Leptastrea

Leptastrea, sometimes called jewel corals, are among the hardiest and most forgiving LPS corals available — perfect for beginners and seasoned reefers alike. Their small polyps arranged in a honeycomb pattern create an attractive textured surface, and they come in vibrant colours from green and orange to stunning rainbow morphs. Place them in the lower to mid sections of your tank under low to moderate PAR (50–150 PAR) with gentle to moderate flow. They are remarkably adaptable and tolerate a wide range of conditions.

Maintain standard reef parameters: alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, and temperature 25–26 °C. Leptastrea are primarily photosynthetic and don’t require target feeding, though they benefit from broadcast feeding with fine coral foods. Growth is slow and encrusting, with colonies gradually spreading across adjacent rockwork over time.

Leptastrea are peaceful corals with no significant sweeper tentacles, making them excellent neighbours in mixed reef tanks. They are common on the Great Barrier Reef and Indo-Pacific reefs, and Australian-sourced specimens are readily available. Fragging is possible by cutting encrusting colonies with a Dremel or band saw. Their combination of hardiness, colour variety, and peaceful temperament makes them one of the best value LPS corals for any reef tank.