Bring a mesmerizing splash of deep, vibrant color to the lower, shaded regions of your reef with our stunning Purple Leptoseris coral. Also known simply as “Lepto,” this encrusting Small Polyp Stony (SPS) coral is highly sought after for its striking purple hues and its unique, geometric ridge-like growth patterns. Unlike many finicky SPS corals that demand blasting light and intense currents, the Purple Leptoseris is incredibly adaptable and thrives in the dimly lit areas of your aquascape where other corals might struggle to survive.
This makes it an exceptional choice for reef keepers of all skill levels, from beginners looking to dip their toes into the SPS world to advanced hobbyists wanting to add a pop of color to the shadowy overhangs of their tank. As it grows, it will encrust over your rockwork, eventually forming beautiful, delicate plating structures at its edges.
Quick Reference Care Guide
| Care Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Care Level | Beginner to Intermediate |
| Lighting | Low to Moderate |
| Target PAR | 50 – 150 (Prefers 50 – 100) |
| Water Flow | Low to Moderate (Indirect) |
| Placement | Lower third of the tank, shaded areas, or bottom |
| Temperament | Peaceful (Short sweeper tentacles) |
| Growth Structure | Encrusting / Plating |
Comprehensive Care & Maintenance
Lighting Requirements Leptoseris corals possess a unique relationship with light. Simply put, they do not need much light to thrive and actually prefer the shadows.
To explain this in more detail, Leptoseris evolved to capture light efficiently in deeper reef environments. They perform best under low to moderate lighting, ideally targeting a PAR range of 50 to 100 . If you place them under lighting that is too intense, they are highly prone to bleaching and losing their rich purple coloration . It is always safest to start this coral in a fully shaded area or at the very bottom of your tank, slowly moving it up only if it begins to stretch or lose its vibrance.
Water Flow Proper water movement is crucial for the health of your Purple Lepto, but it must be applied gently. You should aim for low to moderate, indirect water flow.
Direct, blasting currents will easily tear the delicate flesh right off the coral’s hard skeleton. The goal is to provide just enough ambient, randomized flow to keep detritus and sand from settling on the coral’s ridges, which can cause tissue necrosis. Gentle sweeping currents will also help deliver suspended nutrients to the coral’s tiny polyps.
Water Chemistry Maintaining stable water parameters is the key to success with any SPS coral. While Leptoseris is more forgiving than an Acropora, it still requires a stable foundation to build its calcium carbonate skeleton.
- Alkalinity: 8.0 – 9.5 dKH
- Calcium: 400 – 450 ppm
- Magnesium: 1250 – 1350 ppm
- Temperature: 77°F – 80°F (25°C – 27°C)
Feeding and Nutrition Like most reef-building corals, the Purple Leptoseris gets the vast majority of its daily energy from the photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) living within its tissues. However, supplemental feeding will drastically increase its growth rate and color intensity.
You can broadcast feed or gently spot-feed the coral using a pipette. They respond incredibly well to micro-plankton, dry coral powders, and amino acid supplements. Because their polyps are exceptionally small, you must ensure that any food offered is appropriately sized (under 200 microns is ideal). Feeding 1-2 times a week at night, when their feeding tentacles are most active, will yield the best results.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.