Purple Star Polyp

Pachyclavularia violacea

Family : Clavulariidae

CoralMarineStar polyp

The Purple Star Polyp is a soft encrusting coral with star-shaped purple polyps. It quickly forms large mats on rocks.

Popularity

Soft coral

no calcareous skeleton

Availability

Common in shops

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Biotope

Indo-Pacific

Récifs coralliens de l'océan Indien et Pacifique tropical.

Description

Pachyclavularia violacea produces purple polyps with eight feathery tentacles arranged in a star shape. The encrusting stolon is thick and dark purple. Polyps are about 1 cm in diameter. They retract quickly when stressed. The purple color is intense under blue light. It can cover large areas. It is often used as a background coral in reef aquariums.

Habitat

Region :

Coral reefs, well-lit areas with strong flow

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature24–27 °C

pH8.1–8.4

GH8–12 °dGH

KH8–12 °dKH

NO₃

≤ 20 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 0.1 mg/L

Calcium

≥ 400 ppm

Magnesium

≥ 1200 ppm

Light

Medium

Flow

Medium

Care

Difficulty

2/5

Diet

Photosynthetic

Min. tank

40 L

Min. group

Adult size

8 cm

Lifespan

5 years

Temperament

peaceful, but can be invasive

Propagation

fragmentation

Care notes

Temperature 24-27°C, pH 8.1-8.4, salinity 1.023-1.025. Moderate to high light, moderate to high flow. Calcium 400-450 ppm, magnesium 1200-1350 ppm. It feeds mainly through photosynthesis but appreciates phytoplankton. A minimum tank volume of 40 liters is recommended. It can become invasive and overgrow other corals. Trim regularly to control growth. Compatible with peaceful fish.

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