ECC Frankenstein Leptoseris

Quick Stats

• Care Level: Moderate
• Coral Type: LPS (Large Polyp Stony)
• Lighting Requirement: Low/Medium (75-250 PAR)
• Flow: Moderate
• Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
• Placement: Rockwork
• Approximate Purchase Size: 1/2"-3/4"

Overview

The ECC Frankenstein Leptoseris is a low-maintenance encrusting coral known for its ability to thrive in shaded or less intensely lit parts of the tank. It’s a great option for filling in bare rock surfaces where other corals might struggle.

This coral does best in stable conditions with moderate flow and low to medium lighting. Its encrusting growth pattern means it can spread across uneven surfaces, making it a good candidate for aquascapes that need texture or coverage in tough-to-reach areas.

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

This coral thrives in stable water conditions with regular water changes. Corals with a skeleton base, 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

Place it in an area where it has some room to grow and encrust. This could be directly onto the rock work or directly onto the glass in a bare bottom setup. Because this coral appreciates lower light levels, it can be a good "filler" coral to place in more shaded areas where other corals might not do so well.

Water Flow Requirements

Moderate water flow is ideal. The main goal is to keep debris from collecting on the surface of the coral. Too much flow can stop the coral from opening fully.

Aggressiveness and Compatibility

It's important to give encrusting corals room to grow. Like most corals, it will fight with any other corals it comes into direct contact with. Leptoseris corals also have short sweeper tentacles which can sting neighboring corals if given the opportunity.

Feeding and Nutrition

While this coral primarily relies on photosynthesis for energy, it can benefit from the addition of Amino Acids like CoralAmino. While usually considered to be in the LPS coral category, this Leptoseris have rather small polyps and won't be able to consume particulate coral foods.

Growth Rate and Pattern

This coral is a fast grower with a growth pattern that is determined by the shape of the rock or surface it's encrusting over.

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.