QUICK STATS

Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Coral Type: SPS / Encrusting Coral
Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-Aggressive by Growth
Photosynthetic: Yes
Placement: Lower to Middle / Rockwork
Lighting: Moderate
Water Flow: Moderate
Approximate Purchase Size: Varies by Frag Size
Approximate Max Size: Encrusting Colony Growth Depends on Stability, Space, and Lighting

DO-SI-DO PSAMMOCORA CORAL

The Do-Si-Do Psammocora Coral is a colorful encrusting SPS coral known for its textured surface, compact growth pattern, and bright contrasting coloration. Depending on the specimen and lighting, it may show combinations of green, orange, yellow, gold, blue, purple, or mixed fluorescent tones across the base, eyes, mouths, or growth edge.

Psammocora corals are often called Sandpaper Corals because of their fine, grainy, textured surface. They typically grow by encrusting over rockwork, plugs, or rubble, creating a colorful mat that can spread steadily once established. Compared with more demanding SPS corals, Psammocora is often considered more forgiving, making it a great choice for reef keepers who want SPS texture and growth without immediately becoming a full-time parameter goblin.

The Do-Si-Do Psammocora is photosynthetic and receives much of its energy from reef lighting, but it can also benefit from occasional fine particulate feeding. It generally does best with stable water parameters, moderate lighting, and enough flow to keep debris from settling on its surface.

This coral is usually considered peaceful, but it can compete for space as it encrusts outward. It may not have dramatic sweeper tentacles like some LPS corals, but it can still slowly grow into neighboring coral territory like a tiny glowing land developer with no respect for property lines.

Note: Image is a representation of what to expect. The coral you receive may vary slightly in size, color intensity, growth edge, texture, encrusting shape, and overall appearance.

AQUARIUM REQUIREMENTS

AQUARIUM SIZE

A minimum aquarium size of 10-20 gallons or larger can work for Do-Si-Do Psammocora, provided the aquarium is mature and stable. Larger systems provide better water stability and more flexibility with placement.

This coral does not need a large aquarium, but it does need stable chemistry and appropriate flow. Small tanks can work well, but they also turn small parameter swings into full-blown reef drama because apparently water volume is the closest thing this hobby has to mercy.

PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Do-Si-Do Psammocora is best placed on rockwork in the lower to middle areas of the aquarium where it receives moderate light and moderate flow. Start lower if the coral is new, freshly shipped, or coming from lower lighting, then adjust slowly if needed.

Rock Placement: Place on stable rockwork where the coral has room to encrust outward. This coral can spread over rock surfaces, plugs, and rubble over time.

Sandbed Placement: Temporary sandbed placement can work during acclimation, especially if the coral is newly shipped or light intensity is high. Long-term placement is usually better on rockwork or a secured frag mount.

Growth Space: Leave open rock around the frag if you want it to spread. Psammocora can encrust steadily once happy, which is great until it starts treating neighboring corals like unpaid tenants.

Spacing: Leave space between Do-Si-Do Psammocora and nearby corals. It is not usually highly aggressive, but it can grow into nearby tissue or be damaged by stronger-stinging neighbors.

WATER PARAMETERS

Do-Si-Do Psammocora does best in clean, stable reef conditions. Stability is more important than chasing perfect numbers. Sudden swings in alkalinity, salinity, nutrients, or temperature can cause fading, tissue stress, recession, or stalled growth.

Temperature: 75-80°F
pH Level: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: 1.024-1.026 specific gravity
Alkalinity: 8-10 dKH
Calcium: 400-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm
Nitrate: 2-15 ppm
Phosphate: 0.03-0.10 ppm

Avoid ultra-low nutrient systems. Psammocora can do well in clean aquariums, but a completely stripped reef may cause pale coloration, weak growth, or poor tissue health. “Clean” and “starved” are different words, despite reef keepers constantly trying to make them roommates.

LIGHTING

Do-Si-Do Psammocora generally prefers moderate lighting. It can adapt to a range of lighting levels, but sudden changes should be avoided.

LIGHTING RECOMMENDATIONS

Moderate PAR: A general target range of 100-200 PAR works well for many Psammocora corals. Some specimens may adapt lower or higher, but moderate lighting is usually a safe starting point.

Light Acclimation: New frags should be acclimated gradually to your lighting. Start lower or in slightly reduced light, then adjust slowly based on coloration and growth.

Color Display: Do-Si-Do Psammocora often shows its best contrast under blue-heavy reef lighting, especially when the growth edge and textured surface fluoresce.

Too Much Light: Signs may include bleaching, fading, pale tissue, tissue recession, or reduced growth.

Too Little Light: Signs may include dull coloration, browning, slow growth, or weak tissue over time.

Do not throw a fresh Psammocora directly under intense lighting because the colors looked nice in a product photo. That is not coral care. That is photon-based bullying.

WATER FLOW

Do-Si-Do Psammocora prefers moderate water flow. Flow should be strong enough to prevent detritus from settling on the coral’s textured surface, but not so harsh that tissue becomes irritated.

FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS

Ideal Flow: Moderate, indirect to varied flow that keeps the surface clean and supports gas exchange.

Avoid Harsh Direct Flow: Strong direct blasting can irritate tissue or prevent normal polyp extension.

