Why did my Dark Side of the Moon chalice fade after moving it higher in the tank?

Echinophyllia aspera comes from deeper, turbid reefs and prefers 75–150 PAR with blue‑heavy spectrum. Sudden bright light can wash out pigments or cause rim recession. Shade-acclimate over 2–3 weeks, increase intensity in small steps, and keep nutrients non-zero (nitrate 5–15 ppm, phosphate 0.03–0.1 ppm). Target-feed fine particulate foods at night to restore energy reserves and color.

How aggressive is it at night, and how much space should I give it?

This species can deploy short sweepers and mesenterial filaments after lights out, easily burning nearby LPS and encrusters. Provide 3–4 inches of clearance on all sides, more downcurrent. Use flow to keep tentacles from settling on neighbors, and avoid placing soft corals that release allelopathic compounds immediately upcurrent. Spot feeding can reduce foraging reach in some colonies.

My chalice is receding from the rim inward—what’s the likely cause and fix?

Edge recession often points to light shock, alkalinity swings, vermetid irritation, or abrasive sand contact. Stabilize alkalinity (8–9 dKH), verify salinity/temp, reduce PAR temporarily, and break off dead skeleton to a clean edge. Epoxy or remove vermetids, improve gentle crossflow, and perform an iodine or broad-spectrum antibacterial dip if tissue looks cloudy. Avoid rapid phosphate stripping with fresh GFO.

The colony plates out and shades itself—how do I maintain color and growth evenly?

Mount the frag at a slight angle or on a vertical face to reduce self-shading and detritus buildup. Use alternating flow to keep the surface clean without blasting tissue. Rotate the plug a quarter turn every week during early growth. Provide stable, blue‑leaning light and periodic small-particle feedings so shaded eyes maintain pigments and continue to bud.

TSA Dark Side of the Moon Chalice Coral

Chalice LPS

Overview

Dark Side of the Moon Chalice Coral shows a low, plating surface with raised eyes and contrasting ridges. Echinophyllia aspera is an LPS chalice coral that forms encrusting to plating colonies; it prefers low to moderate light and gentle to moderate flow. It relies on symbiotic algae for energy but benefits from occasional small meaty feedings, which can support faster growth and stable color. Place on a stable rock or sand with space around it, as it can extend short sweeper tentacles and may sting nearby corals.

Quick Facts

Care Moderate

Lighting Low–Moderate

Flow Low, indirect

Placement Low–Mid

Temperament Aggressive (strong sweepers; 4–6 inches spacing)

Recommended Parameters

Temp 76–80°F

pH 8.1–8.4

Salinity 1.025–1.026

Calcium 420–450 ppm

AlkAlkalinity 8–9 dKH

Magnesium 1300–1400 ppm

Feeding photosynthetic, microplankton, zooplankton, finely chopped mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, powdered coral foods

Care & Placement

Dark Side of the Moon Chalice Coral (Echinophyllia aspera) thrives under low to moderate light (50–120 PAR) and gentle, indirect flow that keeps the surface free of debris without lifting tissue. Start it low in the tank or on a shaded ledge, then adjust slowly to avoid bleaching; use a screen or reduce photoperiod for light acclimation. Target feed 1–3x weekly at night when feeding tentacles extend, using finely chopped mysis, cyclops, or a quality coral food; this supports growth and color. Maintain stable water: 24–26°C (75–79°F), salinity 1.025–1.026, pH 8.1–8.4, calcium 400–450 ppm, alkalinity 8.0–9.5 dKH, magnesium 1250–1350 ppm, nitrate 2–10 ppm, phosphate 0.03–0.08 ppm. Test weekly with reliable kits and confirm periodically with an ICP test if available; this species sulks with rapid swings, especially in alkalinity and light.Place on a stable rock shelf or frag rack with at least 3–6 inches of space from neighbors. Echinophyllia can extend stingers at night and will burn nearby corals; avoid high-flow LPS and aggressive favids as neighbors. Keep sand off the tissue and watch for vermetid snails or detritus at the rim. Dip new pieces, and acclimate via drip. Troubleshooting: bleaching suggests too much light; move lower or reduce intensity. Receding edges often point to unstable alkalinity, overly strong flow, or too-low nutrients—stabilize, soften the flow, and feed. Avoid large parameter corrections; make changes gradually.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the TSA Dark Side of the Moon Chalice Coral

Why did my Dark Side of the Moon chalice fade after moving it higher in the tank?

Echinophyllia aspera comes from deeper, turbid reefs and prefers 75–150 PAR with blue‑heavy spectrum. Sudden bright light can wash out pigments or cause rim recession. Shade-acclimate over 2–3 weeks, increase intensity in small steps, and keep nutrients non-zero (nitrate 5–15 ppm, phosphate 0.03–0.1 ppm). Target-feed fine particulate foods at night to restore energy reserves and color.
How aggressive is it at night, and how much space should I give it?

This species can deploy short sweepers and mesenterial filaments after lights out, easily burning nearby LPS and encrusters. Provide 3–4 inches of clearance on all sides, more downcurrent. Use flow to keep tentacles from settling on neighbors, and avoid placing soft corals that release allelopathic compounds immediately upcurrent. Spot feeding can reduce foraging reach in some colonies.
My chalice is receding from the rim inward—what’s the likely cause and fix?

Edge recession often points to light shock, alkalinity swings, vermetid irritation, or abrasive sand contact. Stabilize alkalinity (8–9 dKH), verify salinity/temp, reduce PAR temporarily, and break off dead skeleton to a clean edge. Epoxy or remove vermetids, improve gentle crossflow, and perform an iodine or broad-spectrum antibacterial dip if tissue looks cloudy. Avoid rapid phosphate stripping with fresh GFO.
The colony plates out and shades itself—how do I maintain color and growth evenly?

Mount the frag at a slight angle or on a vertical face to reduce self-shading and detritus buildup. Use alternating flow to keep the surface clean without blasting tissue. Rotate the plug a quarter turn every week during early growth. Provide stable, blue‑leaning light and periodic small-particle feedings so shaded eyes maintain pigments and continue to bud.