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Black Torch - Euphyllia glabrescens
Unique piece - "WYSIWYG"!
What You See Is What You Get
About Euphyllias
Euphyllias have been a constant presence in reef aquariums since the hobby began. Torch corals have long tentacles with ball-shaped tips. This large polyp stony coral (LPS) is one of the most popular hard corals in the hobby because it sways in the current. It is very similar in terms of growth and care requirements to its Euphyllia cousins, the Hammer coral, and the Frogspawn coral.
See below for additional care tips for Euphyllias.
Location
Euphyllia corals are found in tropical waters across the Pacific. In particular, they are regularly harvested in the Indo-Pacific islands, including Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef.
Lighting
Hammer, Torchs, and Fragspawn (Euphyllia sp.) do not require as much light as some other corals. They can be kept under T5 fluorescents without much difficulty. In some cases, Torchs may extend more readily under soft lighting, however, they may exhibit more attractive colors when placed under stronger lighting.
Low Light |
Low light is between 30 - 50 PAR per unit area |
Medium Light |
Medium light is between 50 - 150 PAR per unit area |
|
High Light |
High light is above 150 PAR per unit area |
Water Flow
Moderate to strong water circulation is recommended. One of the main attractions of this type of LPS coral is how it sways with the current. Water flow is healthy for the coral and aesthetically pleasing.
Feeding
Like most corals, Euphyllias rely heavily on the products of their zooxanthellae, but in our experience, they also benefit from feeding. Hammer, Torchs, and Fragspawn do not seem to feed aggressively like other LPS, so finding the right food can be a challenge. We have had good results with the addition of phytoplankton (such as Easy Booster) and powdered feeding in the current (such as Vitalis' Soft Coral and SPS Coral Food).
Aggressiveness
Corals have developed various adaptations to gain a competitive advantage in the battle for space on reefs. In our home aquariums, we must be aware of this to create the best environment for them in the long run. Euphyllias are one of the corals that extend long sweeper tentacles. Sweeper tentacles are often used as a means of defense against other invasive coral colonies. Their white tips contain a concentration of nematocysts that can damage neighboring, more delicate corals. Most of the time, this is not a significant issue, but for safety, we recommend placing them in a location away from other corals initially.
