Ecc Koji Wada Pink Nephthea

Overview

The Koji Wada Pink Nephthea is the undisputed “holy grail” of soft corals. While most Nephthea or Leptogorgia species are tan, brown, or tinted green, this specific lineage—traced back to the legendary Japanese aquarist Koji Wada—is a true, vibrant bubblegum pink. It is a “tree coral” that adds incredible height and delicate, feathery texture to a reef, swaying gracefully in the current. Unlike many other brightly colored soft corals (like non-photosynthetic sea fans), the Koji Wada is photosynthetic, making it much easier to keep alive in a standard home reef.

Coloration: Consistent, saturated bubblegum pink from the trunk to the tiniest polyps. Under heavy blue lighting, it takes on a surreal, glowing neon magenta hue.

Size: Sold as 1.5–3 inch frags; it can grow into a massive, multi-branched tree reaching 12+ inches in height.

Lighting: Moderate (100–200 PAR). It is quite adaptable, but the pink coloration stays most intense under moderate lighting with a strong blue spectrum.

Water flow: Moderate to High (Indirect, turbulent flow is essential to help the coral shed its “waxy” film—a natural process called sloughing—and to keep detritus from settling on its branches).
Feeding: Primarily photosynthetic, but it is a filter feeder. It thrives when the water has a “natural” amount of particulates or when dosed with high-quality phytoplankton.

Aggressiveness: Peaceful (It has no stingers, but it can grow quite large and eventually shade out corals sitting directly beneath it).

Care Level: Easy to Moderate (It is very hardy once established, but it can be sensitive to shipping and needs a stable environment to start “extending” its branches).