COTM - Mar '08 - Sarcophyton sp.

omard · 03-01-2008, 12:25 PM

The COTM thread has been sadly neglected for some time...

Here is attempt to get it going again.

Picked the Sarcophyton as there have been a couple posts about them last month.

Can turn into real tank monsters...but a great "showpiece" if in right place and type...

Growing fast and blocking light from other corals is biggest problem I find with them. But easily trimmed back when pruning necessary.

Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral

(Sarcophyton sp.)

(Liveaquaria.com)

a.k.a.: Sarcophyton Coral, Mushroom, Leather, or Trough Corals.

Care Level: Easy

Lighting Requirements: Moderate to High

Water Flow: Moderate

Range: Red Sea, Indo-Pacific

Family: Alcyoniidae

Water Conditions: 74-80° F; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12

Appearance: They are found in various shades of brown, tan or green, with white or gold polyps. It is difficult to identify many species because they all have the similar appearance of a mushroom or toadstool, each with a distinct stalk and capitulum (cap). As they grow older, they develop a folded appearance.
The brown Sarcophyton Leather Corals from Indonesia and Tonga are easy to maintain in the reef aquarium and make an excellent coral for the beginning through expert reef aquarist. Toadstool Mushroom Leather Corals require medium to high lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

Aggressiveness: They are quite aggressive and should not be placed near other corals. Esp. Zoanthids. Will release toxins into water if cut or injured in tank. Always remove from tank if fragging or pruning.

Propagation: Fragging is easy by cutting off a portion of the Coral's crown and attaching that piece to live rock or placing it in the sandy bottom of the reef aquarium.

Notes: Smaller specimens are shaped like a mushroom, however as they grow larger they will take on an interesting folded appearance. When fully open the tops of these leather corals are covered with numerous polyps about 1 cm in length. As with most leather corals they may go through periods when their polyps do not extend. They may shrink and shed some of their outer skin. Do not be alarmed if this should occur it is a natural process that they go through. These leathers may remain closed for several weeks at a time, but will reopen bigger and more beautiful than ever. They require moderate water currents and moderate to high reef lighting for proper health. Additions of iodine will help to expedite their growth.

They can grow fast doubling in size every 6 to 9 months and quickly overtake tank, shading other corals.

The large one on the left side of tank is from frag of earlier one chopped out couple of years ago. It is already shading a number of corals that have been relocated in main tank or moved to Nano.

Here are a couple of other varieties inhabiting tank.

While they look pretty much the same, they are actually distinctly different animals. Growth rate, coloring, shape and fineness of "mouths" are not the same on any.

Great Beginner/New Tank Coral!!!

aquaboy · 03-01-2008, 12:28 PM

I want one!

omard · 03-02-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aquaboy

I want one!

Lotsa possibilities.

Small ones should be relatively cheap at LFS...make sure to buy small save yourself some $ as these guys will grow on their own swiftly.

So easy to frag likely some reefer near you will have some "trimmings" about.

Get one! (or two, or three...

)

Camilsky · 03-02-2008, 09:32 AM

Very nice review! Thanks Scott!
This is my sleeping beauty

baugherb · 03-02-2008, 09:38 AM

Awesome info... Thanks omard...

lunatik_69 · 03-02-2008, 10:33 AM

I always wanted one. Maybe I can get one now to replace my recent death of my torch. I love rebounding.

Thanks for the good idea Scott. karma

aquaboy · 03-02-2008, 11:59 AM

Well, ill ask around! but being in a small mud and clay built village im gonna have to search! lol! Thats what i was thinking. my birthday is coming up and my lfs does have some nice frag tanks......

paintball7 · 03-02-2008, 02:53 PM

arent they also called toadstools??

omard · 03-03-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paintball7

arent they also called toadstools??

Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral
(Sarcophyton sp.)

a.k.a.: Sarcophyton Coral, Mushroom, Leather, or Trough Corals.

Froc3 · 03-03-2008, 08:15 AM

Good choice. Looks like a very nice piece of livestock.

