenance. They must be placed on the bottom of the aquarium, but are most colorful and healthy in a tank with bright lights. Short tentacle plate corals are entertaining to watch, as they have moving feeder tentacles that capture food and they walk slowly along a flat surface.

    Flaming Dendrophyllia Heads

    • One of the brightest corals, dendrophylia are open all day long. They are a little harder to maintain because they are non-photosynthetic and must therefore be fed regularly. Two or three times per week, turn off the pumps and feed the coral a few small pieces of mysid shrimp. To remain healthy, they must also be kept at the bottom of the tank in a shaded area as they require low lighting. Calcium and alkaline levels must be properly maintained for skeletal growth. Dendrophylia grows quickly and is very hardy.

    Red Blastomussa Wellsi Frags

    • Blastomussa coral is a large polyp stony coral with many round discs that, when expanded, cover the skeleton. It is a peaceful coral and will leave any other corals in the tank alone. It needs low light and is best kept at the bottom of the tank, shaded by other coral or rock. It is a hardy coral that receives most of its nutrition through photosynthesis. It does not need additional food, but will eat micro-plankton and fish food it finds in the tank.