Cabbage Leather Coral (Sinularia dura) Care Guide
Sinularia dura is a hardy lobed leather coral with cabbage-like flat lobes, suited to medium light and flow in a stable reef aquarium.
Overview
Sinularia dura is a lobed leather coral with flat, cabbage-like lobes. It is a hardy, beginner-friendly soft coral that grows encrusting colonies over time. WoRMS treats Sinularia dura as a junior synonym of Sinularia brassica; the name is retained here as supplied by the knowledge base.
Taxonomy
- Class: Octocorallia
- Family: Alcyoniidae
- Genus: Sinularia
- Scientific name: Sinularia dura
- WoRMS revision: junior synonym of Sinularia brassica May, 1898
Habitat
Sinularia is a genus of soft coral in the family Alcyoniidae, native to the tropical shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific. Like all soft corals it lacks a calcium carbonate exoskeleton, supported instead by an internal skeleton of sclerites. Colonies host symbiotic zooxanthellae that provide energy through photosynthesis, with colony colour depending on algal density. The World Register of Marine Species has reclassified many Sinularia species into the genus Sclerophytum (family Sinulariidae, order Malacalcyonacea); the knowledge-base name is retained in this guide.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Salinity: 1.024-1.026 SG
- dKH (alkalinity): 8-11
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Nitrate: below 15 ppm
- Phosphate: below 0.1 ppm
- Lighting: ~75-200 PAR (medium)
- Water flow: medium
- Minimum tank age: 3 months
Diet
The coral is photosynthetic, relying on its zooxanthellae for energy, and does not require direct feeding. Maintaining stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium supports tissue and sclerite health, while supplemental amino acids may aid growth.
Compatibility
Sinularia dura is passive and reef-safe with fish and shrimp. As with all leather corals it can shed a waxy surface film during periodic self-cleaning, so good water movement and filtration help maintain water quality.