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Home > Corals > LPS Hard Corals > Merulina Coral
Merulina Coral (Merulina ampliata)
Merulina Coral
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Please Note: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided. Approximate size range may also vary between individual specimen.
Merulina Coral (Merulina ampliata)
Additional locales and sizes may be available!
Additional locales and sizes may be available!

Quick Stats

Care Level Difficult
Temperament Aggressive
Color Form Blue, Green, Purple, Red
Water Conditions 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Family Merulinidae
Lighting High
Supplements Calcium, Trace Elements
Waterflow Medium
Placement Middle to Top
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information
Care Level Difficult
Temperament Aggressive
Color Form Blue, Green, Purple, Red
Water Conditions 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
Family Merulinidae
Lighting High
Supplements Calcium, Trace Elements
Waterflow Medium
Placement Middle to Top
Compatibility View Chart
What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here for more information

Overview

The Merulina Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral also known as Lettuce, Cabbage, Ridge, or Ruffled Coral. Most aquarists will receive the species M. ampliata that commonly lives in lagoons and other sheltered areas of the reef. Merulina Coral colonies begin life as an encrusting coral. With time, growth, and prevailing conditions, they start to develop the more spectacular structures that have made them famous with reef aquarists everywhere. It is normal to see the intricate skeleton frame through its skin. Fan-like plates are usually the first to form. More plates then form in the center of the fan, creating a ruffled appearance that truly resembles a head of cabbage or lettuce.

The Merulina Coral will need a high light level and placement at mid-level or higher in the aquarium with a medium water movement. While it rarely exposes its polyps, they may occasionally be seen at night. The sweeper tentacles that are used to gather food will reach about three inches in length. It is, therefore, a good idea to keep other corals outside of this range. For continued good health, it will require the addition of calcium, strontium, and other trace elements to the water.

It will benefit from additional food in the form of micro-plankton or brine shrimp twice a week.

Approximate Purchase Size: Small: 1-1/2" to 2-1/4"; Medium: 2-1/4" to 3-1/2"; Large: 4" to 5-1/4"; Aquacultured Small: 3/4" to 1-1/2' ; Aquacultured Medium: 1-1/2" to 2-1/2"

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