Elegance Coral Catalaphyllia Care: Demanding LPS Husbandry
Elegance coral carries a reputation that splits reefers into two camps. A decade ago its survival rate in captivity was so poor that many experienced keepers refused to stock it. Modern Australian-collected specimens, however, behave very differently from the Indonesian imports of the 2000s, and with correct husbandry can thrive for years. This elegance coral catalaphyllia care guide from Gensou Aquascaping at 5 Everton Park lays out what has changed, what to ask when buying, and how to host Catalaphyllia jardinei in a Singapore reef tank without repeating the mistakes of the last generation.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name: Catalaphyllia jardinei, family Euphylliidae
- Care level: moderate to demanding, source-dependent
- Lighting: PAR 50-120, low to moderate
- Flow: very gentle, diffuse
- Placement: soft sand bed only
- Temperature: 24-26 C, alkalinity 8-9 dKH
- Typical Singapore price: $150-500 depending on origin and colour
Why Sourcing Matters
Between 2000 and 2015 the vast majority of elegance coral imports were Indonesian specimens that died within weeks of captivity. Research pointed to a protozoan infection endemic to certain collection zones. Modern Australian-collected elegance corals, harvested from cooler sand-flat habitats, show dramatically better survival rates. Ask the shop for the country of origin before purchase, and expect to pay more for Aussie specimens; it is cheaper than a dead coral.
Species Profile
Catalaphyllia is a free-living, tentacle-heavy LPS with a cone-shaped skeleton. Tentacles are tipped with pink or purple, and the oral disc shows striking green or blue striping. The colony sits on soft sand in nature, extending tentacles 10-15 cm by day and withdrawing slightly at night.
Tank Placement
Sand only. Never place elegance on rockwork. The pointed skeleton base is designed to anchor in soft sediment, and tissue will abrade and recede if it contacts rubble. Create a 3-5 cm deep pocket of sugar-fine sand and nestle the skeleton cone into it. Leave 25-30 cm clearance from all other corals; elegance is potently stinging and will burn most neighbours.
Water Parameters
Alkalinity 8-9 dKH, calcium 420-440 ppm, magnesium 1300 ppm. Elegance corals tolerate slightly higher nutrients than SPS and actually prefer nitrate 5-15 ppm and phosphate 0.05-0.15 ppm. Ultra-low-nutrient systems are the wrong home for this coral. Keep temperature stable at 24-26 C; deviation triggers rapid tissue stress.
Lighting
Low to moderate only. PAR 50-120 is ample. Over-illumination is a common killer. Position elegance in a lightly shaded part of the tank where rockwork casts a partial shadow for part of the photoperiod. Blue-dominant spectra suffice for colour expression; no need for high PAR.
Flow
Very gentle, diffuse, and never direct. Elegance tentacles must inflate freely; strong flow deflates and tears them. Orient all powerheads so that flow reaches the colony after bouncing off glass or rock. If tentacles remain shrunken in daylight, flow is too strong or light too intense.
Feeding
Feed weekly or twice weekly. Elegance captures meaty food vigorously; mysis, chopped prawn, and small strips of marine fish work well. Drop food directly onto the oral disc and let the tentacles draw it in. Overfeeding is rare because the coral is a powerful feeder. Our target feeding guide covers the sequence.
Tankmates
Peaceful fish only. Clownfish may host an elegance as they would an anemone, usually without harm. Avoid large angelfish, triggers, and puffers. Shrimp and crabs that scavenge food from the tentacles are usually tolerated, but remove any that pester the colony repeatedly.
Common Problems
Tissue shrinkage and oral-disc exposure are early warning signs. Causes include rockwork contact, high flow, over-lighting, or allelopathy from leathers. Move the coral to a better spot and monitor over 7-10 days. Brown jelly disease progresses rapidly once it starts; remove affected tissue with a pipette, dip in Lugol’s, and stabilise the tank.
Buying in Singapore
Aussie-collected elegance appears sporadically at premium reef shops. Expect $250-500 for named colour morphs. Indonesian specimens still surface at lower prices but carry much higher mortality risk. If you must buy Indonesian, quarantine for four weeks, observe twice daily, and treat early at any sign of decline.
Related Reading
More demanding-LPS husbandry reading from Gensou Aquascaping Singapore:
emilynakatani
Still Have Questions About Your Tank?
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5 Everton Park #01-34B, Singapore 080005 · Open daily 11am – 8pm
