Lobophyllia

Lobophyllia are hardy, fleshy brain corals that make excellent additions to any mixed reef. Place them on the lower rockwork or sand bed under moderate PAR (75–150 PAR) with gentle flow. Too much direct current will prevent the tissue from inflating fully, which reduces both their visual impact and their ability to feed. These corals do best when they have a stable perch where they won’t be knocked about by flow or tank mates.

Maintain standard reef parameters: alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, and temperature 25–26 °C. Lobophyllia are enthusiastic feeders and respond beautifully to target feeding with meaty foods — mysis, chopped prawn, or LPS pellets once or twice weekly. The tissue inflates dramatically when feeding, revealing stunning colour patterns that are often best appreciated under blue actinic lighting.

Lobophyllia can extend short sweeper tentacles at night, so provide a few centimetres of clearance from neighbouring corals. They are straightforward to frag by cutting between lobes with a band saw, and frags heal reliably. Australian hobbyists will find a good range of colour morphs available from local suppliers, including striking rainbow and multi-coloured variants that rival any imported piece.