Anthelia

Anthelia, known as waving hand corals, are mat-forming soft corals with distinctive feathery polyps that wave gently in the current, creating a mesmerising field of rhythmic movement. They are closely related to Xenia but generally less invasive and more manageable. Place them in the mid-section of your tank under moderate PAR (75–200 PAR) with moderate flow — adequate current is important as it triggers the characteristic waving motion that makes these corals so appealing. Standard reef parameters are appropriate: alkalinity 7.5–9 dKH, calcium 400–440 ppm, and temperature 25–27°C.

Anthelia spread by extending a stolon mat across rockwork, from which new polyps emerge. While they can spread readily, they are generally easier to control than Xenia and less likely to completely overrun a tank. If you want to contain their spread, place them on an isolated rock island or use a barrier of bare sand. They are photosynthetic and do not require target feeding, though they benefit from broadcast feeding with fine phytoplankton or coral foods. Anthelia retract their polyps when disturbed or during water changes, which is normal behaviour.

Fragging Anthelia is straightforward — cut sections of the mat with their attached polyps and move to new rock. They establish quickly and begin spreading within weeks. These corals are commonly available from Australian coral retailers and frag traders, and their gentle, waving movement makes them one of the most visually relaxing corals to watch in a reef tank. They pair beautifully with other soft corals and zoanthids in community reef systems. Anthelia are an excellent choice for filling mid-level spaces with living, moving colour.