How much light and flow does Mushroom coral need?

Soft coral, low light at roughly 30–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PAR, with low flow. Light and flow must match: high light with weak flow burns tips, strong flow with weak light thins the tissue.

Will Mushroom coral attack neighbouring corals?

It releases chemicals that suppress its neighbours, worst in a small tank with weak flow and stale carbon. Increase flow, change carbon often, and place it downstream.

Does Mushroom coral need feeding?

No. It gets its energy from its symbiotic algae, and extra food only raises nutrients.

What water parameters does Mushroom coral need?

24–26 °C, specific gravity 1.023–1.026, 7–9 dKH, 400–450 mg/L calcium, 1250–1350 mg/L magnesium. That is only 2 dKH wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.

Is Mushroom coral a good beginner coral?

Difficulty: beginner. Growth: fast. Place it in the foreground / midground. Spacing: it multiplies fast and is hard to peel off rock once attached, so give it its own rock from the start.

G-03 / 20Marine

Mushroom coral蘑菇珊瑚

Discosoma spp. · Discosomidae

Mushroom coral: the most common beginner soft coral, capable of carpeting rock in low light and low flow — and it is toxic as well.

Illustration to come

G-03 / 20 · Mushroom coral Discosoma spp.

SpecificationsCoral atlas

Name: 蘑菇珊瑚
Scientific name: Discosoma spp.
Family: Discosomidae
Origin: Reefs of the Indo-Pacific and the Caribbean, including the Red Sea, Indonesia and the Philippines
Type: Soft coral
Light: Low light
PAR: 30–60
Flow: Low flow
Aggression: Chemical toxins
Feeding: No feeding needed
Alkalinity: 7–9 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 mg/L
Magnesium: 1250–1350 mg/L
Salinity: 1.023–1.026 SG
Growth: Fast
Placement: Foreground / Midground
Level: Beginner

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–26 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.023–1.026 SG

Alkalinity7–9 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Spacing: it multiplies fast and is hard to peel off rock once attached, so give it its own rock from the start.
2Flow: low to medium; strong flow flips the disc over and it cannot open.
3Feeding: none needed; light and suspended organics are enough.
4Water tolerance: extremely high, and one of the first corals a new tank can keep well — though very low nutrients wash the colour out.
5Growth form: spreads by disc-shaped polyps and creeping tissue; torn fragments that land on rock grow into new individuals.

Frequently asked questions

How much light and flow does Mushroom coral need?: Soft coral, low light at roughly 30–60 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PAR, with low flow. Light and flow must match: high light with weak flow burns tips, strong flow with weak light thins the tissue.
Will Mushroom coral attack neighbouring corals?: It releases chemicals that suppress its neighbours, worst in a small tank with weak flow and stale carbon. Increase flow, change carbon often, and place it downstream.
Does Mushroom coral need feeding?: No. It gets its energy from its symbiotic algae, and extra food only raises nutrients.
What water parameters does Mushroom coral need?: 24–26 °C, specific gravity 1.023–1.026, 7–9 dKH, 400–450 mg/L calcium, 1250–1350 mg/L magnesium. That is only 2 dKH wide, so stability matters more than hitting a particular number.
Is Mushroom coral a good beginner coral?: Difficulty: beginner. Growth: fast. Place it in the foreground / midground. Spacing: it multiplies fast and is hard to peel off rock once attached, so give it its own rock from the start.