Duncanopsammia Peltata

Duncanopsammia peltata is a stony coral that grows as flat plates and as layers in which these plates are stacked on top of each other; it sometimes also forms columnar colonies. It differs from Turbinaria reniformis in having larger corallites and polyps that stay open during the day with long tentacles. In the hobby it was long known as "Turbinaria peltata"; in current classification it has been placed in Duncanopsammia, the same genus as the Duncan coral. Its trade is subject to CITES Appendix II; choose an aquacultured frag.

• Light: Moderate, about 100–250 PAR.
• Flow: Moderate and variable; detritus should not collect on top of the plates.
• Placement: The middle zone of the rockwork; as the plates grow they can shade the corals beneath them.
• Water parameters: Salinity 1.024–1.026, KH 7–10 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L, magnesium 1250–1350 mg/L; tolerant of nitrate in the 2–15 mg/L range.

It is photosynthetic; because it lives in turbid waters in the wild, it also makes good use of particles in the water. Feeding fine-grained coral food or mysis once a week keeps the large polyps full.

It is peaceful; it has no long stinging tentacles, and 5–10 cm of space from its neighbors is enough. The main thing to watch is shading. It is itself harmed by aggressive species such as Euphyllia, Galaxea and the elegance coral. It is easily propagated by cutting the edges of the plates with coral cutters.