Why does my Gold Mine Chalice lose its gold tones and turn green or dull under strong light?

Echinophyllia often comes from shaded reef slopes. Excess PAR (or too much white spectrum) can wash out gold pigments, shifting toward green. Move it to lower light with a blue-heavy spectrum, and acclimate over 2–3 weeks. Maintain stable alkalinity and moderate nutrients (nitrate 5–15 ppm, phosphate 0.03–0.08 ppm). Colors usually rebound once stress and photoinhibition subside.

What’s the best way to place it to get that plating, “rim-forward” growth without dead spots?

Mount the frag on a flat, open rock where the rim can expand outward. Provide moderate, indirect flow that sweeps detritus off the surface without lifting tissue. Avoid ledges that create harsh shadow lines across the colony; the chalice will preferentially grow toward gentle light gradients. Rotate the rock quarterly to balance growth and prevent self-shading.

My chalice is receding from the edges inward. What’s a targeted plan to halt it?

First stabilize alkalinity and temperature. Increase gentle flow across the rim to deter bacterial films. Siphon loose tissue, then do an iodine dip; if progression continues, a short furan-2 bath can help with suspected bacterial involvement. Reduce light intensity 20–30% during recovery. Keep nutrients detectable and avoid heavy feeding until recession stops, then resume light target feeding at night.

Are there compatibility issues unique to this coral compared to other LPS?

Gold Mine Chalices deploy potent nighttime sweepers and can sting several inches away, especially toward up-current neighbors. Give a wide buffer from fleshy LPS and aggressive encrusters like favids. They’re sensitive to allelopathy from leathers; run fresh carbon and ensure good skimming. Avoid placing under branching Euphyllia that can repeatedly brush the tissue, as contact points often recede.

TSA Gold Mine Chalice Coral

Chalice LPS

Overview

Gold Mine Chalice Coral shows a bright gold to yellow base with contrasting raised eyes and a wrinkled, plating surface. Echinophyllia sp. is a large-polyp stony plating coral that prefers low to moderate light and gentle to moderate water flow. It is photosynthetic through symbiotic algae but will accept small meaty foods, which can support faster growth and richer color. Place on the sandbed or isolated rock with space around it, as sweeper tentacles can sting nearby corals.

Quick Facts

Care Moderate

Lighting Low–Moderate

Flow Low–Moderate

Placement Low–Mid

Temperament Aggressive (6–8 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 1280–1380 ppm

Feeding photosynthetic, finely chopped mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, rotifers, copepods, coral-specific powdered foods (e.g., Reef Roids), microplankton, marine snow

Care & Placement

Gold Mine Chalice Coral (Echinophyllia sp.) thrives in stable, nutrient-balanced systems with moderate to low light and gentle, indirect flow. Aim for 75–150 PAR; acclimate by starting in shaded areas and increasing light slowly over 2–3 weeks to prevent bleaching and color loss. Provide low to moderate, cross-flow to keep detritus off the surface without lifting the flesh. Feed at night 1–3 times weekly with fine particulate foods (reef blends) and small meaty items (mysis, cyclops); gentle target feeding can speed growth and color. Maintain temperature 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 1300–1400 ppm, nitrate 5–15 ppm, and phosphate 0.03–0.08 ppm. Test weekly, use a refractometer for salinity, and dose to keep values steady—swings often cause tissue recession.Place low to mid in the tank on a flat rock or the sandbed on a frag tile to avoid abrasion; avoid direct blasts from pumps. Leave 7–10 cm (3–4 in) space from other corals, as chalices can extend sweepers and mesenterial filaments after lights out. Compatibility is best with peaceful neighbors; watch for stings from torches, hammers, and favias, and avoid fish that nip fleshy corals (many angels, butterflies). Drip acclimate new pieces and use light-screening or reduced intensity for photo acclimation. Common issues: bleaching (too much light/too little nutrients), recession (alk swings, pests, stings), and vermetid snails irritating tissue. Troubleshoot by stabilizing parameters, modestly raising nutrients, improving indirect flow, feeding at night, and performing iodine dips if bacterial slime appears. Wear eye protection and cut between ridges if fragging.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

About the TSA Gold Mine Chalice Coral

Why does my Gold Mine Chalice lose its gold tones and turn green or dull under strong light?

Echinophyllia often comes from shaded reef slopes. Excess PAR (or too much white spectrum) can wash out gold pigments, shifting toward green. Move it to lower light with a blue-heavy spectrum, and acclimate over 2–3 weeks. Maintain stable alkalinity and moderate nutrients (nitrate 5–15 ppm, phosphate 0.03–0.08 ppm). Colors usually rebound once stress and photoinhibition subside.
What’s the best way to place it to get that plating, “rim-forward” growth without dead spots?

Mount the frag on a flat, open rock where the rim can expand outward. Provide moderate, indirect flow that sweeps detritus off the surface without lifting tissue. Avoid ledges that create harsh shadow lines across the colony; the chalice will preferentially grow toward gentle light gradients. Rotate the rock quarterly to balance growth and prevent self-shading.
My chalice is receding from the edges inward. What’s a targeted plan to halt it?

First stabilize alkalinity and temperature. Increase gentle flow across the rim to deter bacterial films. Siphon loose tissue, then do an iodine dip; if progression continues, a short furan-2 bath can help with suspected bacterial involvement. Reduce light intensity 20–30% during recovery. Keep nutrients detectable and avoid heavy feeding until recession stops, then resume light target feeding at night.
Are there compatibility issues unique to this coral compared to other LPS?

Gold Mine Chalices deploy potent nighttime sweepers and can sting several inches away, especially toward up-current neighbors. Give a wide buffer from fleshy LPS and aggressive encrusters like favids. They’re sensitive to allelopathy from leathers; run fresh carbon and ensure good skimming. Avoid placing under branching Euphyllia that can repeatedly brush the tissue, as contact points often recede.