03-01-2008, 12:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
omard Gnarly Old Codfish Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 60 Posts: 4,743 Skin: Mint Karma: 4558	COTM - Mar '08 - Sarcophyton sp. The COTM thread has been sadly neglected for some time... Here is attempt to get it going again. Picked the Sarcophyton as there have been a couple posts about them last month. Can turn into real tank monsters...but a great "showpiece" if in right place and type... Growing fast and blocking light from other corals is biggest problem I find with them. But easily trimmed back when pruning necessary. Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral *(Sarcophyton sp.)* (Liveaquaria.com) a.k.a.: Sarcophyton Coral, Mushroom, Leather, or Trough Corals. Care Level: Easy Lighting Requirements: Moderate to High Water Flow: Moderate Range: Red Sea, Indo-Pacific Family: Alcyoniidae Water Conditions: 74-80° F; sg 1.023-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4; dKH 8-12 Appearance: They are found in various shades of brown, tan or green, with white or gold polyps. It is difficult to identify many species because they all have the similar appearance of a mushroom or toadstool, each with a distinct stalk and capitulum (cap). As they grow older, they develop a folded appearance. The brown Sarcophyton Leather Corals from Indonesia and Tonga are easy to maintain in the reef aquarium and make an excellent coral for the beginning through expert reef aquarist. Toadstool Mushroom Leather Corals require medium to high lighting combined with medium to strong water movement. For continued good health, they will also require the addition of iodine, strontium, and other trace elements to the water. Aggressiveness: They are quite aggressive and should not be placed near other corals. Esp. Zoanthids. Will release toxins into water if cut or injured in tank. Always remove from tank if fragging or pruning. Propagation: Fragging is easy by cutting off a portion of the Coral's crown and attaching that piece to live rock or placing it in the sandy bottom of the reef aquarium. Notes: Smaller specimens are shaped like a mushroom, however as they grow larger they will take on an interesting folded appearance. When fully open the tops of these leather corals are covered with numerous polyps about 1 cm in length. As with most leather corals they may go through periods when their polyps do not extend. They may shrink and shed some of their outer skin. Do not be alarmed if this should occur it is a natural process that they go through. These leathers may remain closed for several weeks at a time, but will reopen bigger and more beautiful than ever. They require moderate water currents and moderate to high reef lighting for proper health. Additions of iodine will help to expedite their growth. They can grow fast doubling in size every 6 to 9 months and quickly overtake tank, shading other corals. The large one on the left side of tank is from frag of earlier one chopped out couple of years ago. It is already shading a number of corals that have been relocated in main tank or moved to Nano. Here are a couple of other varieties inhabiting tank. While they look pretty much the same, they are actually distinctly different animals. Growth rate, coloring, shape and fineness of "mouths" are not the same on any. Great Beginner/New Tank Coral!!! _________ http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Omardsigs.jpg AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb) 12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..." - MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") Last edited by omard; 07-07-2008 at 05:32 PM.

03-01-2008, 12:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
aquaboy Panda Puffer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tatamy, PA Age: 16 Posts: 2,115 Skin: Mint Karma: 2264	I want one! _________ http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1...5feb930fo9.jpg

03-02-2008, 09:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Camilsky Stylophora Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Groningen, The Netherlands Age: 27 Posts: 998 Skin: Mint Karma: 3715	Very nice review! Thanks Scott! This is my sleeping beauty _________ My FlickR Photo Gallery My 45g. Cube Thread

03-02-2008, 09:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
baugherb Nanolicious Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: niles, ohio Age: 33 Posts: 4,805 Skin: Mint Karma: 28057	Awesome info... Thanks omard... _________ 12 gallon cube with 10gal sump Est. 2/8/10 150w MH Outer Orbit Pendant 10gal sump Air-Driven Skimmer Corals----Too many to fit in my sig. Fish-------Allens Damsel in the display. Inverts----Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Future 3Reef Nano Moderator)

03-02-2008, 10:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
lunatik_69 PICTURE POLICE ENFORCER Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 40 Posts: 7,912 Skin: Classic Karma: 45305	I always wanted one. Maybe I can get one now to replace my recent death of my torch. I love rebounding. Thanks for the good idea Scott. karma _________ 11 yr old system, 90g Corner-megaflow DT, custom 55g sump/refug, 692w lighting, Mag-18, AquaC EV 180, AC-Jr, Pin-Point Cal monitor and too many corals and fish to list. Happy Reefing Last edited by lunatik_69; 03-02-2008 at 12:13 PM.

03-02-2008, 11:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
aquaboy Panda Puffer Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tatamy, PA Age: 16 Posts: 2,115 Skin: Mint Karma: 2264	Well, ill ask around! but being in a small mud and clay built village im gonna have to search! lol! Thats what i was thinking. my birthday is coming up and my lfs does have some nice frag tanks......

03-02-2008, 02:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
paintball7 Feather Duster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 201 Skin: Mint Karma: 108	arent they also called toadstools??

03-03-2008, 08:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
Froc3 Fire Goby Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Saskatoon, Sk Age: 23 Posts: 1,315 Skin: Classic Karma: 4068	Good choice. Looks like a very nice piece of livestock. _________ 160g plywood tank born Jan. 22/09 Tank Thread: 160g plywood tank

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