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Soft Corals

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Soft corals are a diverse and beginner-friendly group of reef-building animals that offer exceptional color, growth, and variety without the care demands of stony corals. Unlike LPS and SPS species, soft corals do not form a rigid calcium carbonate skeleton. This makes them more flexible, resilient to handling, and better suited for tanks with fluctuating conditions.

The soft coral group includes a wide range of species such as zoanthids, palythoas, mushrooms, clove polyps, and xenia. Within mushrooms alone, you'll find Discosomas, Yumas, Ricordeas, and Rhodactis—each with its own growth pattern, texture, and coloration. These corals can thrive under moderate lighting and flow, and many species grow quickly once settled, forming dense mats or colonies over time.

At Top Shelf Aquatics, we offer a curated selection of soft corals for sale, including aquacultured and conditioned frags grown in our stable in-house systems. Whether you're starting your first reef tank or looking to add color and coverage to a mature display, you'll find healthy, vibrant soft coral frags that are easy to care for and quick to establish.

Soft Coral FAQs

What makes soft corals ideal for beginners?

Soft corals are some of the easiest and most forgiving corals to care for. They don’t require the precise water chemistry or intense lighting that SPS and many LPS corals need. Because they lack a rigid calcium carbonate skeleton, softies are more resilient to handling, fluctuations in parameters, and tank startup cycles.

They adapt well to a range of lighting and flow, grow quickly, and offer vibrant color and motion—making them perfect for first-time reef keepers or anyone looking for low-maintenance additions to a mixed reef.

What are the main types of soft corals?

Soft corals include a wide variety of species, each with its own look and growth pattern. Some of the most popular types include:

- Mushrooms (Discosoma, Rhodactis, Ricordea) – Grow in domed, textured shapes and come in nearly every color imaginable.

- Zoanthids and Palythoas – Fast-growing polyps that form dense colonies and colorful "Zoa gardens."

- Clove polyps (Clavularia) – Feature feather-like polyps that wave in the current.

- Xenia and Anthelia – Known for pulsing motion and rapid growth.

- Leathers (Sarcophyton, Sinularia) – Develop into large, tree-like or toadstool structures and add height and movement to reef layouts.

Each group offers unique aesthetic and functional value for reef aquariums.

What lighting and flow do soft corals need?

Most soft corals prefer moderate lighting (PAR 75–150) and gentle to moderate flow. Too much flow can prevent polyps from opening fully, while too little may lead to detritus settling on their surface.

Mushrooms and zoanthids generally tolerate lower light and flow, while leathers and clove polyps appreciate more movement to keep tissue clean and oxygenated. Placement flexibility is one of the reasons softies are so beginner-friendly—they often adapt to a wide range of conditions as long as parameters are stable.

Do soft corals need to be fed?

Soft corals primarily rely on photosynthesis through their zooxanthellae, but many also benefit from occasional feeding. They can absorb dissolved nutrients or trap fine particles from the water column. While feeding is not required, using amino acids, phytoplankton, or fine particulate foods can encourage faster growth and deeper coloration in some species.

At Top Shelf Aquatics, our softies are maintained in nutrient-balanced systems with supplemental feeding that supports long-term color and spread.

How do I control the spread of fast-growing soft corals?

Some soft corals—like zoanthids, xenia, and certain mushrooms—can spread quickly and outcompete slower-growing neighbors if left unchecked. To manage their growth:

- Mount them on isolated rocks or frag islands

- Keep distance between softies and more sensitive corals

- Manually remove excess tissue if they begin to encroach

- Use rubble zones or sand barriers to contain spreading colonies

Controlling spread is especially important in mixed reefs, where balance between coral types is key to long-term health and aesthetics.

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