Pectinia

Pectinia, often called space coral for their otherworldly appearance, are plating LPS corals with thin, ruffled edges and intricate surface textures. Place them in the lower sections of your tank under low to moderate PAR (50–100 PAR) with gentle flow. Their thin plates are delicate, and strong current can damage the ruffled edges. Position them on stable rockwork where they can plate outward without interference from neighbours.

Keep water parameters stable: alkalinity 7.5–9.0 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1300–1400 ppm, and temperature 25–26 °C. Pectinia are primarily photosynthetic and grow at a moderate pace. They benefit from occasional broadcast feeding with fine coral foods but are not demanding feeders. The overlapping plate structure creates interesting shadow effects and architectural depth in a reef tank.

Pectinia are generally peaceful corals with minimal aggression toward neighbours. Fragging is possible by carefully breaking or cutting plates, ensuring each frag has some base structure. Handle with care as the thin plates are brittle. Australian hobbyists will find Pectinia periodically available from coral retailers, sometimes in attractive green and pink colour morphs. They are underappreciated corals that bring unique form and texture to the lower levels of a mixed reef.