THE BASICS OF CORAL CARE IN SALTWATER AQUARIUMS By House of Fins

Introduction Led by Robert Bray, Greenwich, Connecticut-based

aquarium retailer House of Fins provides maintenance and installation services for aquariums of all kinds. In addition, House of Fins offers an assortment of freshwater and marine livestock that includes a wide selection of live coral, which require special care in order to thrive within a commercial or personal tank.

Saltwater aquarium professionals separate coral into five general categories: mushroom, large polyp stony (LPS), small polyp stony (SPS), soft, and Xenia corals. These categories distinguish corals largely by their shape and density, rather than the type of ocean biome they come from.

Coral Care Corals are composed of tiny creatures called coral polyps that join

together to form colonies that may include hundreds to thousands of identical individual polyps and range in a broad spectrum of colors. As the most important contributor to a healthy reef environment, proper care for them requires close attention to their biological, physical, and chemical needs.

The primary factors of concern for live coral include lighting, temperature, and water care and motion. According to coral specialists, the most effective saltwater aquariums housing coral strive to mimic natural ecosystems. Most corals are photosynthetic organisms that produce most of their own food from light, which makes proper lighting essential for them to survive in an aquarium. In addition, different species of coral require different lighting levels. Temperature needs for aquarium coral fall within the same range as those of ocean coral reefs, which further stresses the benefit of keeping environments close to natural ecosystems.

Conclusion Water maintenance for coral focuses on chemical

balance and water flow. Although corals need varying speeds of water flow depending upon species, all require consistent chemical balances to remain in good health.

Due to the contrasting natures and characteristics of different coral species, individuals with saltwater aquariums should possess a thorough understanding of the individual specimens in their tank. Additionally, they must become familiar with which species can cohabit peacefully.