Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral

How to Care for Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral

written by Dave Burr

The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral will sway nicely in the currents and will bring a splash or color to the sand bed of any reef aquarium. They remind many hobbyists of Anemones.

Placement: Place the Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral on the sand bed where they will receive low to moderate currents and low to moderate lighting.

Feeding: Although symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae hosted within them supply some of their nutritional requirements through photosynthesis they do benefit from supplemental feedings once or twice per week. Offer Oyster Feast, mysis shrimp, and other chopped meaty foods when their tentacles are extended.

Lighting & Flow Requirements: The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral requires low water flow and low to moderate lighting (PAR 100-220). T5's, Metal Halides, or LED's can all grow Heliofungia Corals when the proper PAR levels are provided. We recommend a 14-20K color spectrum for best coloration.

Care Level: Moderate
Lighting Requirements: Moderate (PAR 180-280)
Water Flow: Moderate
Aggressiveness: Semi-aggressive
Range: Indo Pacific, Australia
Family: Fungiidae
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm

Water Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.

Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.