How much light and flow does Yuma mushroom coral need?

Soft coral, low light at roughly 50–80 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 Yuma 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 Yuma mushroom coral need feeding?

Optional. It survives without feeding, but regular small doses improve growth and colour.

What water parameters does Yuma 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 Yuma mushroom coral a good beginner coral?

Difficulty: beginner. Growth: slow. Place it in the foreground / midground. Spacing: 8-10 cm; mushrooms and button polyps pressed together overgrow each other while both keep releasing toxins.

G-03 / 19Marine

Yuma mushroom coral香菇珊瑚

Ricordea yuma · Ricordeidae

Yuma mushroom: a single large polyp with fluorescent tentacles that colours up best in low light, and it suppresses neighbours with toxins too.

Illustration to come

G-03 / 19 · Yuma mushroom coral Ricordea yuma

SpecificationsCoral atlas

Name: 香菇珊瑚
Scientific name: Ricordea yuma
Family: Ricordeidae
Origin: Reefs of the western Indo-Pacific, including Indonesia, the Philippines and Guam
Type: Soft coral
Light: Low light
PAR: 50–80
Flow: Low flow
Aggression: Chemical toxins
Feeding: Optional feeding
Alkalinity: 7–9 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 mg/L
Magnesium: 1250–1350 mg/L
Salinity: 1.023–1.026 SG
Growth: Slow
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: 8-10 cm; mushrooms and button polyps pressed together overgrow each other while both keep releasing toxins.
2Flow: low to medium; it prefers crevices and shade, and strong flow makes it let go and drift.
3Feeding: optional — the polyp is large, and one pellet or shrimp feed a week noticeably speeds up division.
4Water tolerance: not sensitive to swings, but a sudden drop in salinity or water above 28 °C makes it spew threads and shrivel into a ball.
5Growth form: new individuals arise by longitudinal division and settle into crevices on their own — no glue required.

Frequently asked questions

How much light and flow does Yuma mushroom coral need?: Soft coral, low light at roughly 50–80 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 Yuma 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 Yuma mushroom coral need feeding?: Optional. It survives without feeding, but regular small doses improve growth and colour.
What water parameters does Yuma 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 Yuma mushroom coral a good beginner coral?: Difficulty: beginner. Growth: slow. Place it in the foreground / midground. Spacing: 8-10 cm; mushrooms and button polyps pressed together overgrow each other while both keep releasing toxins.