Maze Brain Coral care guide
Maze Brain Coral (Platygyra daedalea) — reef coral, 24-26 °C, PAR 75-175, salinity 1.024-1.026.
Overview
Platygyra daedalea is a maze-pattern brain coral with tightly meandering valleys across the corallite surface. It is hardy and beginner-friendly, making it a popular choice for newer reef tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Merulinidae
- Genus: Platygyra
- Scientific name: Platygyra daedalea
- Common synonyms: Worm Coral, Platygyra
Habitat
Widespread across the tropical Indo-Pacific. Colonies are common on reef flats, slopes and lagoonal pinnacles at moderate depth.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- Salinity (SG): 1.024-1.026
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-11
- Calcium: 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Phosphate (max): 0.03 ppm
- Nitrate (max): 5 ppm
Placement and lighting
- Lighting (PAR): 75-175 PAR
- Flow: medium
- Recommended tank age: 3 months
- Growth rate: 0.2-0.5 cm/mo
Mount on rockwork in the middle of the aquarium at moderate light. Medium flow keeps the surface clean and prevents detritus accumulation in the meandering valleys.
Feeding
Photosynthetic with periodic benefit from spot-feeding. Mysis or reef-roids one to two times per week is sufficient for steady growth.
Compatibility
Moderately aggressive — short sweeper tentacles can extend at night. Allow a buffer of a few centimetres around the colony. Reef-safe with shrimp and fish.
Care notes
Hardy and reliable for tanks that have completed cycling. Periodic gentle blowing with a turkey baster keeps the maze valleys free of detritus.