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.