{"id":3580,"date":"2026-02-16T23:28:59","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/coral-sea-elephant-eye-hard-coral-scolymia-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T23:28:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T23:28:59","slug":"coral-sea-elephant-eye-hard-coral-scolymia-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=coral-sea-elephant-eye-hard-coral-scolymia-sp","title":{"rendered":"Coral Sea Elephant Eye Hard Coral Scolymia Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coral Sea Elephant Eye Hard Coral (Scolymia sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Scoly Coral, Donut Coral, or Button Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

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

The Coral Sea Elephant Eye Coral (Scolymia<\/em> sp.) is a highly prized large-polyp stony (LPS) coral<\/strong>, known for its bold, circular form and dazzling colours<\/strong>. Each coral consists of a single, fleshy polyp that expands over a cup-shaped skeleton, displaying vibrant hues of red, green, orange, purple, and metallic blue<\/strong>, often in striking concentric patterns or marbled blends. Under actinic or blue LED lighting, Scolymia<\/em> exhibits intense fluorescence, making it one of the most stunning centerpiece corals in reef aquariums. Hardy and peaceful, it thrives under gentle conditions and stable water parameters.<\/p>\n

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

Native to the Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Indonesia, and Tonga<\/strong>. Typically found in shallow lagoons and reef slopes<\/strong>, resting on sandy or rubble substrates where water movement is calm to moderate.<\/p>\n

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

The Elephant Eye Coral is photosynthetic<\/strong>, hosting zooxanthellae<\/strong> that provide most of its energy needs. However, regular feeding enhances colouration, growth, and polyp inflation. Offer 1\u20132 feedings per week<\/strong> of:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

    Mysis shrimp or finely chopped marine meat<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Marine snow or coral plankton blends<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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    Specialized LPS coral foods<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Feed during the evening or when tentacles are visible. Scolymia<\/em> responds quickly to food stimuli and will fold inward to capture prey.<\/p>\n

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

    Low to moderate lighting.<\/strong> Provide bright, indirect illumination from LED, T5, or metal halide<\/strong> lighting.<\/p>\n

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      PAR range: 75\u2013150 \u00b5mol\/m\u00b2\/s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Too much light can cause tissue recession or bleaching; avoid placing directly under intense lighting.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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      Blue-spectrum lighting enhances fluorescence and depth of colour.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      Low to moderate, indirect flow.<\/strong> Gentle movement keeps the coral clean and supplies oxygen without damaging its soft tissue. Excessive current can cause retraction or tissue damage.<\/p>\n

      Placement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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      • \n

        Best placed on sandy substrate<\/strong> or smooth, flat rock in the lower regions<\/strong> of the aquarium.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Avoid sharp rock edges that may tear the coral\u2019s soft tissue.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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        Provide 10\u201315 cm (4\u20136 inches)<\/strong> of space from other corals to prevent aggression or accidental contact.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

        Peaceful and reef safe.<\/strong> Compatible with:<\/p>\n

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        • \n

          All reef-safe fish (clownfish, gobies, tangs, blennies, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

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

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          Other LPS and soft corals with adequate spacing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

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          • \n

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

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            Butterflyfish, large angelfish, and puffers that may nip its tissue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

            Mildly aggressive.<\/strong> Scolymia<\/em> may extend short sweeper tentacles at night, but generally remains peaceful. It can be damaged by nearby aggressive corals, so ensure adequate spacing.<\/p>\n

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

            Beginner to intermediate.<\/strong> A hardy, adaptable LPS coral that does well under moderate lighting and gentle flow. Suitable for aquarists of all experience levels who maintain stable water parameters.<\/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

            • \n

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

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

            • \n

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

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

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

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 75 gallons (280L)<\/strong> for long-term stability and space<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Maintain stable calcium and alkalinity for strong skeletal development and vibrant tissue health.<\/p>\n

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

              Fully reef safe.<\/strong> The Coral Sea Elephant Eye Coral is a peaceful, hardy, and visually striking coral that serves as a perfect centrepiece for LPS or mixed reef aquariums. Its vivid patterns, smooth texture, and elegant expansion under soft blue light make it one of the most desirable collector corals available.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Coral Sea Elephant Eye Hard Coral (Scolymia sp.) (Also known as Scoly Coral, Donut Coral, or Button Coral) Overview The Coral Sea Elephant Eye Coral (Scolymia sp.) is a highly prized large-polyp stony (LPS) coral, known for its bold, circular form and dazzling colours. Each coral consists of a single, fleshy polyp that expands over […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3579,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3580","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\/3580","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\/3579"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3580"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=3580"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=3580"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=3580"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}