GREEN STAGHORN
Classification: SPS
Description:
Brown Velvet Finger coral is a finely upward branching hardy coral that does
very well in the aquarium when given the proper conditions. The polyps are tan
to brown in color with growing tips a lighter shade than the main body of the
coral, sometimes appearing pinkish in color. The polyps cover the entire body of
the coral. The coral is fragile and easily broken if bumped.
Natural Environment:
Common on shallow reefs and mud flats from the western Indian Ocean east to
Fiji.
Care:
Velvet finger is one of the easiest SPS corals to raise and is an excellent
coral for someone who wants to get started with SPS type corals.
Lighting: Requires strong lighting to survive. Recommend Metal halide or VHO/PC lighting. The coral may survive lower light conditions, but it will not thrive and may eventually bleach to a white color and die.
Water Current: Does well with medium to high water current levels.
Temperature: Does well within a range of at least 75º to 84º F
Aggressiveness: Low. All corals can sting adjacent corals, but Velvet Finger does not have elongated stinging fingers, so they can live in close proximity to other non-aggressive corals. In a battle with other coral, Velvet Finger will normally lose.
Feeding: Velvet finger is photosynthetic and requires no direct feeding. That is why it is important to provide the proper lighting.
Supplements: Correct Calcium (350 – 500) and Alkalinity (2.5 – 4.5) levels are important for health and growth.
Tank Positioning: Best if kept in the upper portion of the tank where it can get maximum light and water flow. Mount the plug firmly into a crevice or use underwater epoxy to glue in place on the live rock to prevent getting knocked over. It is also good to place it where it will not be likely to be bumped on accident while cleaning the tank since it is easily broken. If your tank has very high intensity lighting, it is best to place any new coral on the bottom of the tank for a week or two to acclimatize it to your tank lighting conditions before moving it to it’s final location.
Growth Info: Go to Growth Sheet
Closeup of corallites
