Platygyra lamellina 'Aussie Rainbow' Maze Brain Coral Care Guide

Platygyra lamellina is a photosynthetic maze brain coral; the 'Aussie Rainbow' is a colourful Australian form for advanced reef aquariums.

Overview

Platygyra lamellina is a colonial stony coral of the family Merulinidae, known as a maze or hard brain coral for its long, narrow, meandering valleys. It is zooxanthellate (photosynthetic), hosting symbiotic algae. The 'Aussie Rainbow' is a premium Australian form selected for rainbow colouration in the valleys, kept as a slow-growing LPS coral.

Taxonomy

Order: Scleractinia
Family: Merulinidae
Genus: Platygyra
Scientific name: Platygyra lamellina var. 'Aussie Rainbow'
Common names: Maze Brain Coral, Hard Brain Coral

Habitat

The species ranges across the Indo-Pacific, from Madagascar, the East African coast and the Red Sea to Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the East China Sea. It grows on back-reef slopes, fore reefs and in lagoons in shallow water, forming massive rounded mounds or flat plates with thick-walled, meandering corallites. It is generally uncommon throughout its range.

Tank requirements

Salinity: 1.024–1.026 SG
Temperature: 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
pH: 8.1–8.4
dKH (alkalinity): 8–11
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
Magnesium: 1280–1350 ppm
Nitrate: below 5 ppm; phosphate below 0.03 ppm
Lighting: medium (about 75–175 PAR)
Flow: medium
Minimum tank age: about 6 months

Feeding

As a photosynthetic coral it draws much of its energy from its zooxanthellae, but spot-feeding is recommended for growth and colour. Suitable foods include mysis, reef-roids and amino acids offered to the extended polyps.

Compatibility

Platygyra is moderately aggressive and bears stinging tentacles, so it should be given space from neighbouring corals. It is considered reef-, shrimp- and fish-safe when adequately spaced.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened. The species spawns as a simultaneous hermaphrodite at night in summer, and its planula larvae acquire zooxanthellae only later, at the polyp stage.