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Stock Image
Stock-Photo Coral
This is NOT A WYSIWYG listing, but we make it as close to one as possible. The photograph shows either the exact mother colony from which your coral originates or a representative frag displaying the size and presentation standard you can expect to receive.
In both cases, your coral comes from the exact named lineage shown. Every piece is individually selected and fully conditioned before shipping. Because coral is living and continually growing, natural differences in shape and growth may occur.
Aquacultured stock coral care profile
Branching Cyphastrea Care Guide
Branching Cyphastrea is an encrusting LPS coral that tolerates a useful range of light but can extend damaging sweepers after lights out.
- Care level
- Easy to moderate
- Suggested PAR
- 50–150
- Water flow
- Low to moderate
- Placement
- Lower to middle reef
- Aggression
- High
- Feeding
- Optional, up to weekly
What Branching Cyphastrea needs
Moderate light and low-to-moderate indirect flow suit most colonies. Leave room around the growing edge and check the coral after dark before final placement because sweeper reach can exceed the visible daytime tissue.
Stable water targets
Use these as a steady operating range, not numbers to chase from day to day.
- Temperature
- 76–79°F
- Salinity
- 1.025–1.026 SG
- Alkalinity
- 8–9 dKH
- Calcium
- 420–450 ppm
- Magnesium
- 1300–1400 ppm
- Nitrate
- 5–15 ppm
- Phosphate
- 0.03–0.10 ppm
How to acclimate Branching Cyphastrea
- Inspect the bag and coral on arrival. Photograph any shipping concern before opening the bag, then follow the store's live-arrival instructions.
- Match temperature, inspect the coral under white light, and use a coral dip that is appropriate for the coral group. Do not add shipping water to the display.
- Begin below the final light intensity for the first several days. Move or raise intensity gradually while watching tissue and polyp response.
Branching Cyphastrea care questions
Where should I place Branching Cyphastrea?
Start at Lower to middle reef. Leave room for growth and move the coral only after observing its response to the current position.
How much flow does Branching Cyphastrea need?
Use Low to moderate flow. The goal is steady gas exchange and debris removal without folded tissue, exposed skeleton, or polyps held in one direction.
Should I feed Branching Cyphastrea?
Recommended frequency: Optional, up to weekly. Feed only when the coral shows a response, use appropriately sized food, and remove uneaten food before it irritates the tissue.