Flora & Fauna

Colourful LPS coral with large fleshy polyps available in virtually every colour combination. Aggressive — maintain space between it and neighbouring corals. Beginner-friendly.

Chunky, encrusting LPS with fleshy, colourful polyps in virtually every colour combination imaginable. Extremely hardy and popular among collectors. One of the best beginner LPS corals.

Acropora is the largest and most diverse genus of stony corals on earth, encompassing hundreds of species forming branching, table, and bushy morphologies in nearly every colour imaginable. They are the primary reef-building corals and are the benchmark for advanced reef aquariums — demanding pristine, stable water chemistry, very high light, moderate to high flow, and expert-level nutrient management. In well-maintained SPS tanks they reward with breathtaking growth and colouration.

Delicate, jointed branching coralline algae with alternating calcified segments and flexible joints — looks like tiny white-pink antlers. Forms low tufts on rockwork. A living indicator of good calcium and alkalinity levels. Grazed by urchins but otherwise grows without intervention in a mature reef.

One of the best reef algae-eating snails — effective grazer of microalgae and diatoms on rock and glass. Conical shell with star-like ridges. Cannot right itself if flipped, so monitor after storms of flow.

Elegant black-and-silver with distinctive elongated fins and bold stripes. A mouthbrooder — the male incubates eggs in his mouth until hatching. One of the few marine fish regularly bred in home aquaria.

Delicate branching SPS with thin, pointed branches arranged like a bird's nest. One of the fastest-growing SPS corals — ideal for fragging. Available in pink, purple, green, and yellow morphs.

Blastomussa are large-polyp stony corals with fleshy, round polyps that inflate dramatically at night. They are tolerant of lower light and moderate nutrients, making them a good LPS choice for mid-level placement. They feed readily on meaty foods at night.

Striking royal blue fish with a yellow tail. Active swimmer requiring large tanks. Prone to ich, so quarantine is recommended.

Red, purple, or dark blue-green slime mats that smother the sandbed and rockwork with a slimy, oxygen-depleting film. Technically a bacterium. Caused by low nitrates, poor flow, and high dissolved organics. A 3-day blackout, hydrogen peroxide spot-treatment, and improved flow usually break the cycle.

Feathery, fern-like dark green algae that is notoriously difficult to eliminate — one of the most persistent reef tank nuisances. Resistant to most herbivores. Best controlled by raising magnesium to 1500–1800 ppm for 2–4 weeks (magnesium treatment). Sea hares will consume it but are not a permanent solution.

Iridescent green spheres that appear harmless in small numbers but rapidly colonise rock if left unchecked. Emerald crabs are the most effective biological control. Do not pop bubbles — they release spores and worsen the outbreak. Manual removal requires extracting the entire holdfast; even fragments regrow.

Bubble coral is a distinctive LPS coral whose fleshy, bubble-like vesicles inflate during the day to maximise light capture and deflate at night to reveal feeding tentacles. It is a vigorous feeder and responds well to regular target feeding. Its delicate inflated tissue can be punctured by sharp rockwork, so placement must be considered carefully.

Tiny, striking black and yellow banded snail. Buries in sand and hunts detritus and small worms — a useful sandbed cleaner. Larger specimens have been known to eat small sleeping fish, so use with caution.

Red and white striped with a distinctly humped back and movable rostrum. Often sold as a decorative marine shrimp; groups create beautiful colour in aquariums. Nocturnal — more active after lights out.

Candy Cane Coral (also called Trumpet Coral) is a hardy LPS coral with distinctly separate, trumpet-shaped corallites in green, teal, or cream coloration — often with contrasting stripe or dot patterns reminiscent of candy canes. It is one of the most forgiving LPS corals for new reef keepers, tolerating a wider range of light and flow conditions than most Euphyllia species. New heads bud readily with regular target feeding.

Fast-growing macroalgae with flat, oval blades on creeping runners. Excellent nutrient export and refugium algae. Can go 'sexual' under stress — turning milky white and releasing gametes, causing a tank crash. Keep under 24h light or harvest regularly to prevent this. Widely available and very effective.

