ECC Firewater Platygyra

Quick Stats

• Care Level: Moderate
• Coral Type: LPS (Large Polyp Stony)
• Lighting Requirement: Low/Medium (75-250 PAR)
• Flow: Moderate
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Placement: Rockwork
• Approximate Purchase Size: 3/4"

Overview

The Firewater Platygyra stands out with its intense green and yellow highlights. This coral is a solid choice for reef keepers looking for something hardy with serious color payoff. It handles a range of lighting conditions and does well in moderate flow, making it a versatile LPS coral for mixed reef setups.

Note: This is not a WYSIWYG listing. Photo is a representation of the shape, size, and color of the coral you will receive.

Water Parameters

Corals thrive in stable water conditions with regular water changes. Corals with a hard skeleton, like this one, will consume calcium and alkalinity as they grow, often requiring additional supplementation. Routine water testing helps ensure these needs are consistently met.

• Specific Gravity (Salinity): 1.025-1.026
• Temperature: 75-78 Degrees F
• pH: 8.1-8.4
• Alkalinity: 8-9.5 dKH
• Calcium: 400-450ppm
• Magnesium: 1300-1450ppm
• Nitrate (NO3): 10-25ppm
• Phosphate: 0.01-0.1ppm
• Nitrite (NO2): Undetectable
• Ammonia (NH3): Undetectable

Lighting Requirements

This coral prefers low to medium light areas of the aquarium, ideally in the 75-250 PAR range. While it can handle slightly higher light, it's best to acclimate it gradually to avoid stress.

For those with mixed reef tanks, a PAR meter is invaluable for fine-tuning light levels across different corals, helping ensure each coral gets the right intensity for its needs. This careful setup supports the coral’s vibrant color and long-term health.

Ideal Tank Placement

This coral can be placed directly onto rockwork or even on the substrate. Most reefers prefer to place this coral on the aquascape as it minimizes the risk of sand accidentally covering the coral and leading to problems.

Water Flow Requirements

Moderate water flow is ideal. This helps not only deliver food and nutrients to the coral, but also helps keep detritus from settling on the coral. 

Aggressiveness and Compatibility

This coral isn't particularly aggressive, but it's always important to ensure there is enough space between it and other tank inhabitants to prevent potential conflicts.

Feeding and Nutrition

While this coral primarily relies on photosynthesis for energy, it can benefit from occasional target feedings with coral foods such as Reef Chili and amino acids like CoralAmino. These supplemental feedings can support faster growth and better coloration, making it easy to get the most out of this colorful coral. Feeding at night is usually the best option as this is when this coral's feeding tentacles will most often be out.

Growth Rate and Pattern

This coral is a slow, but steady grower. It will form a plate-like structure and usually won't encrust onto the rockwork much, making it easy to move, if necessary.

Acclimation Process

Acclimation is essential for corals to adjust to their new environment. For a full step-by-step process, refer to our Coral Acclimation Guide.