How to care for Star Polyps corals
Your simple guide to keeping Star Polyps corals
These guides are designed to help you get the best from your coral. The information we provide works for us, not only here at coral HQ, but also at home in our home aquariums.
NOTE: This is an encrusting coral and can become invasive once established. It is recommended to create an island rock for this coral or to allow it to grow over the back of the aquarium.
Basic care
Difficulty to keep level: Easy
Lighting: Moderate
Flow: Moderate to High
Temperament: Considered Aggressive as it can grow over other coral
Placement: Anywhere
Kh: 8-11
Ca: 400-420
Mg: 1260-1320
Care information
Acclimatise your Star Polyps slowly (about 1 hour). First float the pot in your water with the lid on for about 15-20 minutes. Then tip away into a container approx 1/2 the water, slowly top the water up about 5ml at a time, until the pot is full, repeat this 2 or 3 times.
Before putting in your system, we always recommend you dip corals in a coral dip of your choice (we use two little fish Revive dip for all our corals).
Before placing in your tank, find suitable spots in your system and place the plugs there. Some people putty or glue them in place, but we like to observe the corals for a few weeks before fixing them into position.
Feeding
As Star Polyps are a photosynthetic coral so get nutrition from their symbiotic zooxanthellae. They will also take most nutrients from the water column. However to maximise growth Star Polyps will benefit being fed Vitalis Soft Coral food once a week.
Using a small amount of powder, mix it with some tank water in a container. Leave for about 10-15 minutes. Using a pipette add the food to a high flow area of the aquarium.
Top tip
Create a Star Polyp background. As this coral is fast growing, add a small frag to the back of the aquarium and watch as it encrusts to create a vibrant background.
