Orange Tongue Coral
Herpolitha limax
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Water parameters
Maintaining a stable and appropriate temperature is critical for the survival of aquatic life.
pH 7.8 - 8.4 potential of HydrogenMeasuring the acidity or alkalinity of water on a 0–14 scale, where 7 is neutral, 7 is alkaline.
NO3 1-20 ppm NitrateWhile less toxic than ammonia, high nitrate levels (above 40–80 ppm) are important to monitor because they can cause fish stress, stunted growth, and harmful algae blooms.
NO2 <0.0001 ppm NitriteIt is a highly toxic, intermediate compound in the nitrogen cycle produced from broken-down ammonia
PO4 0.01 - 0.1 ppm PhosphateIt is essential for plant development but must be managed, as excess levels trigger nuisance algae blooms and inhibit coral calcification.
NH3 <0.1 ppm AmmoniaIt is the primary killer of aquarium fish, causing gill damage, stress, and death
Ca 380 - 450 ppm CalciumSupporting the growth, skeletal structure, and shell formation of corals, mollusks, crustaceans, and coralline algae
KH 8 - 12 dKH AlkalinityIt acts as a shield, neutralizing acids to prevent dangerous pH "crashes" that can harm fish, corals, and plants.
Mg 1200 - 1400 ppm MagnesiumIt enables coral growth by supporting skeletal formation, assists in metabolic processes, and ensures that calcium is available for corals, clams, and coralline algae.
SG 1.023 - 1.026 SG SalinityEssential for maintaining stable, natural water parameters, proper osmoregulation, and stress-free environments for marine fish and corals
ORP 250 - 400 mV Oxidation-Reduction PotentialA higher positive mV indicates clean, oxygen-rich water with high water quality, while low readings indicate high pollution.
About Orange Tongue Coral
General information
In general, corals coming from genus Herpolitha has an elongated skeletal structure with a single axis located at the center and a round-shaped edge. They are classfied as a monotypic type of mushroom coral where it only has one member – Herpolitha limax. Similar to Fungia corals, Herpolitha are solitary animals, which means that they only have a single coral polyp, instead of your typical coral colony.
As for the Orange Tongue Coral, they are predominantly a mixture of the colors pink, violet and blue green. This are the water parameters for cultivating Orange Tongue Coral:
- Calcium: 400 – 450 ppm
- Alkalinity: 2.86 – 4.29 MEQ/L (8 – 12 dKH)
- Phosphates: 0
- Magnesium: 1200 – 1350
- Strontium: 8 – 10
- Temperature: 72° – 78° F (22° – 26° C)
- Salinity / Specific Gravity: 1.023 – 1.025
- pH: 8.1 – 8.4
Diet & nutrition
In the wild, Orange Tongue Coral has developed a symbiotic feeding relationship with marine algae called zooxanthellae that is living within their tissues. But in captivity, you have to feed them with nanoplankton and you may add dissolved organics in the water.
Determining sex
A mature tank is highly recommended in propagating Orange Tongue Coral. They must be set at the botoom of the tank to simulate their natural wild environment.
Breeding & spawning
The Orange Tongue Coral requires moderate lighting and moderate waterflow.
Origination
The Orange Tongue Coral can be found in the waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
Cautions
The Orange Tongue Coral has a semi-aggressive behaviour. Proper spacing must be observed in relation to other coral species in the tank.
Acclimation process
The Orange Tongue Coral is a marine species. Therefore, salinity must be maintained thoroughly at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity.
All photos
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