Capnella

Capnella, universally known as Kenya Tree coral (taxonomy is debated — sometimes attributed to Litophyton), is one of the easiest and most prolific corals in the reef hobby. It grows in a tall, tree-like form with branching arms, and is famous for its self-propagation method — dropping branches that drift around the tank and attach to new surfaces. Place Kenya Trees in the mid-section of your tank under moderate PAR (75–200 PAR) with moderate flow. Standard reef parameters work well: alkalinity 7.5–9 dKH, calcium 400–440 ppm, and temperature 25–27°C. They are extremely tolerant of imperfect conditions.

The dropped-branch propagation method is both a blessing and a curse. While it means you will never run out of frags to trade, it also means Kenya Trees can become invasive, with unwanted colonies establishing throughout your rockwork. Dropped branches settle in crevices and cement themselves within days. If you want to contain their spread, remove dropped branches promptly before they attach. Some reefers place Kenya Trees on isolated rock islands or in areas where dropped branches will fall onto sand (where they are less likely to establish) rather than other rockwork.

Fragging is almost redundant given their self-propagating nature, but you can cut branches with scissors and rubber-band them to frag plugs for controlled propagation. Kenya Trees are among the most affordable and widely available corals in Australia — most local frag swaps will have someone giving them away. They make excellent starter corals for new tanks, providing vertical structure and natural movement. Their forgiving nature and rapid growth give new Australian reefers confidence as they learn the basics of coral husbandry.