Bicolor Hammer

Torch coral and Hammer coral are stunning species of coral that belongs to the family Euphylliidae. They are native to the Indo-Pacific region, including areas like the Great Barrier Reef, Fiji, Tonga, and Indonesia. Some key pointsl:

1. Appearance: Torch coral has long, flowing tentacles that resemble the flame of a torch, hence its name. Its polyps are typically fluorescent green or brown, although there are also variations with pink or purple hues.
2. Care: Torch coral is generally considered moderately easy to care for in a well-established reef aquarium. It requires moderate to high lighting and moderate water flow. Stable water parameters are crucial for its health, including temperature, pH, and salinity.
3. Feeding: Torch coral is primarily photosynthetic, meaning it obtains much of its energy from light through photosynthesis. However, it will also benefit from supplemental feeding. It can be fed with small meaty foods such as brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, or planktonic foods a few times a week.
4. Aggressiveness: Torch coral has sweeper tentacles that it can extend at night or when it feels threatened. These tentacles contain nematocysts, which can sting and potentially harm neighboring corals. So, it's important to provide enough space between torch corals and other corals in the tank.
5. Propagation: Torch coral can be propagated through fragmentation. Carefully cutting a healthy portion of the coral and allowing it to attach to a suitable substrate can lead to the growth of a new colony.
6. Compatibility: Torch coral can coexist with a variety of other coral species in a reef tank, but as mentioned earlier, caution should be exercised due to its sweeper tentacles. It's best to provide ample space between it and other corals to prevent any aggression.

Overall, torch coral is a beautiful addition to a reef aquarium, adding both color and movement to the underwater environment. Proper care and maintenance are key to ensuring its health and longevity in captivity.

Placement:Torch and Hammer corals should be placed at the bottom or near the middle of an aquarium, away from other corals. Torch corals have long tentacles called sweeper tentacles that can damage other corals that are within reach. The white tips of these tentacles contain nematcysts that can damage more delicate tank mates. 

Their tentacles will hurt or kill other corals they come into contact to. Torches fortunately can be placed together to create beautiful gardens. They can also be placed relatively close to other euphyliia such as frogspawn or hammer corals but should still have some room.

 Flow: This species of coral prefers moderate to high amounts of flow in comparison to other Euphyllia, such as Hammers or Frogspawns. The higher flow helps combat diseases, such as brown jelly disease, that are commonly seen in Euphyllia.

Light: The lighting requirements for these corals fall in a moderate range of par, between 125-200 micromole. After the Torch Coral has been properly acclimated to a higher range of light, it will experience more vibrant coloration. This takes time and patience but is well worth it.

• Salinity: 1.025
• pH: 8.0–8.4
• Temperature: 72–78°F
• Alkalinity: 8–12 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
• Nitrate >5ppm and <20ppm
• Phosphate >0.01ppm and <0.10ppm