Leptastrea purpurea

Leptastrea purpurea is a stony coral that grows over rock as a crust or a low mound. With its adjoining, polygonal corallites, the surface resembles a honeycomb; the corallite walls and centers are often different colors. The genus, once placed in the family Faviidae, has now been moved to its own family (Leptastreidae). Although it is mentioned among small-polyp corals in the hobby, its polyps are considered large and respond well to feeding; it is suitable for beginners. Trade in stony corals is subject to CITES Appendix II; aquacultured frags are easy to find in the hobby.

• Light: Low to moderate light; roughly 50–150 PAR. Too much light fades its color.
• Flow: Moderate, indirect flow; enough to keep the surface clean but not so much that it stops the polyps from catching food.
• Placement: The lower part of the rockwork or a rock near the sand, with 8–10 cm of space around it.
• Water parameters: Salinity 1.025–1.026, KH 7–9 dKH, calcium 400–450 mg/L, magnesium 1250–1400 mg/L. It is tolerant of nutrients.

It is photosynthetic and can live on light alone, but it grows noticeably faster with regular feeding. Twice a week, after the lights go off and while the tentacles are out, give fine powdered food, rotifers or newly hatched brine shrimp.

Some colonies put out sweeper tentacles at night that reach beyond their base and sting neighboring corals; leave 8–10 cm of space. It is itself harmed by strong LPS such as Euphyllia and Galaxea. It lives with fish without problems; dwarf angelfish may pick at the polyps.