Echinophyllia

Echinophyllia, commonly known as chalice corals, are among the most sought-after LPS for their extraordinary colour combinations and eye-like corallite patterns. Place them in the lower sections of your tank under low to moderate PAR (50–100 PAR) with gentle flow. Too much light will cause colour loss and bleaching, while excessive flow prevents the delicate tissue from expanding. These corals do best in the shadowed areas that many other corals avoid.

Maintain stable parameters: alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, and temperature 25–26 °C. Echinophyllia are primarily photosynthetic but benefit from occasional target feeding with fine particulate foods or reef roids. Feed sparingly — once weekly is sufficient. They grow relatively slowly compared to other LPS, so patience is required. New growth typically appears as encrusting edges that spread outward from the base colony.

Echinophyllia extend sweeper tentacles at night that can damage nearby corals, so leave adequate space. Fragging is possible by cutting plates with a band saw or Dremel, ensuring each frag has some encrusting base for attachment. The Australian chalice coral market is thriving, with local coral farms producing stunning named varieties. These corals can be sensitive to sudden parameter changes, so acclimate new additions slowly and avoid moving established colonies unless necessary.