The Orange Psammocora (often called the “Sandpaper Coral”) is the perfect choice for reefers who want the “pop” of a high-end SPS coral without the high-end headache. It is famous for its unique, velvet-like texture and its ability to grow in almost any shape—it will encrust over rocks, plate out into the water column, or even form thick, knobby branches. Under blue lighting, the orange variety is one of the most fluorescent corals in the hobby, glowing with a deep, volcanic radiance that makes it stand out even in a crowded tank.
Coloration: Intense, solid neon orange or “lava” red; under high-quality LEDs, it can show subtle green or yellow highlights in the valleys.
Size: 0.5 – 1 inch frag .
Lighting: Moderate to High (150–300 PAR; it is remarkably adaptable and can handle lower light, though the orange may become a darker “brick” red).
Water flow: Medium to High (strong flow is important to keep its tiny, intricate “pores” clean of detritus).
Feeding: Primarily photosynthetic; it has very small polyps and benefits from dosing amino acids or micro-plankton (under 100 microns).
Aggressiveness: Peaceful to Semi-aggressive (it lacks long sweepers, but it will encrust over anything in its path, including other corals).
Care Level: Easy (widely considered the “immortal” SPS coral; it is much tougher than Acropora or Montipora).
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