Description
🔥 Torch Coral – Description & Care Guide
🪸 Description
Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) is a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral known for its long, flowing tentacles that resemble flames or torches — giving it its common name. It’s highly prized for its motion, color, and bold appearance in reef tanks.
Key Features:
- Polyp Shape: Long, tubular tentacles with glowing tips (white, gold, green, or neon)
- Color Morphs: Green, gold, purple, orange, pink, “holy grail,” and “dragon soul”
- Growth Form: Branching or wall (single base); branching is easier to frag
- Behavior: Aggressive — long stinging tentacles can harm nearby corals
- Nickname: One of the “Big 3” Euphyllia (along with Hammer and Frogspawn)
🧪 Tank Requirements
Parameter | Ideal Range |
Lighting | Moderate to high (PAR 80–200) |
Flow | Moderate, indirect |
Temperature | 75–80°F (24–27°C) |
Salinity | 1.025–1.026 SG |
Alkalinity | 8–10 dKH |
Calcium | 420–460 ppm |
Magnesium | 1250–1350 ppm |
Nutrients | Nitrate: 5–15 ppm; Phosphate: 0.03–0.1 ppm |
💡 Lighting Tips
- Moderate lighting enhances color and health.
- Acclimate slowly to avoid bleaching, especially under LEDs or T5s.
- Blue-dominant spectrum brings out fluorescent tips.
🌊 Flow Requirements
- Prefers moderate, indirect flow.
- Tentacles should gently wave — too much flow causes retraction or damage.
- Avoid direct blasts from powerheads.
🍽️ Feeding
Torch corals are photosynthetic, but target feeding improves growth and coloration.
- Best Foods: Mysis shrimp, Reef-Roids, Coral Frenzy, amino acids
- Method: Target feed near tentacles or mouths 1–2 times per week
- Benefit: Encourages faster branching and tissue health
🧼 Care & Placement
- Aggression: High — sweeper tentacles can reach 6+ inches
- Placement: Mid to lower tank, with at least 6 inches of space from other corals
- Fragging: Branching torches are easy to frag; wall varieties are more delicate and prone to infection when cut
⚠️ Common Issues
Issue | Cause | Solution |
Tissue loss (brown jelly) | Bacterial infection | Frag healthy parts and treat with iodine |
Polyp retraction | Too much light/flow or stress | Adjust placement and test water quality |
Tip burning or recession | Alk or salinity swings | Stabilize parameters |
Color fading | Nutrient deficiency or low PAR | Feed more and/or increase lighting |
✅ Quick Summary
Trait | Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) |
Care Level | Moderate |
Aggression | High (long stingers) |
Lighting | Moderate to High |
Flow | Moderate, gentle, indirect |
Feeding | Optional but recommended |
Fragging | Easy (branching) / Hard (wall) |
Placement | Mid to low, 6″+ from other corals |
Polyp Extension | Long, flowing, torch-like |
🔥 Popular Torch Coral Variants
Name | Color Features | Notes |
Holy Grail | Gold/yellow tips, neon green base | Very rare and expensive |
Dragon Soul | Bright gold tips, dark base | High-end collector coral |
Indo Gold | Golden tentacles | Sensitive but stunning |
Green Torch | Classic neon green with white tips | Hardy and widely available |
🌿 Tips for Success
- Stable parameters are key — Euphyllia corals don’t like swings.
- Observe tentacle length before adding neighbors.
- Do not touch tentacles — they are sensitive and sticky.
- Use coral dips (e.g., iodine) if fragging or treating for infection.
Additional information
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