{"id":4559,"date":"2026-02-17T04:58:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T04:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/product\/eyed-cup-hard-coral-mycedium-sp\/"},"modified":"2026-02-17T04:58:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T04:58:09","slug":"eyed-cup-hard-coral-mycedium-sp","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/?product=eyed-cup-hard-coral-mycedium-sp","title":{"rendered":"Eyed Cup Hard Coral Mycedium Sp"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eyed Cup Hard Coral (Mycedium sp.)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

(Also known as Cup Coral, Elephant Eye Coral, or Chalice Coral)<\/em><\/p>\n

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

The Eyed Cup Coral (Mycedium<\/em> sp.) is a striking and unique large-polyp stony (LPS) coral<\/strong>, admired for its cup- or plate-like growth form<\/strong> and distinctive, raised \u201ceyes\u201d \u2014 large, fleshy corallites that give it a textured, alien appearance. Colonies typically grow in thin, whorled plates<\/strong> with vibrant colour combinations such as green, red, orange, purple, and blue<\/strong>, often accented with contrasting fluorescent eyes. Closely related to Echinophyllia<\/em> and Oxypora<\/em>, Mycedium<\/em> is hardy yet moderately aggressive, making it an excellent feature coral for experienced reef keepers looking to add colour and depth to their aquarium.<\/p>\n

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

Native to the Coral Sea, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Tonga, and throughout the Indo-Pacific region<\/strong>. Typically found on reef slopes and sheltered ledges<\/strong>, where it forms plating colonies that capture moderate light and flow.<\/p>\n

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

The Eyed Cup Coral is photosynthetic<\/strong>, hosting zooxanthellae<\/strong> that provide much of its nutritional needs. However, regular feeding enhances growth, colour intensity, and tissue expansion. Offer 1\u20132 feedings per week<\/strong> of:<\/p>\n

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  • \n

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

  • \n

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

  • \n

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

    Feed at night or when polyps extend \u2014 gentle target feeding promotes faster growth and more vivid pigmentation.<\/p>\n

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

    Low to moderate lighting.<\/strong> Mycedium<\/em> thrives under soft, indirect light from LED, T5, or metal halide<\/strong> systems.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • \n

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

    • \n

      Excessive light can cause bleaching or tissue retraction.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Blue-spectrum lighting enhances its fluorescence and \u201ceyed\u201d contrasts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

      Low to moderate, indirect flow.<\/strong> Provide gentle, alternating current that helps remove debris and deliver nutrients without damaging tissue. Avoid strong, direct jets, as Mycedium<\/em>\u2019s fleshy polyps and thin skeleton are easily torn.<\/p>\n

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

        Best placed on lower rockwork or sandy substrate<\/strong>, where light is subdued and flow is indirect.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Orient plates to allow natural growth curvature and avoid shading other corals.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Allow 10\u201315 cm (4\u20136 inches)<\/strong> of space from neighbouring corals \u2014 Mycedium<\/em> extends short sweeper tentacles and can sting competitors.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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

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

          \n
        • \n

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

        • \n

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

        • \n

          Other LPS and soft corals placed at a safe distance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Avoid:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n

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

          • \n

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

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

            Moderately aggressive.<\/strong> Mycedium<\/em> can deploy short sweeper tentacles and chemical defences<\/strong> against nearby corals. Provide adequate spacing to prevent coral warfare.<\/p>\n

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

            Intermediate.<\/strong> This coral is hardy under stable conditions but sensitive to high light and strong flow. Suitable for aquarists with some LPS experience who maintain stable parameters and gentle flow environments.<\/p>\n

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

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

            • \n

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

            • \n

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

            • \n

              Hardness (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

            • \n

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

            • \n

              Tank Size:<\/strong> Minimum 75 gallons (280L)<\/strong> recommended for stability and adequate spacing<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Consistent alkalinity and calcium are vital for skeletal strength and plate development.<\/p>\n

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

              Reef safe with caution.<\/strong> The Eyed Cup Coral is a dramatic and colourful addition to mixed or LPS reef aquariums. Its rippled plating form and glowing \u201ceyes\u201d provide stunning visual depth and contrast, especially under blue or actinic lighting. With proper spacing and stable conditions, Mycedium<\/em> makes an outstanding showcase coral.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Eyed Cup Hard Coral (Mycedium sp.) (Also known as Cup Coral, Elephant Eye Coral, or Chalice Coral) Overview The Eyed Cup Coral (Mycedium sp.) is a striking and unique large-polyp stony (LPS) coral, admired for its cup- or plate-like growth form and distinctive, raised \u201ceyes\u201d \u2014 large, fleshy corallites that give it a textured, alien […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4558,"template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[74],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4559","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\/4559","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\/4558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_brand&post=4559"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_cat&post=4559"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquadistribution.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fproduct_tag&post=4559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}