Coral Care for Beginners: Soft Corals & Mushrooms

Everything a beginner needs to know to keep corals alive and thriving

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What Are Soft Corals?

Soft corals don't have hard skeletons. They're flexible, tree-like, and surprisingly forgiving.

Examples you'll see: - Mushroom corals (plates, open/close) - Zoanthids (small polyps, come in colors) - Leather corals (thick, resembles leather) - Xenia (looks like trees, sways in flow) - Pipe organ (branching, delicate)

The beginner advantage: Soft corals are the easiest corals to keep alive.

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What Soft Corals Need

Light

Requirement: Low to medium light

- Mushrooms: 30-75 PAR - Zoanthids: 50-150 PAR - Leather: 50-150 PAR - Xenia: 50-200 PAR

(Don't have PAR meter? Rule of thumb: if it's not at the very top of your tank under lights, it's probably fine for soft corals)

Flow

Requirement: Gentle to moderate

Soft corals don't need hurricane-force flow. They actually prefer gentler movement.

Good flow: Powerhead set to low, creating subtle swaying Bad flow: Direct current pushing them around constantly

Feeding

Requirement: Minimal

Most soft corals get nutrients from light (photosynthesis). They can survive without extra feeding.

Optional: Liquid coral food (1-2x per week)

Water Quality

Requirement: Stable

Soft corals forgive small fluctuations better than other corals.

Acceptable ranges: - pH: 8.0-8.3 - Salinity: 1.023-1.026 - Temperature: 76-80°F - Ammonia: 0 - Nitrite: 0 - Nitrate: <20

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Placement in Your Tank

Where to Put Soft Corals

Good spots: - Mid-level (gets medium light) - Out of direct powerhead current - On rockwork or substrate - With space around them (1-2 inches)

Avoid: - Directly under intense lights - In direct powerhead jet - Against other corals (they'll sting slightly) - In dark corners (need some light)

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Acclimating Corals

When your coral arrives, it needs gentle introduction.

Step 1: Float & Dim Lights

- Place unopened coral container in tank - Leave floating 20 minutes - Dim tank lights to 50%

Step 2: Slow Mix

- Open container - Scoop out coral with net - Place in acclimation container (cup with holes) - Let slowly mix with tank water

Step 3: Place in Tank

- After 10 minutes, gently place coral in final location - Keep lights dim for 2-3 hours - Don't handle anymore

Step 4: Resume Normal

- Turn lights back to normal - Leave coral undisturbed for 24 hours - Expect some shrinkage (temporary)

Timeline: Full acclimation = 24-48 hours. Coral will open fully.

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Coral Care Checklist

Weekly:

- [ ] Check they're opening (sign of health) - [ ] Observe color (should match purchase) - [ ] Verify position (haven't moved?) - [ ] Check for damage (tears, bleaching)

Monthly:

- [ ] 25% water change - [ ] Test water parameters - [ ] Feed with liquid coral food (optional, 1x) - [ ] Clean around coral (remove algae) - [ ] Verify lights still working properly

Quarterly:

- [ ] Full water quality test (all parameters) - [ ] Check lighting intensity (hasn't dimmed much) - [ ] Review coral growth (expected progress?)

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Common Soft Coral Issues & Fixes

Coral Won't Open

Causes: - Recently acclimated (normal) - Water quality issues - Lights turned off - Stress from other corals - Powerhead blowing directly on it

Fix: - If freshly placed, wait 24-48 hours - Test water parameters - Verify lights work - Move away from other corals 2-3 inches - Redirect powerhead flow

If still not opening after 3 days: May indicate serious issue — contact supplier

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Coral Looks Pale/Bleached

Cause: Usually too much light or stress

Fix: - Move to lower light area - Check temperature (should be 76-80°F) - Reduce light intensity if possible - Wait 1-2 weeks for color recovery

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Coral Has Visible Tears/Holes

Causes: - Shipped with damage - Other corals stinging it - Aggressive powerhead

Fix: - Move away from other corals - Redirect powerhead - Wait 2-3 weeks for healing - Don't try to "repair" — corals heal themselves - May need liquid coral food to speed healing

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Small Corals Disappeared

Causes: - Eaten (fish may have eaten them) - Detached and blowing around tank - Melted due to poor water quality

Prevention: - Don't keep aggressive fish with small corals - Secure corals so they can't detach - Monitor water quality

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Coral Looks Infected/Has Spots

Causes: - Bacterial infection (rare) - Algae growing on it - Normal for some species (zoanthids get fuzzy)

Fix: - If clearly infected (oozing, falling apart): - Remove and place in separate container - Do 25% water change - Don't return until issue resolves - If just algae: - Usually harmless - Can gently brush with soft brush - Indicates phosphate/nitrate levels up

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Fragging (Making More Corals)

Advanced topic, but worth knowing: Soft corals can be split/propagated.

Simple example: Mushrooms - Can detach and move to new rock - Will regrow where came from - Creates 2 corals from 1

More complex: Zoanthids - Can be carefully cut - Each piece can become new colony - Takes 2-3 weeks to attach

Pro tip: Propagate slowly, one coral at a time. When you get confident, you can actually grow new corals from one purchase.

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Feeding Soft Corals (Optional)

If You Want To Feed:

Liquid coral food ($10-15) - Use 1-2x per week - Follow bottle instructions (usually tiny amount) - Good products: Reef-Roids, Vitality, Reed's Reef

When to feed: - Turn off powerheads 5 minutes - Add liquid food - Wait 30 minutes - Resume powerheads

Benefits: - Accelerates growth - Enhances coloration - Keeps polyps open

Cost: $10-15 per month

Is it necessary? No. Most soft corals thrive on light alone.

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Lighting for Soft Corals

Budget Option ($50-80)

- Basic LED like VIPARSPECTRA - 50-100W - Works for soft corals - Not for SPS/advanced

Mid-Range ($100-200)

- Mid-tier LED (Kessil A160, AI Prime) - 100-150W - Covers soft + some LPS - More reliable

Premium ($250+)

- High-end LED (Kessil, AI Hydra) - Allows SPS corals too - Lasts 10+ years - Better control

For soft corals only: Budget or mid-range sufficient.

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Health Signs vs. Problem Signs

✅ Healthy Signs:

- Polyps open and swaying - Vibrant coloration - Grows slowly (1-2 inches per month) - Responsive to light changes - No visible damage

⚠️ Problem Signs:

- Polyps retracted 24+ hours - Faded coloration - Bleeding/oozing - Melting at edges - Not responding to light

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Timeline: First 30 Days

Day

What To Expect | |-----|---|

0

Coral arrives, acclimate |

1

Likely closed (normal) |

2-3

Slowly opening |

5-7

Fully open, normal behavior |

7-30

Growth visible, color improving |

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EasternMarine Soft Coral Starters

Beginner Soft Coral Bundle ($79)

Includes: - 3 mushrooms (different colors) - 2 zoanthid frags - Care instructions

→ Shop Soft Coral Bundles

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Coral Food & Supplements ($34)

Includes: - Liquid coral food - Calcium supplement - Growth accelerant

→ Shop Coral Supplements

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Troubleshooting: When Should I Contact Support?

Contact us if: - Coral hasn't opened after 5 days - Coral is actively melting/falling apart - You see signs of infection - Coral dies shortly after arrival

📧 Email: mdyer.nz@gmail.com 📞 Phone: 09 281 1380

Don't contact us for: - Coral "not as colorful as photo" (shipping stress) - Slight damage from shipping (heals in 2-3 weeks) - Normal overnight closure (expected)

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Start with soft corals. They're beautiful, forgiving, and will build your confidence. 🪸