By Blane Perun
Ricordia Care Rate: (24 Ratings)
Ricordia mushroom corals are one of the most popular corals among reef enthusiasts and hobbyists, which means ricordia care is a frequent topic of discussion among the reef community. Before specific ricordia care is discussed, it’s important to know the basics about the ricordia corals themselves.
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Research on ricordia care will share that the ricordia corals are very similar to disc anemone, a similarity that is most evident in regards to the body composition of the coral. In natural, ricordia corals are found in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans, a habitat which should be mimicked in an artificial environment.
The very first step in learning about ricordia care is selecting ricordia specimens for a home tank. This process should be done very carefully, as ricordia care at home will only be as good as the original corals acquired. When observing available ricordia specimens, choose ricordia corals that lack dead tissue and areas of white or gray on its surface. The presence of such areas could mean disease or sickness, which will make ricordia care that much more difficult in the tank.
Generally speaking, basic ricordia care should include medium to high levels of lighting, low strength of water flow, and moderately warm water temperature. Specific lighting parameters in ricordia care are varied- the ricordia is actually quite flexible when it comes to light, and a wide variety of lighting sources can be used.
Many aquarists will recommend the use of metal halide lighting for ricordia care, although care must be taken to ensure the lighting given off by these lamps is not too bright. Water movement should be kept low, although some strength of water flow is needed to deliver trace elements and various nutrients from within the tank to the ricordia specimen. Make sure that the ricordia is not in the direct path of a water jet or powerhead, since this can lead to declining health of the specimen.
Secondly, feeding conditions should be determined for proper ricordia care. Because the ricordia coral contains photosynthetic algae that produce its own energy and nutrients, ricordia care may or may not include supplemental feedings. There is much debate among the reef community in regards to how crucial supplemental feedings are in ricordia care. Some aquarists claim supplemental feedings promote a faster growth rate, while others claim they merely contribute to overall health of the ricordia. If supplemental feedings are put into place for ricordia care, food such as plankton and small invertebrates can be given to the specimen at regular intervals.