{"id":13752,"date":"2026-02-18T01:20:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T01:20:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/trumpet-hard-coral-caulastrea-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T01:20:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T01:20:19","slug":"trumpet-hard-coral-caulastrea-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=trumpet-hard-coral-caulastrea-sp","title":{"rendered":"Trumpet Hard Coral Caulastrea Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trumpet Hard Coral (Caulastrea sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Candy Cane Coral, Trumpet Coral, or Torch Trumpet Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Trumpet Hard Coral (Caulastrea<\/em> sp.) is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for large-polyp stony (LPS) coral<\/strong>, instantly recognised by its clustered trumpet-shaped heads<\/strong> and fleshy, rounded polyps<\/strong>. Each branch ends in a bulbous polyp that expands during the day, displaying vibrant hues of green, blue, teal, cream, or gold<\/strong>, often with contrasting centres that fluoresce brilliantly under actinic lighting. Known for its hardiness and peaceful nature, Caulastrea<\/em> is a perfect choice for both beginner and experienced reef aquarists looking for a reliable, visually appealing coral that adds movement and colour to any reef display.<\/p>\n

Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Native to the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>, including the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Fiji, Tonga, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands<\/strong>. Typically found in lagoon slopes and sheltered reef flats<\/strong>, where it thrives in moderate light and flow.<\/p>\n

Feeding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Trumpet Coral is photosynthetic<\/strong>, housing zooxanthellae<\/strong> that provide most of its nutrition. Supplemental feeding promotes faster growth and polyp division. Feed 1\u20132 times per week<\/strong> with:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

    Mysis or enriched brine shrimp<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    LPS coral foods or coral pellets<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Marine plankton and fine meaty blends<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Feed at night or when feeding tentacles are extended for best results.<\/p>\n

    Lighting<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Moderate lighting.<\/strong> Caulastrea<\/em> thrives under bright but indirect illumination from LED, T5, or hybrid lighting systems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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      PAR range: 100\u2013200 \u00b5mol\/m\u00b2\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Avoid very intense light that can cause tissue bleaching or retraction.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Blue-spectrum lighting enhances its fluorescent centres and overall vibrancy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Water Flow<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      Low to moderate, indirect flow.<\/strong> Gentle, variable currents help deliver nutrients and remove waste without damaging delicate polyps. Avoid direct jets of flow, which can cause the coral to retract or tear.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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        Position on lower to mid rockwork<\/strong> or the substrate<\/strong>, depending on light intensity.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Ensure 10\u201315 cm (4\u20136 inches)<\/strong> spacing from neighbouring corals, as Caulastrea<\/em> can extend short sweeper tentacles<\/strong> at night.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Provide a stable surface \u2014 colonies may branch and expand outward over time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Tank Mates<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        Reef safe.<\/strong> Compatible with:<\/p>\n

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        • \n

          Peaceful reef fish (clownfish, gobies, tangs, wrasses, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Invertebrates such as snails, shrimp, and small hermit crabs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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          Other non-aggressive LPS or soft corals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

            Aggressive stinging corals (e.g., Galaxea, Hydnophora, Euphyllia) placed nearby<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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            Butterflyfish or large angelfish that may nip at the coral\u2019s fleshy polyps<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Aggression<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Peaceful to mildly aggressive.<\/strong> Caulastrea<\/em> may extend short sweeper tentacles at night but is far less aggressive than most LPS corals. Maintain moderate spacing to prevent tissue contact.<\/p>\n

            Experience Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Beginner.<\/strong> The Trumpet Coral is one of the most forgiving and adaptable LPS species available. It\u2019s ideal for beginners learning coral husbandry and for advanced aquarists seeking a dependable, colourful colony that grows well in stable reef conditions.<\/p>\n

            Water Parameters<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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            • \n

              Temperature:<\/strong> 24\u201327\u00b0C (75\u201381\u00b0F)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              pH:<\/strong> 8.1\u20138.4<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Salinity:<\/strong> 1.024\u20131.026 SG<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Alkalinity (dKH):<\/strong> 8\u201312<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Calcium:<\/strong> 400\u2013450 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Magnesium:<\/strong> 1250\u20131350 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Nitrate:<\/strong> <10 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Phosphate:<\/strong> <0.03 ppm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 80 litres (20 gallons)<\/strong>; larger systems preferred for faster branching growth<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Regular water changes and stable parameters encourage rapid head division and healthy tissue expansion.<\/p>\n

              Reef Compatibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Fully reef safe.<\/strong> The Trumpet Hard Coral is a classic, beginner-friendly LPS coral that adds structure, colour, and subtle movement to the reef. Its branching growth form allows for easy fragging and propagation, making it a popular coral for both display and coral farming systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Trumpet Hard Coral (Caulastrea sp.) (Also known as Candy Cane Coral, Trumpet Coral, or Torch Trumpet Coral) Overview The Trumpet Hard Coral (Caulastrea sp.) is a beautiful and easy-to-care-for large-polyp stony (LPS) coral, instantly recognised by its clustered trumpet-shaped heads and fleshy, rounded polyps. Each branch ends in a bulbous polyp that expands during the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":13751,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-13752","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-hard-corals","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"taxable","11":"shipping-taxable","12":"purchasable","13":"product-type-simple"},"group_of_quantity":0,"min_quantity":0,"max_quantity":"","exclude_order_quantity_value_rules":"no","exclude_category_quantity_rules":"no","combine_variations":"no","exclude_global_add_ons":[],"addons":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product\/13752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=13752"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=13752"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=13752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}