{"product_id":"pipe-organ-fragment-1","title":"Pipe Organ Fragment","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Pipe Organ coral, Tubipora musica, is one of the more interesting soft corals in the hobby. It stands apart by growing a hard, deep red skeleton composed of calcium carbonate tubes, which gives it its common name. While technically a soft coral, its growth habit and need for stable alkalinity and calcium give it a unique position in a home reef.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the reddish tube-like skeleton, individual polyps emerge, each with eight delicate, feathery tentacles. These polyps are typically a shade of green or brownish-green, creating a pleasant contrast against the red base. The polyps will retract when disturbed or during the night, revealing the intricate structure of the underlying skeleton. In a healthy specimen, the polyps remain extended throughout the day, gently swaying in the current.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor care, Pipe Organ corals do best with moderate lighting, somewhere in the 100 to 250 PAR range, making a spot in the lower to middle regions of the tank ideal. They appreciate moderate, indirect water flow that is strong enough to keep the polyps free of detritus but not so forceful that it prevents them from fully extending. While largely photosynthetic, they will benefit from occasional feedings of phytoplankton or other soft coral foods. Like stony corals, they use calcium and alkalinity to build their skeletons, so it's important to maintain stable levels (Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9 dKH). It's a peaceful coral with no sweeper tentacles, but it will encrust over nearby surfaces, so give it some room to grow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe unique structure of the Pipe Organ coral adds a texture and colour that many other corals don't. The exposed red skeleton can become a focal point, especially as the colony grows and weaves itself over the rockwork. It provides a different kind of beauty in the reef aquarium, rewarding consistent water quality with steady growth over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is not a WYSIWYG listing; you'll receive a specimen of the same species with similar size and colouration to the one pictured, hand-picked for health and colour.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eastern Marine Aquariums","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42359278993463,"sku":"EMA-SOF-20260807-ZCNS","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1849\/1739\/files\/3e7da59f-fc47-4c6a-95ab-c33fcf42c917-_MG_4501.png?v=1786132991","url":"https:\/\/easternmarineaquariums.co.nz\/products\/pipe-organ-fragment-1","provider":"EasternMarine Aquariums","version":"1.0","type":"link"}