Bubble Coral

Bubble Coral Care: A Beginner-Friendly LPS Showpiece

Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) is a popular large-polyp stony (LPS) coral known for its inflated, pearl-like bubbles and gentle movement. It makes a stunning centerpiece for reef tanks, especially for hobbyists who want a dramatic coral that isn’t overly demanding when basic needs are met.

This coral expands during the day, with each bubble filled with water, and retracts at night to reveal a hard, branching skeleton. Understanding its preferences for placement, lighting, and flow is key to keeping it healthy and inflated.

Ideal Placement, Lighting, and Flow

Bubble Coral prefers moderate conditions rather than extremes. Correct placement will help it open fully and avoid tissue damage.

  • Placement: Low to mid-level in the tank, on a stable rock ledge or directly on the sand where its skeleton won’t tip over.
  • Lighting: Low to moderate PAR. Too much light can cause the bubbles to shrink and the tissue to bleach.
  • Flow: Low, indirect flow. Strong, direct current can tear the delicate tissue on its sharp skeleton.
  • Neighbors: Give it space. Bubble Coral has long sweeper tentacles at night that can sting nearby corals.

Always allow enough room for full expansion. The coral may look small when closed, but it can easily double in size once inflated.

Feeding, Water Parameters, and Long-Term Health

While Bubble Coral relies on photosynthesis via its zooxanthellae, it benefits significantly from supplemental feeding and stable water chemistry.

Feeding Tips

  • Offer small meaty foods (mysis shrimp, chopped krill, or specialized coral foods) 1–2 times per week.
  • Target feed gently with a turkey baster or pipette; avoid blasting the tissue.
  • Feed after lights dim when feeding tentacles are extended for better capture.

Recommended Water Parameters

  • Temperature: 76–78°F (24–26°C)
  • Salinity: 1.025–1.026 specific gravity
  • Alkalinity: 8–9.5 dKH
  • Calcium: 400–450 ppm
  • Magnesium: 1300–1400 ppm
  • Nitrate & Phosphate: Low but detectable, not ultra-sterile

Stable parameters are more important than chasing perfect numbers. Rapid swings in alkalinity or temperature are common causes of tissue recession in Bubble Coral.

Common Problems and Simple Solutions

  • Tissue recession: Often from direct flow or repeated physical damage. Reduce flow and keep fish and inverts from picking at the bubbles.
  • Bleaching: Usually from excessive light or sudden lighting upgrades. Shade the coral and acclimate slowly to stronger fixtures.
  • Poor expansion: Check for pests, nearby stinging corals, or unstable alkalinity and salinity.

For more on building a stable reef system, explore our guides to LPS coral care, setting up a balanced reef tank, and choosing compatible beginner corals that pair well with Bubble Coral.