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As more and more people set up saltwater aquariums, more are also adding coral to the dcor. As with any living thing, it is best to understand the creature and how to care for it properly before bringing it home. Coral is no different as it is a live animal that you will be adding to your tank. The care and maintenance of coral should be well understood before making the final decision to add this beautiful animal to your aquarium.

Bubble coral is the most common type of coral that are placed in saltwater aquariums. Since they are so common, I like to use this type of coral as a guideline. There are three subspecies in bubble coral family: pearl bubble coral, grape bubble coral, and simple bubble coral. They will be referred to as bubble coral throughout this whole article since they're all cared for in the same manner.

One of the most important things to know about your coral is how to space them when you add them to the tank. Bubble coral have long tentacles which are armed with stinging cells. Mostly, they remain retracted until nightfall, when they are extended to aid in feeding habits. These tentacles will sting neighboring coral if they are close enough. Be aware of this as you position the coral in your tank and try to keep coral pieces at least 6 inches away from others.

The availability of lighting is another important factor that you should put into consideration when doing placement. Bubble corals need sufficient light sources; it is advised that you place the coral near the surface and beside the tube in the hood. Slower water movement is good for Bubble coral. Be careful not to place them in any direct current, because direct current will force coral's vehicles keep retracted and die.

As you know, coral is living animal; animal needs to get food, coral needs food too. You can feed a few small pieces to your coral every three days. Place the food morsels on the polyp of the coral. The food will be trapped by the tentacles or among vesicles and will be eaten almost immediately. Not to mention that it does more harm than good if you over feed it. Algae are a pest that may damage or kill your coral. If you do follow up the schedule and clean your tank on a regular basis, the amount of algae will be controlled. Another type of thing that is bad for coral is flatworm. Fortunately, flatworms are not that hard to find, you can see them by your eyes without any trouble. They are circular spots on the coral's vesicles; however, they are not that harmful than algae. You should still keep an eye on when they grow to a large amount, with a big amount of flatworms can hurt your coral as well.

Coral is a wonderful addition to any aquarium. Many people are uninformed as to how to care for this animal. It is advised that you learn all you can about the animal, how it functions and lives before adding it to the aquarium. Once you have the knowledge and can properly care for it, coral will help to create a studding underwater paradise.

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