Lobed brain coral
Species guidance Revision 2AI-assisted · Model audited
Full care details
This stony coral forms thick, fleshy polyps over separate skeletal cups or irregular connected valleys. Wild colonies on upper reef slopes can form extensive mounds or stands. The water ranges below are captive targets published by Vivid Aquariums for its Aussie Molten Lobo listing.
- Acclimation
- Start under reduced light and increase exposure gradually as the coral settles.
- Adult size
- The field account records wild colonies exceeding five metres across. Growth space in an aquarium depends on the individual colony.
- Alkalinity
- 8–9.5 dKH
- Calcium
- 420–440 ppm
- Clearance
- Leave open space beyond the inflated edge. A captive coral farm has observed nighttime mesenteric filament attacks on nearby corals.
- Compatibility
- Allow generous clearance from nearby corals and check neighboring tissue after dark. This precaution applies to placement in a mixed reef.
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Feeding
- Light provides much of its energy. Captive colonies also capture small frozen marine foods or sinking coral foods.
- Feeding frequency
- Captive colonies can capture food carried past them, so occasional supplemental feeding is appropriate when they accept food.
- Water flow
- Use gentle to moderate, indirect current that clears waste. Tissue that stays tight against the skeleton or recedes on the side facing the pump can signal too much direct flow.
- Growth
- The farm reports slow growth in captive Lobophyllia colonies.
- Habitat
- Upper reef slopes, where colonies sometimes form large stands.
- Handling
- Support the skeleton and keep inflated tissue clear of sharp surfaces when moving the colony.
- Compatibility concerns
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lifespan
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Lighting
- Tidal Gardens suggests modest lighting, usually no more than 100 µmol photons/m²/s, for Lobophyllia. Start conservatively and observe tissue expansion as exposure changes.
- Magnesium
- 1260–1350 ppm
- Minimum tank size
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Nitrate
- The cited coral farm uses 5–10 ppm nitrate as a practical reference for its large-polyp stony corals. Watch nitrate and phosphate trends alongside tissue condition.
- PAR
- Tidal Gardens says Lobophyllia typically need no more than 100 µmol photons/m²/s. Vivid Aquariums recommends 150–250 µmol photons/m²/s for its Aussie Molten Lobo listing. Begin under modest light and adjust gradually while observing tissue expansion.
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Phosphate
- Vivid Aquariums recommends keeping phosphate below 0.10 ppm for its Aussie Molten Lobo. Follow nutrient trends and the coral’s tissue condition.
- Placement
- Place low in the display with a stable base and an open area for tissue expansion. Keep pointed rock clear of the flesh.
- Predation concerns
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Propagation
- Distinct polyps can separate as colonies grow. Captive growers report that slow growth makes production less practical.
- Reef compatibility
- Conditional in a mixed reef. Leave space around the expanded colony and check nearby corals after dark for stinging damage.
- Salinity
- 1.024–1.026 specific gravity
- Social grouping
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Substrate
- Unknown · A supported value is unavailable for this group.
- Temperament
- Allow generous clearance from neighboring livestock
- Temperature
- 75–80 °F
- Warning signs
- Persistent retraction, recession facing the current, or damage to adjacent corals warrants a placement and water-quality check.
- Warnings
- Observe nighttime interactions and protect inflated tissue from sharp rock and strong direct current.
Sources
- World Register of Marine Species — Lobophyllia hemprichii · Accepted marine species and synonym records · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Lobophyllia · Husbandry and scope notes, indexed by profile in the original editorial research · Retrieved 2026-11-07
- Corals of the World — Lobophyllia hemprichii · Species factsheet, Characters and Habitat · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Tidal Gardens — Lobophyllia Coral Care · Lighting, Water Flow, Coral Aggression, Chemistry, Feeding and Propagation · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Vivid Aquariums — Aussie Molten Lobo care by Dave Burr · Water Conditions and Water Chemistry. Captive targets published for the supplier’s Aussie Molten Lobo listing. Lighting & Flow Requirements gives its separate PAR recommendation. · Retrieved 2026-11-10
- Top Shelf Aquatics — Rainbow Lobophyllia care and placement · Care & Placement. Gradual light acclimation and skeleton support during handling for the supplier’s Lobophyllia hemprichii. · Retrieved 2026-11-10