Sympodium (Sympodium brasiliensis) Care Guide
Sympodium is an encrusting Xeniidae soft coral with star-shaped neon polyps, photosynthetic and beginner-friendly in reef tanks.
Overview
Sympodium is an encrusting soft coral in the family Xeniidae, popular for its star-shaped polyps in vivid blue or green. Each deep blue polyp bears eight jade pinnules, giving a flower-like appearance. Unlike its relative Xenia, Sympodium does not pulse; instead it spreads as a thin mat over rock.
Taxonomy
- Family: Xeniidae
- Genus: Sympodium
- Scientific name (trade): Sympodium brasiliensis
- Note: the genus Sympodium is recognised in WoRMS (type species S. caeruleum Ehrenberg, 1834); the trade name S. brasiliensis is retained here as the catalogue identifier.
Husbandry
It tolerates a range of lighting and is easy to keep under moderate to high illumination with medium water flow. As an encrusting species it spreads readily over available rock and is best isolated on its own rockwork, set apart from other corals to prevent overgrowth.
Tank requirements
- Temperature: 24-26 C (75-79 F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- Carbonate hardness (KH): 8-11 dKH
- Calcium: 380-450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1280-1350 ppm
- Specific gravity: 1.024-1.026
- Lighting: ~50-150 PAR (medium)
- Flow: low to medium
- Minimum tank maturity: 3 months
Feeding
Sympodium is photosynthetic: through its symbiotic zooxanthellae it derives most of its nutrients from light, and it also absorbs dissolved nutrients from the water column. Supplemental amino acids may be offered but are not essential.
Compatibility
It is passive and reef-safe, compatible with fish and shrimp. Because it spreads quickly, give it space away from slower-growing corals.