Caring for Soft Corals in Your Reef Tank
Caring for Soft Corals in Your Reef Tank
Soft corals are a popular and diverse group of corals that can add a range of colours and textures to your reef tank. These corals are generally easier to care for than their stony coral counterparts and can provide a beautiful and fascinating addition to your aquarium. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when caring for soft corals in your reef tank.
Lighting
Soft corals require moderate to low lighting to thrive in your reef tank. They are not as light-dependent as stony corals, and can therefore be placed in areas of your tank that receive lower light levels. However, they still need adequate light in order to produce the energy they need to survive. LED lights or T5 lights are good options for providing the necessary lighting for soft corals.
Water Quality
Water quality is critical for the health of soft corals in your reef tank. These corals are sensitive to changes in water quality, so it's important to maintain consistent water parameters. This includes temperature, pH, salinity, nitrates, and phosphates. Regular water testing and water changes can help to maintain a stable and healthy environment for your soft corals.
Nutrition
Soft corals also require a balanced diet in order to thrive in your reef tank. These corals feed primarily on microscopic organisms, but they can also benefit from being fed small amounts of food, such as Polyp Labs Reef Roids, TLF Goniopower or phytoplankton. It's important to not overfeed your soft corals, as excess food can lead to an increase in nitrogenous waste, which can be harmful to your corals and other inhabitants in your tank.
Placement
Soft corals require proper placement in your reef tank to ensure that they receive adequate light and water flow. These corals need to be placed in areas of moderate water flow in order to receive adequate nutrients and waste removal. Additionally, it's important to not place soft corals too close to other corals, as they may sting each other.
Final Thoughts
Caring for soft corals in your reef tank is relatively easy, as these corals are less demanding than their stony coral counterparts. By providing adequate lighting, water quality, nutrition, and placement, you can ensure that your soft corals will thrive and provide a beautiful and fascinating addition to your reef tank. With proper care and attention, soft corals can be a long-lasting and stunning part of your aquarium for years to come.
FAQ
When will my order ship?
We ship orders out each Monday and Tuesday. Cut off time are Midnight Sunday or Monday. We may postpone shipments to the following week if we are advised by our shipping partner of delays or on public holidays. Information regarding tracking will be emailed once your order has shipped.
Is it possible to collect my order in person?
Customers have the option of picking up their orders locally by selecting the local pickup option during checkout. Upon placing an order, we will reach out to you within 24 hours to schedule a collection time. The pickup location is situated in Kingsgrove NSW.
Collections Times:
Weekdays - 9am - 2pm
Weekends - 9am -12pm
If required, we can arrange for collections outside of the above times as well.
In the event that my corals arrive deceased, what is the course of action?
To be eligible for our Arrive Alive Guarantee, it is necessary to send us well-defined pictures of the coral in its shipping container, within 2 hours of Star Track delivery time, via email at info@zeoboxreef.com.au.
For further information regarding the Arrive Alive Guarantee policy and claims process, kindly refer to our Arrive Alive Guarantee page.
With which courier company will my order be shipped?
We use Star Track Premium Express Freight to ship all of our orders as we have found them to be the most dependable door-to-door courier service accessible. We assess their performance every month to ensure the swiftest delivery service at a sensible cost. Additionally, we provide same-day airport-to-airport shipping, more details can be found on our Airport to Airport shipping page.
Do I have to be present at home to receive my order?
No, it is not necessary to be present as all orders are marked with an "Authority to leave" notice. If a secure and safe location is not available on your property and the order cannot be left at your doorstep, such as in the case of apartment buildings, we suggest having your order delivered to your workplace.
Can I expect the coral I see online to match what I receive in my order?
Shopping for live coral for sale online can be a source of worry for reef hobbyists, who can never be entirely sure what will arrive in the mail. Will it resemble the coral they saw online? While there is no substitute for an in-person viewing of the coral, we offer What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) corals to alleviate concerns. Our WYSIWYG corals allow you to preview the actual coral fragment or colony before making a purchase. We take pride in photographing all our corals under Ecotech Radion G5 LED Light fixtures. We use professional-grade Full Frame DSLR cameras and lenses to capture the highest quality representation of the coral. We also provide multiple photos of the coral under different light spectrums, including full spectrum (white light) and heavy blue spectrum. We also offer size approximations for every coral in centimeters. This measurement is taken when the coral is fully expanded, providing you with a better understanding of the amount of space the coral will occupy in your aquarium.
What are the shipping costs?
- Star Track Premium shipping service offers different rates based on the order amount.
- Orders under $249 have a shipping cost of $45.
- Orders $249 - $499 have a shipping cost of $29.
- Orders $500 and over are shipped for free.
- Same-day airport to airport shipping starts from $65. Lean more
How will my order be packaged?
Zeo Box Reef Aquaculture prides itself on being a leader in the industry for packaging and shipping corals. We have a meticulous approach to packaging methods to ensure that your order arrives in optimal condition. Our team carefully hand-picks and packs each order with great care. Coral fragments are placed in specially designed containers and secured using chemically inert foam floats. For larger corals, we use a double-bagging method and add activated carbon to achieve optimal water quality during shipping. To maintain the ideal temperature conditions during transit, we use thick-walled styrofoam boxes with heat/cold packs as needed. Our shipping options include door to door Star Track Premium freight or same day Airport-to-Airport delivery. Both options are fast and secure.