How to Care for Leather Coral: Umbrella Leather

Umbrella coral is a type of leather coral that gets its name from the thick base that grows upward and opens into an umbrella shape. Leather coral are marine animals that can be kept in salt water aquariums if the proper conditions are maintained. Leather coral are unique sea creatures in that they do not require feeding as other aquarium inhabitants. Instead, leather coral are photosynthetic animals, which means they create their own food.

Things You'll Need

  • pH test kit
  • Water or bowl
  • Powerhead or wave maker
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that there is at least eight inches of space on all sides of the leather coral. Since the leather coral is soft, unlike other corals, it is easily damaged by other corals and plants.

    • 2

      Ensure that the aquarium has water movement in it rather than still water. Water movement is required in order for the leather coral to properly shed its waxy outer layer. Powerheads and wave makers are two devices that can be installed in an aquarium to create water movement. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for installing and running these devices if they are not already installed.

    • 3

      Provide the proper level of light inside the aquarium. Most leather corals do well under moderate to low light conditions. Do not use metal halide lights, as the heat that these lights emit will burn the leather coral.

    • 4

      Maintain the water in the aquarium at a temperature from 72 to 78 degrees F.

    • 5

      Maintain the water in the aquarium at a pH level of 8.3. To test the pH of the water, purchase a pH test kit anywhere that sells aquarium supplies. Remove about 1 cup of water from the aquarium and place it in a small bowl or glass. Some test kits require you to add several drops of kit solution to the water and watch for a color change. Other kits provide test strips that are inserted into the water. When the color change occurs on the strip, or in the water, compare it to the chart on the test kit to determine the pH of the water.