Bubble Coral
Plerogyra sinuosa
Grape-like bubbles by day, sweeper tentacles by night; needs gentle flow and space.
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Min. Tank Size | 75 L |
| Temperature | 24.0–27.0 °C |
| pH Range | 8.1–8.4 |
| Max Size | 25.0 cm |
| Lifespan | Long years |
| Diet | Photosynthetic + feeding |
| Temperament | Aggressive (sweepers) |
Overview
The Bubble Coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) is grape-like bubbles by day, sweeper tentacles by night; needs gentle flow and space. It is a LPS (large polyp stony) coral rated intermediate to keep.
This guide covers how to keep Bubble Coral thriving in a reef aquarium: lighting, water flow, placement, water chemistry, feeding, how it behaves towards neighbouring corals, and how to propagate (frag) it.
Care Level & Difficulty
LPS corals are a great middle step: hardier than SPS, responsive to feeding, but they need stable calcium and alkalinity to build their skeletons.
Lighting
Provide low light for this coral. Good reef lighting brings out its colour; too much can bleach it, too little turns it brown. Acclimate any new coral to your lights slowly over a couple of weeks to avoid shock and bleaching.
Water Flow
Aim for low flow. The water should keep waste and detritus from settling on the coral without blasting its tissue. LPS corals prefer gentle, indirect flow - strong direct current can tear their fleshy tissue.
Placement in the Reef
Place the Bubble Coral in the low/sand area of the reef, matching its light and flow needs. It stings, so leave generous space (10 cm or more) between it and other corals - its sweeper tentacles can reach surprisingly far at night.
Feeding
Like all photosynthetic corals it gets most of its energy from light via the algae in its tissue. It also captures food, so target-feed it with reef foods, mysis or coral pellets a couple of times a week for faster growth and better colour.
Aggression & Neighbours
This coral is armed with stinging sweeper tentacles (most active at night) and will damage corals placed too close. Allow plenty of space around it.
How to Propagate (Frag)
It is easy to frag: cut or snip a healthy piece and glue it to a frag plug or rock, and it soon grows into a new colony. Use coral glue or putty, work cleanly, and let cuts heal in stable water. Fragging is also how reefers trade and share corals.
Common Problems
Watch for 'brown jelly' infections, tissue recession and swings in alkalinity, which LPS corals are sensitive to. Stable Alk/Ca and gentle handling prevent most issues.
The golden rule for corals is stability - small, steady changes and consistent Alk, Ca and Mg keep them healthy.
Is the Bubble Coral Right for Your Reef?
The Bubble Coral suits reef keepers with some experience and stable parameters. Provide low light, low flow and rock-solid water chemistry and it will reward you for years. Browse our marine fish and reef guides to build a balanced reef.
How to Tell Males from Females
Not externally sexed. Corals and most reef invertebrates are either colonial, hermaphroditic or spawn broadcast gametes with no visible external difference between individuals.
