Cyphastrea decadia

Moll & Borel-Best, 1984

Lesser Knob Coral

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Red Sea, Java, Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tahiti, and Australia.

Natural Environment: Inhabits upper reef slopes in lagoons where soft sediment collects and generally seen at depths between 10 to 130 feet (3 - 40 m).

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade.

Maricultured specimens available.

Somewhat capable of producing its nutritional needs via photosynthesis, yet benefits from once or twice a week feedings of various plankton-like foods, such as Oyster eggs, cyclops, baby brine shrimp, Spirulina, enriched adult brine and mysis shrimp.

Even though its feeding tentacles are usually only displayed at night, it will sometimes display them during daylight hours if it senses food entering the aquarium. I have often used a freeze-dried krill squished between my fingertips in the aquarium water to bring forth its feeding tentacles.

Cultured frags available and in many cases, with intensity of color/colors depending greatly on the lighting/water quality conditions of the culturing areas, therefore ask under what conditions it was grown in so you may continue to see it maintain its health/colors!

If not sure, begin by placing the specimen where it will receive moderate light, e.g., 250 - 300 PAR. Move to slightly higher PAR levels only after becoming fully acclimated to initial surrounding conditions. Patience is the key with specimens that come from unknown environments.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Anthozoa

Subclass: Hexacorallia

Order: Scleractinia

Family: Faviidae

Genus: Cyphastrea

FYI: In the wild, form large colonies with compact branches usually on soft substrates and generally brown, grey or cream. Looks like an Acropora species because of its compact branches, and is quite unique in this family of mainly encrusting species.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Photosynthetic/Plankton feeder

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: With caution

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity)

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Temperature Range: 74 - 83°F (23 - 28°C)

Minimum Tank Size: 50 gallons

Lighting: PAR 250 - 350+

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4

Iodine/Trace Elements Monitor/as necessary to maintain quality seawater.