Cyphastrea coral (Cyphastrea chalcidicum) care guide

Group
Corals
Other names
Meteor shower coral, Cyphastrea
Family
Merulinidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific and Red Sea; shallow reefs
Water
saltwater
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12
Care level
intermediate
Reef safe
yes
Lighting
Moderate; about PAR 100–200 (general hobby guidance)
Flow
Medium to strong

Care

An encrusting stony coral with small, round, raised corallites scattered over the colony, often in contrasting colours that give it the "meteor shower" look. Colonies are usually green, brown or pink with contrasting polyps; LiveAquaria sells captive-grown frags, such as a green form with pink eyes. Placement: bottom to middle of the rockwork, where it can encrust. Light and flow: moderate light and medium to strong flow. Water: hardy. Keep calcium around 400–450 ppm, alkalinity at dKH 8–12 and magnesium around 1250–1350 ppm, and keep them steady; regular dosing of calcium, alkalinity and trace elements (or a calcium reactor in a busy reef) is needed as the coral grows. Growth: LiveAquaria describes Cyphastrea as hardy and fast growing, with colours that improve in good conditions. LiveAquaria gives figures for Cyphastrea in general rather than this species. Selling: this is a CITES Appendix II coral. Frags grown in the UK can be sold freely; wild-collected or imported pieces must have been legally imported with CITES paperwork. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/liveaquaria®-ccgc-aquacultured-green-and-pink-cyphastrea-coral). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mostly photosynthetic (zooxanthellae). LiveAquaria recommends occasional broadcast feeding with micro-plankton or coral foods.

Breeding

Easy to frag by cutting the encrusting colony into pieces with a saw or bone cutters and gluing them to plugs. Frags encrust onto rock fairly quickly.

Compatibility and tank mates

Semi-aggressive: as it grows it puts out sweeper tentacles that reach past its edge, so leave several centimetres (about 10 cm) between it and other corals.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.