Sinularia

Sinularia, commonly called finger leather corals, are hardy and fast-growing soft corals that form attractive branching colonies with finger-like or lobed projections. They are one of the easiest soft corals to keep and an excellent choice for beginner to intermediate reefers. Place them in the mid-section of your tank under moderate PAR (75–200 PAR) with moderate flow — enough to keep the branches gently swaying. Standard reef parameters work well: alkalinity 7.5–9 dKH, calcium 400–440 ppm, and temperature 25–27°C. Sinularia are forgiving of imperfect conditions and will adapt to most positions in a typical reef tank.

Like other leather corals, Sinularia periodically shed a waxy coating as part of their natural growth cycle. During shedding, the polyps retract and the coral appears dull or stressed — this is normal and will resolve within a few days. Moderate flow helps the shedding process. Importantly, Sinularia release significant quantities of terpenes into the water, which can inhibit the growth of nearby SPS corals and even cause tissue recession in sensitive species. Running quality activated carbon continuously is strongly recommended in any mixed reef containing Sinularia.

Fragging is simple — cut branches with a sharp scalpel or scissors, attach to frag plugs with rubber bands or toothpicks, and frags will establish within a couple of weeks. Growth is fast, and a small frag can develop into a substantial colony within six to twelve months. Sinularia are widely available from Australian coral retailers and frag traders, with numerous colour variants including green, yellow, and cream. Their hardiness and rapid growth make them staple trading stock in local reef communities.