Nuclear Florida Ricordea

About this coral

Nuclear Florida Ricordea is a Ricordea “mushroom” coral for reef aquariums, valued for its fleshy, polyp-like appearance and hardy, beginner-friendly reputation. This coral is typically kept as a relatively low- to moderate-light, moderate-flow soft coral that can be placed on the substrate or on live rock to help it acclimate and settle into your display. In practice, it’s a good choice if you want a colorful, low-requirement coral that doesn’t depend on strong, direct blasting water movement.

Features:

• Beginner-friendly coral in the mushroom group, with generally low requirements compared with many stony corals.
• Fleshy polyps rely on stable reef lighting and calm water flow to look and behave their best.
• Suits tanks that can provide consistent water quality rather than frequent swings in parameters.
• Generally prefers moderate flow—enough to prevent stagnation but not so strong that tissues are repeatedly blasted.
• Works well in a variety of reef layouts, from mid-level to lower rockwork where light is less intense.
• A good option for aquarists building a mixed reef, since it’s not typically managed like a high-demand SPS coral.

Specifications:

• Care level: Beginner-friendly (general guidance for Ricordea mushroom corals)
• Light: Low to moderate reef lighting; avoid intense direct light
• Water flow: Moderate, gentle circulation (avoid strong, direct blasting)
• Placement: Live rock or stable substrate where it can attach and receive suitable light and flow
• Feeding: Primarily photosynthetic; may also benefit from normal reef feeding and dissolved organics in the water column (general guidance)
• Temperature: About 24–27°C (reef tank range)
• pH: About 8.1–8.4
• Salinity: About 1.025–1.026 specific gravity
• Alkalinity: About 7–11 dKH
• Calcium: About 380–450 ppm
• Magnesium: About 1250–1350 ppm