Psammocora Coral

Psammocora is a small polyp stony coral that occupies a unique niche in the reef aquarium, bridging the gap between delicate branching SPS and hardy encrusters. While often overlooked in favour of Acropora or Montipora, seasoned reef keepers value Psammocora for its velvety surface texture and remarkably forgiving nature. This specimen is offered as a frag, ready to be mounted and grown out in your system.

Under aquarium lighting, Psammocora exhibits an intricate, almost fuzzy appearance due to its dense array of tiny, petal-shaped corallites and extended polyps. Its growth form typically begins as an encrusting base over adjacent rockwork before pushing upward into shallow ridges or blunt columns as the colony matures. The coloration remains subtle and understated, harmonising well with a natural reef aesthetic without demanding the extreme conditions often required by more finicky stony corals.

In terms of care, Psammocora is among the more adaptable SPS varieties available. It thrives under moderate lighting, generally between 150 and 250 PAR, making mid-tank rockwork an ideal placement. Moderate to strong indirect flow is essential to keep detritus from settling within the fine structure of the corallites and to deliver dissolved nutrients. Maintain stable water chemistry with calcium at 420 to 450 ppm, alkalinity between 8 and 9 dKH, and magnesium around 1350 ppm. While primarily photosynthetic, it benefits from occasional spot feedings of fine particulate coral foods or marine snow. It possesses a peaceful disposition with short sweeper tentacles, though adequate space should still be provided so faster-growing neighbours do not overshadow it. Acclimate slowly to both water parameters and high light intensity upon arrival.

This is a WYSIWYG item, so you'll receive the exact specimen pictured.

Please note that colours can look slightly different in person than in photos, depending on your lighting and screen, and the size given is an approximate guide measured at the time of listing.

We take livestock seriously. That's why we don't sell anything we wouldn't be comfortable putting in our own tank.

As we are direct from source, we import and sell direct to the public. This means you can buy with confidence knowing EMA prides itself on excellent handling and conditioning protocols.

Fish

All our fish held in a quarantine system for a minimum of 3 weeks. During this time, regular water changes are performed, and twice daily (or sometimes more) feedings are performed.

Copper is dosed and checked twice a day for ich and velvet.

During this treatment fish are given formalin baths for brooklynella and a minimum of 3 praziquantel doses is performed for flukes.

Coral

Our coral is quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks, just like fish. During this time, regular water changes are performed, water testing done, and once a month a Fauna Marin ICP Total is performed.

Corals are inspected for pests/general health and are provided with a pest dip once a week for at least 3 weeks.

If we see signs of pests, the quarantine period is extended and/or additional dips are performed

If coral is bleached/unhealthy, it will remain in quarantine until healthy enough to sell.