Chalice Coral in the Wild
Scientific group: “Chalice coral” is a hobby name, usually referring to corals in families like Pectiniidae, Merulinidae, and Lobophylliidae (e.g., Echinophyllia, Oxypora, Mycedium).
Habitat:
Found in the Indo-Pacific (Red Sea to the Great Barrier Reef).
Typically inhabit shallow to mid-depth reef slopes (3–40 meters).
Prefer areas with moderate water movement and indirect light.
Growth form:
Encrusting, plating, or cup-shaped.
Colonies can spread over rockwork, creating colorful “chalice” forms.
Feeding:
Contain zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae) for photosynthesis.
Also capture plankton and small particles at night using feeding tentacles.
Predators/Threats:
Coral-eating fish (like butterflyfish), crown-of-thorns starfish, and certain snails.
Sensitive to rising sea temperatures, bleaching, and physical damage.
 
 Chalice Coral Care in the Aquarium
1. Placement & Lighting
Prefer low to moderate light (PAR ~50–150).
Too much light can cause bleaching or tissue loss.
Start in a shaded, lower area of the tank and gradually acclimate.
2. Water Flow
Moderate, indirect flow.
Avoid direct blasting, as it can damage tissue.
3. Water Parameters
Temperature: 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
pH: 8.1–8.4
Alkalinity: 8–9.5 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
Nitrates/Phosphates: Low but not zero (nitrate ~2–10 ppm, phosphate ~0.03–0.1 ppm).
4. Feeding
Benefit from target feeding 2–3 times a week.
Foods: small meaty foods like mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, reef roids, or powdered coral foods.
Best fed at night when feeding tentacles extend.
5. Aggression & Spacing
Chalice corals have long sweeper tentacles and can sting neighbors.
Leave 7–10 cm (3–4 in) of space around them.
6. Fragging & Growth
Can be fragged with a diamond saw or Dremel (slow healers, so handle carefully).
Growth is moderate, encrusting outward over rockwork.
7. Common Issues
Tissue recession: Often from too much light/flow or unstable parameters.
Color fading: Usually due to excessive light or lack of nutrients.
Pests: Flatworms and nudibranchs can irritate them.
✅ Summary: In the wild, chalice corals are colorful encrusting reef builders that thrive in shaded slopes with moderate water flow. In aquariums, they do best in stable, nutrient-balanced systems with moderate lighting, careful placement, and occasional feeding.