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Description
🧬 Chalice Coral – Description & Care Guide
🪸 Description
Chalice Coral is a common name used for various species in genera like Echinophyllia, Oxypora, Mycedium, and Echinopora. These Large Polyp Stony (LPS) corals are prized for their vibrant coloration, swirling growth patterns, and fluorescent eyes. Chalices form encrusting or plating colonies and are frequently sought after by collectors.
Common Names: Chalice Coral, Alien Eye Chalice, Hollywood Stunner, Watermelon Chalice, Miami Hurricane
Colors: Often multicolored — green, blue, pink, red, orange, purple, with contrasting eyes and ridges.
🔎 Key Features
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Growth Form: Encrusting or plating; can develop ruffled ridges or lobes
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Texture: Smooth to bumpy surface with visible mouths (“eyes”)
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Polyp Type: Small polyps often hidden during the day, extended at night
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Lighting Response: Fluorescent pigments shine under blue/actinic light
🧪 Tank Requirements
| Parameter | Ideal Range |
|---|---|
| Lighting | Low to moderate (PAR 50–150) |
| 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
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Low to moderate light is preferred.
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Too much light can cause bleaching or loss of color.
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Acclimate slowly to new lighting, especially high-intensity LEDs.
🌊 Flow Requirements
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Moderate, indirect flow to avoid detritus buildup and tissue damage.
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Avoid strong, direct flow — it may tear the thin tissue.
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Nighttime polyp extension helps with feeding and respiration.
🍽️ Feeding
Chalice corals benefit greatly from target feeding and grow faster with regular nutrition.
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Best Foods: Mysis shrimp, Reef-Roids, Coral Frenzy, powdered plankton
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Feeding Frequency: 2–3× per week, especially after lights out
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Feeding Method: Use a pipette to target feed near mouths/eyes
🧼 Care & Placement
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Aggression: Moderate to high — develops sweeper tentacles at night
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Placement: Bottom to mid-level with space around it to avoid stinging neighbors
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Fragging: Can be cut with a wet tile saw or bone cutters — allow healing time
⚠️ Common Issues
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tissue Recession | Poor water quality or low flow | Stabilize parameters, improve flow |
| Bleaching | Excess light or sudden change | Reduce PAR, acclimate slowly |
| Algae Overgrowth | Too much light, poor flow | Increase flow, reduce nutrients/light |
| Color Dulling | Low nutrients or low light | Feed more, check nitrate/phosphate |
✅ Quick Summary
| Trait | Chalice Coral |
|---|---|
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Aggression | Moderate to High (night sweepers) |
| Lighting | Low to Moderate |
| Flow | Moderate, indirect |
| Feeding | Strongly recommended |
| Fragging | Moderate (use caution) |
| Placement | Bottom to mid, space from others |
| Growth Speed | Slow to moderate |
🌈 Popular Chalice Varieties
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Hollywood Stunner | Blue base with neon green eyes & rim |
| Miami Hurricane | Pink base with green eyes |
| Watermelon Chalice | Red/pink with bright green rim and eyes |
| Bubblegum Monster | Bright red and blue, with thick flesh |
| Rainbow Chalice | Multicolor with contrasting ridges |
🌿 Tips for Success
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Best placed on flat rock or frag plugs to spread outward.
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Watch for nighttime sweepers before placing near sensitive corals.
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Maintain stable parameters — Chalices don’t tolerate swings well.
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Consider using a bluer lighting spectrum to enhance colors.
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