200 Pipe organ coral (Tubipora musica) is a unique soft coral that builds a rigid, red or purple calcium carbonate skeleton made of small upright tubes. Although it behaves and looks a bit like a stony coral, it is an octocoral with feathery, daisy-like polyps (usually with eight tentacles).
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 72°F – 81°F (22°C – 27°C)
- Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.026 (1.026 is ideal)
- Calcium (Ca): 400 – 450 ppm
- Alkalinity (dKH): 7 – 11 dKH (stable levels are critical)
- Magnesium (Mg): 1,200 – 1,400+ ppm
- Nitrates & Phosphates: Nitrates around 2–8 ppm and phosphates around 0.04–0.10 ppm; avoid extreme spikes to prevent algae overgrowth.
Lighting
- Intensity: Moderate lighting, typically around 75–100 PAR (though some varieties adapt to slightly higher or lower depending on placement).
- Placement: Middle of the tank or lower rockwork/sandbed areas. Unlike many other corals, white or pale coloration in pipe organs can be completely natural rather than a sign of bleaching.
Water Flow
- Flow Rate: Moderate to higher water flow.
- Purpose: Strong enough flow penetrates the intricate tube structure and prevents detritus, food particles, or sediment from settling inside the skeleton, which can cause tissue necrosis or anoxic bacteria buildup. Avoid overly violent blasts that tear or damage the delicate polyps.
Feeding and Nutrition
- Photosynthetic: They rely heavily on zooxanthellae symbiosis for primary energy.
- Supplemental Feeding: They benefit from fine particulate foods like cyclops, rotifers, marine snow, phytoplankton, oyster eggs, or powdered coral foods. Direct target-feeding is usually unnecessary and can sometimes cause the polyps to stress or wilt.
Temperament & Placement
- Aggression: Non-aggressive and peaceful. They possess no strong stings or sweeper tentacles.
- Space: Give them plenty of personal room so neighboring corals do not smother or irritate them, as they have weak defenses. They can grow quite tall (up to a foot when fully extended).
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.