Caring For Bubble Coral In An Aquarium

Many people set up saltwater aquariums and most of them prefer to decorate their tanks by placing some corals in it. Do you know that coral is not a plant but an animal? Just like the way you treat other living things, coral should be taken care of under the same manner. Before purchasing it, you should know how to take care of it. You should have a full knowledge about this beautiful animal by the time you make your decision to add it up to your saltwater aquarium.

The most common type of coral that are always placed in saltwater tanks is bubble coral. I would like to take this kind of coral as a guideline because it is so common. In bubble coral family, there are three subspecies: the first is grape bubble coral, the second is simple bubble coral, and the last is pearl bubble coral. Throughout this article, they will all be referred to as bubble coral, because they are cared for in the same way.

One of the most important things to know about is how to space them when you put them in the tank. There are long stinging cells tentacles in each bubble coral. In most cases, they keep them closed till the time they are fed. If they are too close, they may hurt their neighbor coral by stinging them. You have to be aware of this case when locating corals in your tank. It is recommended to keep them apart by least 6-inch away.

As your consider the placement. Also take into consideration the available lighting where they are placed. If you have additional light sources aside from the tube in the hood, bubble coral should do well anywhere in the tank. If you are using the included florescent tubes for lighting, it may be better to place the coral closer to the surface. This species of coral prefers low movement of the water. Be sure not to place it in any direct current. Doing so will cause the coral's vesicles to remain closed. This will eventually result in death.

When you have the coral situated in the aquarium, you must remember it is a living animal and must eat just as your fish do. For bubble coral, feed it shrimp or small pieces of clam one to two times a week. Place the food morsels on the polyp of the coral. Any food that is trapped by the tentacles or among vesicles, will be eaten almost immediately. It is important not to overfeed the coral or your fish. Algae is a pest that will cause damage or even death of the coral. Keep the algae as controlled as possible by scheduled and routine cleaning of your aquarium. Bubble coral may also get flat worms. These worms are easily spotted and usually appear as circular spots on the coral's vesicles. They are not a cause for alarm and usually do little damage if any. However, if you notice a significant amount or a large population of these worms, you will have to take action as they could cause death.

Coral is a wonderful addition to any aquarium. Many people are uninformed as to how to care for this animal. It is advised that you learn all you can about the animal, how it functions and lives before adding it to the aquarium. Once you have the knowledge and can properly care for it, coral will help to create a studding underwater paradise.