Burning Embers Leptastrea
The Burning Embers Leptastrea is a striking encrusting LPS coral prized for its intense fiery colouration, tightly packed polyps and textured growth.
Once established, Leptastrea gradually spreads across the surrounding rockwork, creating a dense carpet of colour. Its compact growth pattern makes it particularly useful for adding detail to lower areas of the aquascape or covering isolated rocks.
Care Information
Genus: Leptastrea
Coral Type: LPS
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Lighting: Low to Moderate
Recommended PAR: Approximately 75–150
Water Flow: Moderate, indirect
Placement: Lower to middle areas of the aquarium
Temperament: Generally Peaceful
Growth Form: Encrusting
Aquarium Placement
Burning Embers Leptastrea performs well under low-to-moderate reef lighting, making it an excellent choice for areas where more light-demanding corals may struggle.
Provide moderate, indirect water movement to help prevent detritus from settling across the colony while allowing the small polyps to remain extended.
Once comfortable, the coral will gradually encrust across the surface beneath it.
Feeding
Leptastrea obtains most of its energy through photosynthesis but can benefit from occasional supplemental feeding.
Suitable foods include:
- Fine LPS coral foods
- Small coral pellets
- Fine meaty foods
- Zooplankton-based preparations
Target feeding occasionally can help support healthy growth and condition.
Easy Encrusting Growth
Unlike many more aggressive LPS corals, Leptastrea does not produce long sweeper tentacles. However, it should still be given enough room to spread without growing directly into slower neighbouring corals.
This encrusting growth habit makes it particularly effective for:
- Covering exposed rockwork
- Adding colour to lower-light areas
- Growing across isolated rocks
- Creating contrasting patches around the aquascape
Recommended Water Parameters
Eastern Marine recommends maintaining stable reef parameters around:
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
Magnesium: 1300–1400 ppm
Stable salinity, temperature and nutrient levels will also help maintain strong colour and consistent growth.
With its fiery colouration, textured surface and steady encrusting growth, Burning Embers Leptastrea is an excellent choice for adding serious colour to an established reef aquarium.
Colour, pattern and frag size may vary between individual specimens.
