What are the Most Attractive Corals for a Reef Tank?

Broccoli, bubbles and… open brains? These are just a few coral types that will bloom in your aquarium and give your reef environment life.

Nothing compares to the beauty of a thriving reef environment – just look at pictures of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or the Rainbow Reef in Fiji. But what makes these environments so unique and colorful? In many cases, it is a variety of thriving corals that gives a reef environment its beautiful color and movement.

The Top 5 Most Beautiful Coral Species

There are more than 2,500 different species of coral in the world, about half of which are the hard corals that make up the skeleton of the world’s coral reefs. Soft corals are those that bend and sway with the flow of the water around them, giving the reef its beautiful movement. If you want to capture the beauty of a reef environment in your tank at home, consider some of the top 5 most beautiful coral species:

Related: Colorful Tips for Starting a Nano Reef Tank

Related: Top 5 Low Light Corals for a Beginner Reef Tank

Tips for Keeping Corals in a Reef Tank

Corals are some of the most beautiful and unique-looking creatures in the natural world which is why they are so popular amongst reef tank hobbyists. In addition to being beautiful, they are also something of a challenge to keep. Not only do you need to make sure that your corals get enough food, but they also require a certain amount of light and a certain degree of water flow.

The ideal tank parameters for corals varies from one species to another so you need to do your research to determine what you need to do to keep the kind of corals you like best. You will definitely need a high-quality filtration system to keep your tank water clean and to facilitate flow – you will also need a good lighting system to provide your corals with the energy they need to facilitate the process of photosynthesis.

If you are an experienced aquarium hobbyist looking for a new challenge, consider adding some corals to your reef tank! Corals come in all kinds of shapes, colors, and patterns so you can mix and match them to create a unique and custom look in your reef tank.

If you think there’s something fishy about Kate Barrington, it’s because she’s been a lifelong lover of pets, particularly aquarium fish. Since receiving her first 10-gallon tank as a birthday present in 5th grade, she has become an avid aquarium enthusiast as well as a freelance writer specializing in the aquarium niche. Kate is a regular contributor to several aquarium fish websites and has a column in a bi-monthly pet magazine.