Small, elongated shell snail that works the sand bed, glass, and rocks. Excellent algae grazer and detritivore. Reproduces readily and stays small.

The most popular refugium algae in the reef hobby — tumbling masses of stiff, wire-like bright green strands. Grows rapidly, exporting nitrates and phosphates as it's harvested. Provides a habitat for copepods and amphipods that migrate into the display tank as live food. Extremely hardy.

Encrusting LPS coral with eye patterns in vivid colour combinations. Moderately aggressive. Grows flat plates over rock. One of the most collectible coral genres.

Bold red-and-white shrimp that sets up cleaning stations on reefs, removing parasites from fish. Reef-safe, peaceful, and fascinating to observe.

Delicate, daisy-like polyps arranged in a mat — each has eight feathery tentacles. Green, white, or brown morphs with attractive pink stems. Spreads readily over rock and creates a lush carpet effect. Great flow indicator coral.

Spongy, dark green dichotomously branched macroalgae with a velvety, foam-like texture. Attaches to rock and can grow quite large. In temperate reef tanks it is a natural part of the fauna; in tropical tanks it can become invasive. Slugs (nudibranchs) and sea hares may graze it.

Fast-growing soft coral with branching, finger-like lobes covered in feathery polyps. Sways gracefully in the current and grows rapidly — ideal for new reef tanks needing quick visual impact. Releases chemicals that may irritate nearby corals.

Striking red-and-white banded shrimp with long white antennae. Acts as a cleaner shrimp on wild reefs. Keep only one pair — males fight.

Deep blue body with orange-yellow sides and purple highlights. Hardiest of the dwarf angels. Generally reef-safe but may nip soft corals.

Calcified encrusting algae that paints live rock, glass, and equipment in shades of pink, purple, and white — the hallmark of a mature, healthy reef. Requires stable calcium (400–450 ppm) and alkalinity (8–9 dKH). Does not need dedicated lighting but benefits from reef-level light. Spreads naturally from live rock and purchased plugs.

Unique scrolling, cup-shaped SPS that grows in convoluted plates rather than branches. More tolerant of lower light and flow than most SPS — a good entry point into stony corals. Yellow-green to brown.

Fine, fluffy dark green tufts that resemble a softer version of Bryopsis. Often appears in high-nutrient systems and around powerhead intakes. Like Bryopsis it is resistant to most herbivores. Sea hares will consume it; magnesium treatment (1500–1800 ppm) is effective. Reducing phosphate below 0.05 ppm also helps.

Flat, iridescent brown-olive blades that spread over rockwork and corals. Beautiful under certain lighting — shimmers blue-green — but highly invasive in reef tanks. Produces chemical deterrents that most fish avoid. Very difficult to eliminate; manual removal stimulates regrowth. Sea urchins (Diadema) and Thalassoma wrasses occasionally graze it.

Brown, stringy, bubble-filled slime that often appears in new reef tanks — frequently mistaken for cyanobacteria. Dinoflagellates ('dinos') form slimy mats that can smother corals and sandbed. Treatment is complex: raise nitrates (>2 ppm), raise phosphates (>0.05 ppm), run extended dark periods, and increase UV sterilisation. One of the most frustrating reef nuisances.

Brilliant scarlet-red, blade-shaped macroalgae — one of the most visually striking species for display refugia. Provides excellent colour contrast and nutrient export. More delicate than Chaeto; requires moderate flow and consistent light. Popular with collectors and stunning under reef lighting.

Duncan corals are LPS corals with large, fleshy polyps that extend dramatically during the day and retract at night. They are peaceful, fast-growing, and feed readily on meaty foods. Colonies branch and multiply quickly under good conditions.

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.

Majestic large angelfish with electric blue-and-yellow horizontal stripes. Juveniles are black with white rings. Not reef-safe. Requires expert care and very large tanks.

Dome-shaped brain coral with clearly delineated round polyps in greens, browns, and reds. One of the most common and adaptable LPS corals. Sends out sweeper tentacles at night — space accordingly.