All You Need to Know about Bubble Coral

Many people set up saltwater aquariums and most of them prefer to decorate their tanks by placing some corals in it. Do you know that coral is not a plant but an animal? Just like the way you treat other living things, coral should be taken care of under the same manner. Before purchasing it, you should know how to take care of it. You should have a full knowledge about this beautiful animal by the time you make your decision to add it up to your saltwater aquarium.

The most common species of coral that are used in aquariums are called bubble coral. Due to the fact that they are so common, we will use this species as a guideline. Within the bubble coral family, there are three subspecies. They are simple bubble coral, pearl bubble coral and grape bubble coral. They are all cared for in the same way, so they will be referred to as bubble coral throughout the rest of the article.

One of the most important things to know about is how to space them when you put them in the tank. There are long stinging cells tentacles in each bubble coral. In most cases, they keep them closed till the time they are fed. If they are too close, they may hurt their neighbor coral by stinging them. You have to be aware of this case when locating corals in your tank. It is recommended to keep them apart by least 6-inch away.

As your consider the placement. Also take into consideration the available lighting where they are placed. If you have additional light sources aside from the tube in the hood, bubble coral should do well anywhere in the tank. If you are using the included florescent tubes for lighting, it may be better to place the coral closer to the surface. This species of coral prefers low movement of the water. Be sure not to place it in any direct current. Doing so will cause the coral's vesicles to remain closed. This will eventually result in death.

When you have the coral situated in the aquarium, you must remember it is a living animal and must eat just as your fish do. For bubble coral, feed it shrimp or small pieces of clam one to two times a week. Place the food morsels on the polyp of the coral. Any food that is trapped by the tentacles or among vesicles, will be eaten almost immediately. It is important not to overfeed the coral or your fish. Algae is a pest that will cause damage or even death of the coral. Keep the algae as controlled as possible by scheduled and routine cleaning of your aquarium. Bubble coral may also get flat worms. These worms are easily spotted and usually appear as circular spots on the coral's vesicles. They are not a cause for alarm and usually do little damage if any. However, if you notice a significant amount or a large population of these worms, you will have to take action as they could cause death.

Before adding coral to your tank, it is important that you should learn all the things you can. Most people don't know how to take care of this type of animal but it is surely an amazing addition to any tank. If you are able to take a good care of it, coral will certainly make your tank a beautiful aqua paradise.

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