Live Reef Corals make a Saltwater tank alot
more attractive to look at. Below is a list of
the more popular hard and soft corals.
Call us or come in if you see something you like.

Brain Coral
Its behavior is semi-aggressive and it will sting other corals with its extended sweeper tentacles during the night. Provide plenty of space between it and other neighboring corals. It is easy to maintain in the reef aquarium, making it an excellent candidate for the beginning through expert reef aquarist. It requires moderate to strong lighting combined with a moderate water movement within the aquarium. For continued good health, it will also require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

Button Polyps

The most desired of this easy-care coral, the Colored and Metallic varieties of the Button Polyp Coral, Zooanthus sp., are richly hued and an excellent coral for aquarists of all skill levels. The Colored variety is typically green (pictured) while the metallic variety fluoresces vibrantly under actinic lighting. While Button Polyps grow in a matted cluster, they are not connected by a common base It will grow in many lighting conditions, but prefers medium to higher light levels for best growth and expansion results. Water flow level should be moderate, neither too strong nor too weak. This coral has a medium aggression level and does require placement where it has room to grow without making contact with other corals, to which it may cause harm. By placing “starts” at several locations, it can make a dramatic carpet effect over time. Though it produces its own natural nourishment in the wild, Button Polyps can benefit from occasional target feedings of plankton or brine shrimp, as well as foods designed for filter feeders such as Marine Snow or PhytoPlex. Calcium and strontium will help ensure its continued health.

Colony Rock

An easy-care coral, Colony Rock, Palythoa sp., is a great addition that is durable and grows easily once established. It will grow in many lighting conditions, but prefers medium to higher light levels for best growth and expansion results. Water flow level should be moderate, neither too strong nor too weak. This coral has a medium aggression level and does require placement where it has room to grow without making contact with other corals, to which it may cause harm. By placing “starts” at several locations, it can make a dramatic carpet effect over time. Each button displays distinct coloring of brown, green, or orange hues. Though it produces its own natural nourishment in the wild, Colony Rock can benefit from occasional target feedings of plankton or brine shrimp, as well as foods designed for filter feeders such as Marine Snow or Phyto-Plex. Calcium and strontium will help ensure its continued health.

Yellow Polyps

Yellow Polyp, Parazoanthus axinella, adds a beautiful golden glow to the reef aquarium with its colorful, undulating tentacles. They are also known as Encrusting Polyps, as it ships with a number of the eight-tentacled "blooms" attached to Live Rock. Yellow Polyps require medium to high water flow and lighting. Placement should be in the middle to high regions of the aquarium. Because the polyp tentacles are often stung by nearby corals, specimens should be kept an adequate distance from other corals. Although micro-plankton and brine shrimp will supplement the diet of the Polyp Corals, naturally-occuring zooxanthellae and microalgae will provide much of its diet. This species is a great choice for aquarists of all experience levels.

Acropora Coral

The ideal conditions for the Acropora coral is an established reef aquarium with bright lighting provided by preferably intense metal halides. They can also thrive under multiple T-5 or compact fluorescents if placed high in the aquarium. Under the right conditions, the growth rate of the Acropora coral is much more rapid than most of the other corals found in an established reef aquarium.

To maximize their growth rate, it is imperative to maintain a high pH, alkalinity and calcium levels, and to keep phosphate and nitrate levels as close to zero as possible. If conditions are ideal, it can also be cultured and grown into a new colony from living fragments or broken pieces.

Along with lighting and water quality, Acropora corals prefer strong, intermittent water flow within the aquarium. This is best accomplished with a wavemaker and multiple powerheads.