ECC Firewater Platygyra

Quick facts

Handling caution: Can produce copious mucus and may sting when handled; use gloves and avoid skin contact

Identity

Also known as

Closed brain coral; Maze brain coral

Environment

Saltwater

Native to

Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Shallow to mid-depth reef flats and backwater reef areas with moderate water movement

Sourcing

Aquacultured

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Moderate

Coral type

LPS

Temperament

Semi-Aggressive

Growth form

Massive

Adult size

1 – 8 in (2.5 – 20 cm)

Spread

12 in (30 cm)

Growth rate

Slow

Placement

Low, Middle, Sand bed

Water

Temperature

75 – 80 °F (24 – 27 °C)

pH

8.1 – 8.4

dKH

8 – 9.5 dKH

Salinity

1.024 – 1.026 SG

PAR

75 – 150 PAR

Flow

Moderate

Light

Medium

Reef care

Nutrient preference

Medium

Alk/Ca uptake

Medium

Target feeding

Beneficial

Give it room

4 in (10 cm)

Colors

Green, Yellow, Brown, Orange

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Photosynthetic

Foods

Frozen, Coral food, Zooplankton

Propagation

Fragging

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Care guide

Overview

Firewater Platygyra is a closed brain coral selected for green and yellow tones across its maze-like ridges. Like other Platygyra, it tolerates a broad range of lighting and flow, growing slowly into a massive, plate-like colony. Nighttime sweeper tentacles mean nearby corals need adequate spacing, and unattached frags are simple to reposition during acclimation.

Care

Platygyra tolerates a wide swing in lighting and flow, which makes it forgiving for reefers still dialing in a system. Moderate, indirect flow across the colony keeps detritus from settling into the fleshy grooves between skeletal ridges without irritating the polyps. It adapts to a range of PAR values from roughly 75 up to 250, though gradual acclimation is recommended when moving a fragment to brighter light.

Placement & acclimation

Acclimate new fragments to lighting gradually, starting in a lower-light area of the tank before moving toward the intended display spot over several weeks. It can be mounted on rockwork or set directly on the substrate or an aquascape ledge, and because it is not permanently cemented in most aquacultured frags, repositioning later is relatively easy.

Feeding

Most of its energy comes from zooxanthellae, but occasional target feeding with small meaty items such as mysis, chopped seafood, or a prepared coral food can boost growth and coloration. Feeding tentacles and sweeper tentacles typically extend at night, so evening feeding sessions two to three times a week tend to be most effective. Avoid overfeeding, since excess nutrients can dull coloration and encourage nuisance algae.

Neighbors

Give this coral generous clearance from neighbors since it can develop long sweeper tentacles after dark and will sting anything within reach. It pairs well with peaceful reef fish like gobies, wrasses, and tangs, but should be kept away from fast-growing soft corals or other LPS that might encroach on its space. As colonies mature and expand, periodic reassessment of spacing is worthwhile to prevent tissue-to-tissue contact.

Fragging

Colonies are fragged by cutting through the skeleton between polyp valleys with a diamond band saw or bone cutters, then mounting the resulting pieces on plugs or rubble until tissue heals over the cut edges. Frags are typically kept in lower flow with stable parameters during the initial healing period to reduce stress.

Pests & problems

Tissue recession or bleaching usually traces back to unstable alkalinity, calcium, or sudden lighting changes rather than disease. Watch for detritus trapped in the maze-like grooves, which can lead to localized tissue irritation if flow is too weak. Brown jelly infections can occasionally take hold on stressed or physically damaged tissue and should be addressed promptly by isolating and cleaning the affected area.

Sources

1. ECC Firewater Platygyra - Bulk Reef Supply
2. Platygyra Care Guide | Platygyra Brain Coral LPS Lighting, Flow & Feeding - Extreme Corals
3. Closed Brain Coral Species | Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine
4. Platygyra Coral Care Guide – Care, Feeding & Lighting Tips – Whitlyn Aquatics

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