Care of Mushroom Coral

If you're looking to start a saltwater aquarium and are new to a reef tank, mushroom corals are a good way to start. They can be enjoyed by everyone from novice to experienced owners. They're a sturdy choice, requiring very little in the way of care, yet they will augment any aquarium with their bright coloring and wide ranging and rapid growth.

  1. Mushroom Coral Care

    • It doesn't really require a great deal to care for mushroom coral. If your aquarium is set up with a strong current and an average light level, and if you supplement your system with iodine, you'll have no problems with your mushroom coral.

    Lighting

    • Generally, you'll want to use a moderate to a strong fluorescent light. If you've just recently received your mushroom corals, find out what the previous amount of light provided was and try to maintain that level. If you notice that your mushroom coral's base has spread out, this is a sign that more light is required.

    Tank Environment

    • It's best to keep mushroom corals out of tanks that contain soft corals, due to their somewhat aggressive nature, augmented by tentacles extending from the cap and a chemical defense system. However, fish and crustaceans will have no problem co-existing in a tank with mushroom corals.

    Water

    • The mushroom corals do best in tanks that have a minimum pH of 7.8, while maintaining temperature between 72 and 85 degrees F.

    Feeding Mushroom Corals

    • Most of the nutrition that the mushroom corals need will come from photosynthesis provided by symbiotic algae growing within them. You can use additives, however, to provide the mushroom corals with some of the trace elements needed to maintain their health.

    Propagation

    • One of the main attractions of the mushroom corals is their ability to rapidly grow. It's not uncommon for the mushroom corals added to a tank to completely cover the entire aquarium floor in a minimal amount of time.

    Conclusion

    • If you're just starting your saltwater aquarium reef tank, mushroom corals are a great way to begin. They don't require as much monitoring as some of the more exotic corals, and their coloration really helps to give the aquarium a natural, artistic flavor.