Soft corals
beginnerLeather corals
Sarcophyton / Sinularia / Lobophytum spp.
Quick reference
Min tank size
20 US gal
20 gal — leather corals get big. 10 gal viable for finger leathers / small toadstools only.
PAR
75–200 µmol/m²/s
Flow
medium
Placement
Mid to upper rockwork. Needs space — Sarcophyton can reach 12+ inches across.
Temperature
75–82 °F
Salinity
1.024–1.026 SG
pH
8.0–8.4
Alkalinity
7–10 dKH
Calcium
400–450 ppm
Magnesium
1,250–1,400 ppm
Feeding
Photosynthetic. Larger leathers will catch zooplankton at night.
Compatibility
Releases terpenoid compounds that suppress neighbors — particularly hard on SPS in small tanks. Run carbon if mixing with SPS.
What kills it
Sudden environment change. Some leathers reject after long transport stress.
Common mistakes
- •Panicking when it sheds the waxy film — that's normal cleaning behavior every 1–4 weeks.
- •Placing too close to SPS — leathers leak terpenoids that stunt acro growth.
Equipment & food for this species
Affiliate linksSoft corals don't strictly need feeding. Reef Roids help if you want faster growth.
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, reefcalcs earns from qualifying purchases.
Related
Last reviewed