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Elegance Coral
Catalaphyllia jardinei
Animalia›Cnidaria›Anthozoa›Euphylliidae
📍 Indo-Pacific Reef Systems
Elegance coral was once considered easy but is now classified as demanding due to a syndrome ('elegance coral decline') that causes rapid tissue recession in many captive specimens, the cause of which is still debated. Specimens sourced from Australia's Great Barrier Reef tend to fare better than Indo-Pacific stock. It requires low light, minimal flow, and sandy substrate — placing it on rock causes tissue damage and death.
Tank Mates
Hardy reef fish that ignore corals and tolerate low-flow conditions; compatible water parameters
Peaceful clownfish species suitable for low-energy reef setups with similar salinity and temperature needs
Small, peaceful fish that won't disturb the coral and thrive in similar low-flow, low-light reef conditions
May pick at coral tissue; only suitable if coral is robust; monitor closely for stress
Peaceful invertebrate that occupies different zones; compatible with low-flow reef environments
Algae grazer that won't damage coral; helps maintain water quality in low-flow systems
Common Diseases
Elegance Coral Decline Syndrome
Rapid tissue recession, polyp retraction, visible skeleton exposure, brown jelly-like discharge, progressive wasting despite adequate conditions
No proven cure; prevention is critical. Maintain pristine water quality (low nitrate/phosphate), ensure proper placement on sand only, provide minimal flow, and avoid physical damage. Consider quarantine of affected specimens. Some success reported with Australian Great Barrier Reef stock versus Indo-Pacific imports.
Bacterial Infection
Tissue discoloration, slime coating, polyp necrosis, foul odor, rapid tissue loss
Perform 25% water change, improve water circulation temporarily, maintain excellent water quality, and consider antibiotic dips (e.g., doxycycline) if available. Remove any dead tissue carefully. Isolate if possible to prevent spread.
Parasitic Infestation
White spots on tissue, visible parasites, excessive mucus production, polyp damage, behavioral lethargy
Quarantine affected coral if possible. Perform freshwater dips (5–10 minutes) carefully, maintain water quality, and increase aeration. Copper-based treatments should be avoided as they harm corals; focus on environmental improvement instead.
Tissue Necrosis from Physical Damage
Localized tissue death, brown/black discoloration at injury site, progressive deterioration from wound
Prevent by never placing coral on rock and avoiding water flow that causes movement. If damage occurs, carefully remove dead tissue with a clean implement, maintain pristine water quality, and monitor for secondary infection. Provide stable, undisturbed conditions for recovery.
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Photosynthetic; must be fed meaty foods (silversides, krill) 2–3 times weekly
- flow
- Very low, indirect
- lifespan
- Decades if conditions are correct
- lighting
- Very low (20–50 PAR)
- placement
- Sandy substrate only — never on rock
- tank size
- 40 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Long sweeper tentacles; highly aggressive toward other corals
Water it likes
- ph
- 8.2–8.4
- calcium
- 400–450 ppm
- nitrate
- 1–5 ppm
- salinity
- 1.025–1.026 SG
- magnesium
- 1280–1380 ppm
- phosphate
- 0.03–0.06 ppm
- alkalinity
- 8–9.5 dKH
- temperature
- 73–79°F (23–26°C)