SPS Coral
🪸 Cyphastrea Care Guide
Cyphastrea are hardy encrusting corals that often do well in lower light areas where many SPS would struggle.
⭐ Friday Frags Care Score
⭐ Difficulty
Beginner to Intermediate
💡 Lighting
Low to medium
🌊 Flow
Low to medium
📍 Placement
Lower rockwork or shaded areas
📈 Growth
Medium
⚠️ Aggression
Low
🍽 Feeding
Mostly photosynthetic
🪸 Overview
Cyphastrea are hardy encrusting corals that often do well in lower light areas where many SPS would struggle.
📦 Acclimation Timeline
🌡 Float Bag
Float the sealed bag for 15–20 minutes to match temperature.
💧 Mix Water
Open the bag and slowly add small amounts of tank water over 20–30 minutes.
🪣 Coral Dip
Use a proper coral dip if you normally dip new arrivals. Always follow the product instructions.
💡 Light Acclimate
Start slightly lower in the tank and increase light exposure gradually if needed.
🪸 Place Carefully
Use the guide placement advice and avoid touching fleshy coral tissue.
👀 Observe
Avoid heavy feeding for 24–48 hours and allow the coral time to settle.
Start Cyphastrea in a sensible low-stress position and give it time to settle before making changes.
🧪 Ideal Water Parameters
Temperature
24–26°C
Salinity
1.025
Alkalinity
8–9 dKH
Calcium
420–450 ppm
Magnesium
1300–1400 ppm
Nitrate
2–10 ppm
Phosphate
0.03–0.08 ppm
pH
8.0–8.4
💡 Lighting
Low to medium lighting is generally suitable. Avoid sudden increases in intensity and watch how the animal responds over the first week.
🌊 Flow
Aim for Low to medium. Avoid blasting tissue directly and make sure debris does not settle for long periods.
🍽 Feeding
Mostly photosynthetic. Avoid overfeeding and remove uneaten food where possible.
📍 Placement
Best placed around: Lower rockwork or shaded areas. Give enough room for growth and avoid irritating neighbours.
❤️ Friday Frags Tips
- Great for lower light rockwork.
- Avoid placing under very intense light straight away.
- Give it a surface to encrust.
🐛 Pest Awareness
- Aiptasia
- Flatworms
- Vermetid snails
⚠️ Common Problems
- Light bleaching
- Algae overgrowth
- Slow growth
- Irritation from sand
❓ FAQ
Is Cyphastrea beginner friendly?
It is usually considered beginner to intermediate when kept in stable reef conditions.
Where should I place Cyphastrea?
A good starting point is lower rockwork or shaded areas, then adjust slowly based on extension and colour.
📚 Related Care Guides
Friday Frags Care Note
Every aquarium is different. These guides are based on general reef-keeping practice and Friday Frags experience. Always observe your coral and adjust care if needed.