Soft Coral Care Basics – Coral Care Guide

Soft corals (like leathers, zoanthids, and mushrooms) are flexible, fleshy corals that lack a hard skeleton. They sway in the current, come in a wide range of colors, and usually grow faster and tolerate more variation than many stony corals. Because they’re hardy, adaptable, and visually dynamic, they’re ideal for beginners and a staple in mixed reef tanks.

Lighting Requirements

Most soft corals do well under low to moderate reef lighting. Aim for roughly 50–150 PAR, depending on species:

  • Low-light softies (e.g., many mushrooms): bottom to shaded mid-level areas, 50–80 PAR.
  • Moderate-light softies (e.g., leathers, zoas): mid to upper rockwork, 80–150 PAR.

Acclimate to new lights slowly to avoid bleaching—start in lower light and move up over 1–2 weeks.

Water Flow

Soft corals generally prefer low to moderate, indirect flow that keeps their tissue gently moving and detritus from settling.

  • Too little flow: polyps stay closed, tissue looks dusty or collects debris, algae may grow on them.
  • Too much flow: polyps remain tightly retracted, tissue may fold over, or the coral leans away from the current.

Aiming powerheads past, not directly at, the coral usually works best.

Water Parameters

  • Temperature: 24–26°C (75–79°F), avoid swings >1–2°F per day.
  • Salinity / SG: 1.024–1.026 (32–35 ppt), stable.
  • pH: 8.0–8.4
  • Alkalinity: 8–10 dKH
  • Calcium: 380–450 ppm
  • Magnesium: 1250–1400 ppm
  • Nitrate: 2–15 ppm (they tolerate and often prefer a bit of “nutrient richness”).
  • Phosphate: 0.02–0.10 ppm

Soft corals are forgiving but still need stability and clean, well-filtered water.

Feeding & Nutrition

Most soft corals host zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae) and get much of their energy from light plus dissolved nutrients. Many will benefit from occasional feeding:

  • What to feed: fine particulate foods like phytoplankton, zooplankton, coral-specific micro foods, and quality reef blends.
  • How often: 1–3 times per week is usually enough in a nutrient-balanced tank.

Some polyps can take slightly larger foods (e.g., zoanthids), but avoid overfeeding, which can degrade water quality.

Placement & Compatibility

Place soft corals where they have room to expand and grow, with gentle flow and appropriate light:

  • Placement: mushrooms and zoas do well on lower rockwork and islands; leathers and larger softies often go mid-level where they can receive moderate light and flow.
  • Growth and spread: many soft corals spread quickly and can overgrow nearby rock, so isolate aggressive spreaders on their own rocks if needed.
  • Chemical warfare: some soft corals release allelopathic chemicals that irritate stony corals; use carbon and regular water changes in mixed reefs.
  • Stinging: most soft corals have relatively mild stings but still need personal space—avoid direct contact with delicate LPS/SPS.

With stable water, appropriate light and flow, and thoughtful placement, soft corals can become long-lived, forgiving showpieces in a reef aquarium.