How much light and flow does Bird’s nest coral need?

Stony coral · SPS, high light at roughly 200–300 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PAR, with high flow. Light and flow must match: high light with weak flow burns tips, strong flow with weak light thins the tissue.

Will Bird’s nest coral attack neighbouring corals?

It shows no real aggression and can sit close to neighbours, though it still must not be shaded from above.

Does Bird’s nest coral need feeding?

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

What water parameters does Bird’s nest coral need?

24–26 °C, specific gravity 1.024–1.026, 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 Bird’s nest coral a good beginner coral?

Difficulty: moderate. Growth: fast. Place it in the midground. Spacing: branches are brittle and snap when you clean the glass or move rock, so keep it out of the busy parts of the tank.

G-03 / 04Marine

Bird’s nest coral鸟巢珊瑚

Seriatopora hystrix · Pocilloporidae

Bird’s nest coral: fine dense branches with fluorescent tips, and the SPS most likely to bleach overnight.

Illustration to come

G-03 / 04 · Bird’s nest coral Seriatopora hystrix

SpecificationsCoral atlas

Name: 鸟巢珊瑚
Scientific name: Seriatopora hystrix
Family: Pocilloporidae
Origin: Reefs of the Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, Indonesia and the Great Barrier Reef
Type: Stony coral · SPS
Light: High light
PAR: 200–300
Flow: High flow
Aggression: No aggression
Feeding: No feeding needed
Alkalinity: 7–9 dKH
Calcium: 400–450 mg/L
Magnesium: 1250–1350 mg/L
Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
Growth: Fast
Placement: Midground
Level: Moderate

Water requirementsMarine

Temp.24–26 °C

pH8.1–8.4

Salinity1.024–1.026 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: branches are brittle and snap when you clean the glass or move rock, so keep it out of the busy parts of the tank.
2Flow: moderate to strong; with too little flow the inner branches suffocate and die off in patches.
3Water tolerance: very sensitive to temperature and alkalinity swings — shipping or a large water change strips the colour and recovery takes two weeks or more.
4Feeding: none needed.
5Growth form: dense forks form the nest shape; white tips can mean new growth or stress, so judge by whether the polyps are extended.

Frequently asked questions

How much light and flow does Bird’s nest coral need?: Stony coral · SPS, high light at roughly 200–300 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PAR, with high flow. Light and flow must match: high light with weak flow burns tips, strong flow with weak light thins the tissue.
Will Bird’s nest coral attack neighbouring corals?: It shows no real aggression and can sit close to neighbours, though it still must not be shaded from above.
Does Bird’s nest coral need feeding?: No. It gets its energy from its symbiotic algae, and extra food only raises nutrients.
What water parameters does Bird’s nest coral need?: 24–26 °C, specific gravity 1.024–1.026, 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 Bird’s nest coral a good beginner coral?: Difficulty: moderate. Growth: fast. Place it in the midground. Spacing: branches are brittle and snap when you clean the glass or move rock, so keep it out of the busy parts of the tank.