Avoid Dead Spots: Too little flow can allow detritus to collect on the coral’s textured surface and growth ridges.

Surface Cleanliness: Because Psammocora grows as an encrusting coral with a fine textured surface, debris buildup can irritate tissue over time.

If detritus collects on the coral, increase gentle flow or adjust placement. If the tissue fades, recedes, or stays irritated in strong current, reduce direct flow. Annoyingly, the coral expects observation. Bold behavior from a textured reef pancake, but here we are.

DIET

Do-Si-Do Psammocora is photosynthetic, meaning it receives much of its energy from light through its symbiotic zooxanthellae. It may also benefit from dissolved nutrients and fine particulate foods in the water column.

PRIMARY DIET

Photosynthesis: Proper lighting provides much of the coral’s energy.

Broadcast Feeding: The coral may capture fine particles from the water column during regular fish and coral feeding.

Fine Coral Foods: Powdered coral foods, amino acids, phytoplankton-style blends, and very fine suspended foods may be used carefully in established systems.

Dissolved Nutrients: Moderate detectable nitrate and phosphate can help support color and growth. Avoid stripping the aquarium too aggressively.

FEEDING FREQUENCY

Direct target feeding is usually not necessary. Broadcast feeding or general reef feeding 1-2 times per week can be beneficial if nutrients are not already high.

Avoid heavy feeding in small tanks. The coral does not need a blizzard of powdered food because someone wanted to “unlock growth mode.” That is how nutrients form a government.

COMPATIBILITY

Do-Si-Do Psammocora works well in many mixed reef aquariums, especially when placed with enough room to encrust and spread. It is generally not as aggressive as many LPS corals, but spacing still matters.

COMMON TANK MATES

Fish: Reef-safe fish such as clownfish, gobies, blennies, wrasses, tangs, cardinalfish, firefish, anthias, and other peaceful to semi-peaceful community fish.

Avoid: Fish known to nip at SPS or encrusting corals, such as some angelfish, butterflyfish, filefish, puffers, and certain triggers.

Invertebrates: Generally safe with cleaner shrimp, snails, hermit crabs, urchins, and most common reef invertebrates. Large urchins or bulldozing snails may move unsecured frags.

Coral: Keep away from aggressive neighboring corals, including torches, hammers, frogspawn, galaxea, favias, chalices, acans, mushrooms, and other stinging LPS unless spacing is carefully managed.

Encrusting Competition: Do-Si-Do Psammocora can spread over rockwork and may compete with other encrusting corals such as cyphastrea, leptoseris, montipora, favites, or other psammocora varieties if placed too close.

BEHAVIORAL NOTES

Temperament: Generally peaceful, but can compete for space as it encrusts.

Growth Pattern: Encrusting growth over rock, plugs, rubble, or surrounding hard surfaces.

Coloration: Do-Si-Do Psammocora may show bright contrast between the base, eyes, polyps, and growth edge. Color intensity may vary with light, nutrients, stress, and photography conditions.

Texture: Psammocora often has a fine, grainy, fuzzy, or sandpaper-like appearance due to its small polyps and textured surface.

Lighting Flexibility: More forgiving than many delicate SPS corals, but still benefits from stable moderate lighting.

Flow Sensitivity: Likes enough flow to stay clean, but not harsh direct blasting.

Growth Speed: Can grow steadily once established, especially in stable systems with appropriate lighting and nutrients.

Frag Handling: Handle by the plug, rock, or dead skeleton edge when possible. Avoid scraping or damaging the living tissue.

Dipping: Coral dipping before introduction is recommended to reduce pests and contaminants. Use coral-safe dips according to product directions.

Pest Awareness: Inspect for nuisance algae, flatworms, nudibranchs, vermetid snails, or other hitchhikers before placing into the display.

Placement Reality: This coral can be a great way to add bright encrusting color to rockwork. Just remember that “encrusting” means it may eventually claim more territory than expected, because even the textured coral has ambitions.

ACCLIMATION PROCESS

This acclimation method helps reduce stress by gradually introducing the coral to your aquarium’s temperature, lighting, and water chemistry.

1. DIM THE LIGHTS

Turn down aquarium lights or place the coral in a shaded lower area at first. This helps reduce stress while the coral adjusts.

2. FLOAT THE BAG

Float the sealed bag in the aquarium for 15-20 minutes to allow the temperature in the bag to equalize with the tank.

3. OPEN BAG, ADD CORAL TO CONTAINER

Carefully open the bag and transfer the coral and shipping water into a clean container. Handle the coral by the plug, rock, or skeleton edge rather than scraping the living tissue.

4. ACCLIMATE USING TANK WATER

Add small amounts of tank water to the container every few minutes for 20-30 minutes. Avoid exposing the coral tissue to air longer than necessary.

5. CORAL DIP

Use a coral-safe dip according to the product instructions. This can help reduce pests and contaminants before the coral enters your aquarium.

6. TRANSFER CORAL TO AQUARIUM

Place the coral in a lower to middle area with moderate indirect flow. Discard the shipping and dip water. Do not pour shipping water or dip water into your aquarium.

7. LIGHT ACCLIMATE

Allow the coral to adjust gradually over several days to weeks before moving it into brighter light. Watch for coloration, tissue health, and growth edge before making major placement changes.