Soft Coral Care Guide

Soft corals are some of the most popular and beginner-friendly corals in the reef hobby. They are known for their movement, texture, color, and generally forgiving care requirements. Many soft corals are great choices for newer reefers or anyone looking to add natural flow and life to a reef tank.

What Are Soft Corals?

Soft corals are corals that do not build a large hard skeleton like SPS or LPS corals. Instead, many soft corals have flexible tissue and can sway naturally with the flow. Common examples include zoanthids, mushrooms, leathers, xenia, gorgonians, clove polyps, and other soft coral varieties.

Soft corals are often more tolerant of beginner reef systems, but they still need stable salinity, temperature, lighting, and clean water conditions to thrive.

General Soft Coral Care Requirements

  • Care Level: Beginner to Intermediate
  • Lighting: Low to Moderate
  • Flow: Low to Medium, depending on the coral
  • Placement: Lower to mid rockwork, frag rack, or isolated rock
  • Stability: Helpful, but many soft corals are more forgiving than SPS
  • Best For: Beginners, mixed reefs, movement, and low-maintenance coral displays

Recommended Water Parameters

  • Temperature: 76–79°F
  • Salinity: 1.025–1.026 specific gravity
  • Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
  • Calcium: 400–450 ppm
  • Magnesium: 1250–1400 ppm
  • Nitrate: Low to moderate
  • Phosphate: Low but detectable

Lighting and Flow

Most soft corals do well under low to moderate lighting. Some mushrooms and zoanthids may prefer lower lighting, while leathers and gorgonians may appreciate moderate lighting and stronger flow.

Flow should keep the coral clean without blasting it directly. Leathers and gorgonians often do better with more flow, while mushrooms usually prefer lower, gentler flow.

Growth and Placement

Some soft corals can grow quickly once established. Xenia, green star polyps, zoanthids, mushrooms, and some leathers may spread over nearby rockwork if conditions are favorable.

For fast-growing soft corals, consider placing them on isolated rocks or areas where they can be controlled. This helps prevent them from spreading into areas where you want to keep slower-growing corals.

Beginner Soft Coral Tips

  • Start with hardy corals such as mushrooms, zoanthids, xenia, leathers, or gorgonians.
  • Use isolated rocks for fast-growing corals if you want easier control.
  • Avoid placing mushrooms or soft corals where they can shade or touch sensitive stony corals.
  • Give leather corals space, as they can release compounds that may irritate nearby corals.
  • Use carbon and regular maintenance in mixed reefs with many soft corals.

Zoanthid Handling Note

Zoanthids should always be handled carefully. Avoid touching your face or eyes after handling zoanthids, and wash your hands thoroughly after working in the tank. Use gloves and eye protection when fragging or handling irritated zoanthid colonies.

Popular Soft Corals

  • Mushroom Corals
  • Zoanthids
  • Leather Corals
  • Pulsing Xenia
  • Gorgonians
  • Clove Polyps
  • Green Star Polyps

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Browse our available soft corals, including beginner-friendly mushrooms, zoanthids, leathers, xenia, and other hardy coral options.

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Important Note

Every reef tank is different. Soft corals are often forgiving, but they still require stable salinity, proper lighting, suitable flow, and consistent husbandry. Use this guide as a general starting point and always acclimate new corals carefully.

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