Branched Cup Coral - Pink Orange (LPS) (Blastomussa merleti 'Pink Orange')

Branched Cup Coral - Pink Orange (LPS) Blastomussa merleti 'Pink Orange'
Name	Branched Cup Coral - Pink Orange (LPS)
Name Lat.	Blastomussa merleti 'Pink Orange'
Family	Brain Corals
Family lat.	Mussidae
Order	Stony Corals
Order lat.	Scleractinia
Origin	Indo-Pacific
Diet	Autotrophic, planktivore
pH	8.1-8.4
Hardness	8-12 °KH
Lighting	Medium
Current	Moderate - weak
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Colony
Care Level	Moderate
Life Span	N/A
Protection	CITES Appendix II; EC Annex B
Metric Units
Size	2 cm
Temperature	24-27 °C
Salinity	33-36 ‰
Aquarium	200 l
US Units
Size	0.8"
Temperature	75-81 °F
Salinity	1.020-1.025 sg
Aquarium	50 gal

Distribution and habitat

Blastomussa merleti belongs to the group of LPS (Large Polyp Scleractinia). These reef-building corals are widely distributed from the Red Sea through the Indo-Pacific to the central Pacific Ocean. They live in colonies on reef slopes and crevices protected from currents, up to 50 m depth.

Maintenance

They should be positioned in a low light intensity location, such as on the bottom or under overhangs and with only moderate, alternating flow

Only high-calcium, heavy metal-free substrates should be used as substrate. Filters, skimmers and heaters are necessary to ensure water quality, as well as pumps to simulate tides, swells and bottom currents. It is recommended that live stones be used to set up the aquarium. The bacteria living in the porous stones act as a biological filter. The lighting must correspond to the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals

Salinity: 33-36 ‰	pH value: 8.1-8.4
Carbonate hardness: 8-10 °KH	Nitrate content: 2-8 mg/l
calcium content: 420-450 mg/l	Nitrite content: 0.0-0.05 mg/l
Magnesium content: 1.250-1.350 mg/l	phosphate content: 0.01-0.1 mg/l

Regular addition of trace elements, especially calcium, magnesium and strontium is recommended. For salinity, an average value should be aimed for, which may only vary slightly by +/- 0.5 ‰. Ammonia and ammonium must not be measurable. Special attention shall be paid to consistently good water quality and water values.

Diet

Zooxanthellae, which are unicellular symbiotic algae, live in their tissues and provide them with assimilation products of their photosynthesis (light intensity). The zooxanthellae promote growth and provide additional food to the plankton and small particles that are collected in large quantities from the water current. Thus, in addition to the food produced in the aquarium during fish feeding (mysis, krill, Artemia, etc.), commercial supplementary food in the form of phyto- and zooplankton should be offered regularly

Regular and varied feeding promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Behaviour and compatibility

They should not be kept with fish that regard their polyps as food (e.g. angelfish or butterflyfish). They are well tolerated with other corals, but sufficient distance must be kept from cnidarians.

Reproduction and breeding

Sexual reproduction is not known. In the aquarium they can be propagated well by fragmentation. In this process fragments are fixed in the reef structure, e.g. with a special two-component coral glue (epoxy).

Species protection

Species protection: WA Appendix II; EU Appendix B. The proof of purchase is the required proof of origin for the animal. Please keep it safe! Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.

Important

It is a slow-growing coral that comes in different colors according to its origin. High light intensity and a strong, direct current is not well tolerated

The additional lighting with actinic light (short-wave, violet-blue light) is very beneficial for its growth (zooxanthellae).

A calcium reactor and magnesium metering pump are recommended for the necessary steady supply of calcium carbonate and magnesium. Too high temperature, insufficient lighting or current as well as sudden change of water values can lead to tissue decay (RTN - rapid tissue necrosis). When purchasing, look for pressure marks or other tissue damage. Newly introduced animals must be acclimated slowly to the water in the aquarium. If different species are kept together, make sure that fish and invertebrates match each other in terms of water quality and temperature requirements as well as their social behavior, and that the setup meets the ecological needs of all species kept together. Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: FOSSÁ & NILSEN (1995): Korallenriff-Aquarium Bd. 4, Birgit Schmettkamp Verlag; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch