Description

• 🧬 Chalice Coral – Description & Care Guide

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  🪸 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.

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  🔎 Key Features

  • Growth Form: Encrusting or plating; can develop ruffled ridges or lobes

  • Texture: Smooth to bumpy surface with visible mouths (“eyes”)

  • Polyp Type: Small polyps often hidden during the day, extended at night

  • Lighting Response: Fluorescent pigments shine under blue/actinic light

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  🧪 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

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  💡 Lighting Tips

  • Low to moderate light is preferred.

  • Too much light can cause bleaching or loss of color.

  • Acclimate slowly to new lighting, especially high-intensity LEDs.

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  🌊 Flow Requirements

  • Moderate, indirect flow to avoid detritus buildup and tissue damage.

  • Avoid strong, direct flow — it may tear the thin tissue.

  • Nighttime polyp extension helps with feeding and respiration.

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  🍽️ Feeding

  Chalice corals benefit greatly from target feeding and grow faster with regular nutrition.

  • Best Foods: Mysis shrimp, Reef-Roids, Coral Frenzy, powdered plankton

  • Feeding Frequency: 2–3× per week, especially after lights out

  • Feeding Method: Use a pipette to target feed near mouths/eyes

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  🧼 Care & Placement

  • Aggression: Moderate to high — develops sweeper tentacles at night

  • Placement: Bottom to mid-level with space around it to avoid stinging neighbors

  • Fragging: Can be cut with a wet tile saw or bone cutters — allow healing time

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  ⚠️ 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

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  ✅ 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

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  🌈 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

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  🌿 Tips for Success

  • Best placed on flat rock or frag plugs to spread outward.

  • Watch for nighttime sweepers before placing near sensitive corals.

  • Maintain stable parameters — Chalices don’t tolerate swings well.

  • Consider using a bluer lighting spectrum to enhance colors.