My Meteor Shower Cyphastrea’s blue base is paling and orange polyps look dull—what’s the likely cause?

This coral prefers low PAR (50–120) and blue-heavy spectrum. High intensity or excessive white can bleach the base and mute polyp color. Maintain stable alkalinity (7.5–9 dKH), moderate nutrients (NO3 5–15 ppm, PO4 0.03–0.1), and gentle, indirect flow. Gradually reduce light over 1–2 weeks and watch for deeper blue return. Trace imbalance (iodine/iron) rarely contributes; avoid abrupt corrections.

How can I encourage an even, fast encrust on rock or the back wall?

Place the frag on clean, roughened surfaces with low, indirect light and moderate crossflow. Cyphastrea spreads fastest along micro-crevices, so lightly scuff smooth plastic or glass and use a magnetic shelf to start a “bridge.” Keep detritus off the growth edge, and avoid shading it with macroalgae. Stability beats feeding for growth; small weekly feedings help, but steady parameters drive the rim forward.

Daytime polyp extension is minimal—should I be concerned and how should I feed it?

It’s naturally more nocturnal. Minimal daytime extension is normal if tissue is full and color stable. For feeding, broadcast fine particulates (e.g., reef roids, rotifers) after lights dim, or gently target-feed with return flow off and low gyre. Avoid blasting; mucus strings indicate overfeeding. If polyps stay retracted day and night, check for vermetid irritation, nipping fish, or excessive flow.

Is it aggressive, and how close can I place it to other corals?

It has short sweepers and mild sting, but it wins by slow smothering. Give 2–3 cm buffer from zoanthids and encrusting montiporas to prevent overgrowth. Keep it well away from long-sweeper LPS (favia, euphyllia, galaxea) that can burn it. If space is tight, isolate on its own plug/island and periodically trim the edge to protect neighbors.

Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Coral

Cyphastrea

Overview

Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Coral shows a mottled blue base with bright orange polyps and small, encrusting bumps. Cyphastrea sp., an encrusting small-polyp stony coral, grows as a low, mat-like crust and prefers low to moderate light with gentle to moderate, indirect flow. It is photosynthetic via symbiotic algae but accepts fine particulate foods, which can support faster growth and maintain color. Place on stable rock away from aggressive neighbors, leaving room for slow lateral spread without shading higher-light corals.

Quick Facts

Care Easy

Lighting Low–Moderate

Flow Low–Moderate

Placement Low–Mid

Temperament Peaceful (1–2 inches spacing)

Recommended Parameters

Temp 76–80°F

pH 8.1–8.4

Salinity 1.025–1.026

Calcium 400–450 ppm

AlkAlkalinity 8–9 dKH

Magnesium 1280–1350 ppm

Feeding photosynthetic, microzooplankton, rotifers, cyclops/copepods, oyster eggs, reef roids/powdered coral foods, marine snow, amino acid supplements

Care & Placement

Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Coral (Cyphastrea sp.) prefers low to moderate light (PAR ~30–100) and moderate, indirect flow that keeps detritus from settling without blasting tissue. Place it low to mid in the tank or in partial shade; start on the sandbed and move it up slowly to avoid light shock. It encrusts quickly, so mount on an isolated rock if you want to contain spread. Give 1–2 inches of space from neighbors; avoid contact with high-stinging LPS and fast growers. Target or broadcast feed fine particulate foods (rotifers, cyclops, reef powders) 1–2 times weekly, ideally after lights out when polyps extend. Maintain stable parameters: temperature 76–80°F, salinity 1.025–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, alkalinity 8.0–9.5 dKH, calcium 400–450 ppm, magnesium 1250–1350 ppm. Test weekly and correct gently; this coral is sensitive to abrupt alkalinity and light changes.Acclimate with a 30–45 minute drip and light acclimation (reduced intensity or mesh/screens for 1–2 weeks). Dip new pieces and inspect for pests (vermetid snails, flatworms) that can irritate tissue. Signs of too much light include paling or bleaching; increase shade and shorten photoperiod. Browning may indicate very low light or excess nutrients; increase light slightly and improve export. Tissue recession at the base often points to detritus buildup or unstable alkalinity; raise flow around the rim and restore stability. Use carbon if mixing with soft corals to reduce chemical warfare. Regular turkey-basting keeps surfaces clean and polyp extension strong.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Coral

My Meteor Shower Cyphastrea’s blue base is paling and orange polyps look dull—what’s the likely cause?

This coral prefers low PAR (50–120) and blue-heavy spectrum. High intensity or excessive white can bleach the base and mute polyp color. Maintain stable alkalinity (7.5–9 dKH), moderate nutrients (NO3 5–15 ppm, PO4 0.03–0.1), and gentle, indirect flow. Gradually reduce light over 1–2 weeks and watch for deeper blue return. Trace imbalance (iodine/iron) rarely contributes; avoid abrupt corrections.
How can I encourage an even, fast encrust on rock or the back wall?

Place the frag on clean, roughened surfaces with low, indirect light and moderate crossflow. Cyphastrea spreads fastest along micro-crevices, so lightly scuff smooth plastic or glass and use a magnetic shelf to start a “bridge.” Keep detritus off the growth edge, and avoid shading it with macroalgae. Stability beats feeding for growth; small weekly feedings help, but steady parameters drive the rim forward.
Daytime polyp extension is minimal—should I be concerned and how should I feed it?

It’s naturally more nocturnal. Minimal daytime extension is normal if tissue is full and color stable. For feeding, broadcast fine particulates (e.g., reef roids, rotifers) after lights dim, or gently target-feed with return flow off and low gyre. Avoid blasting; mucus strings indicate overfeeding. If polyps stay retracted day and night, check for vermetid irritation, nipping fish, or excessive flow.
Is it aggressive, and how close can I place it to other corals?

It has short sweepers and mild sting, but it wins by slow smothering. Give 2–3 cm buffer from zoanthids and encrusting montiporas to prevent overgrowth. Keep it well away from long-sweeper LPS (favia, euphyllia, galaxea) that can burn it. If space is tight, isolate on its own plug/island and periodically trim the edge to protect neighbors.

Shop

Shop Related

Hand-picked Cyphastrea Corals for your Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Coral.