Purple and Gold Cyphastrea (Cyphastrea sp.)

The Purple and Gold Cyphastrea is a striking encrusting coral known for its contrasting purple base and bright gold to yellow polyps. Its tightly packed corallites create a fine, textured surface that becomes increasingly impressive as the colony spreads across the rockwork. Under blue-heavy reef lighting, the gold coloration and fluorescent tones can become especially pronounced, creating excellent contrast against the deeper purple background.

Cyphastrea is a relatively compact-growing coral that typically encrusts available rockwork and gradually expands outward. Its small polyps give established colonies a detailed, star-like appearance without requiring the space associated with many larger LPS corals. The combination of purple and gold makes this variety particularly useful for adding a strong color contrast to lower-light areas of a mixed reef.

Recommended Care

• Scientific Name: Cyphastrea sp.
• Common Name: Purple and Gold Cyphastrea
• Care Level: Easy to Moderate
• Lighting: Low to Moderate, approximately 50–150 PAR
• Water Flow: Moderate — indirect, variable flow that keeps the colony clean without excessive direct turbulence
• Placement: Lower to Middle aquarium
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Growth Form: Encrusting
• Feeding: Primarily photosynthetic; supplemental feeding is beneficial but not required

Placement & Flow

Place Purple and Gold Cyphastrea on stable rockwork where it has room to spread. It is particularly well suited to lower-light portions of the aquarium, making it a useful coral for areas that may not be ideal for higher-light SPS.

Moderate, indirect flow is preferred. Good circulation helps prevent detritus from settling on the colony while providing consistent oxygen and nutrient exchange. Avoid directing a powerful, narrow stream directly at the coral.

Cyphastrea is generally peaceful and does not typically produce long sweeper tentacles. Even so, allow reasonable space between it and neighboring corals, especially other encrusting species, as the colony expands across the rockwork.

Lighting

Purple and Gold Cyphastrea generally performs well in 50–150 PAR. Moderate lighting can provide a good balance of growth and coloration without requiring the high-intensity lighting used for many SPS corals.

When introducing a new specimen, begin toward the lower end of the range and acclimate gradually if your aquarium has stronger lighting. Sudden exposure to significantly higher PAR can cause unnecessary stress and may affect coloration.

Blue-heavy reef lighting can bring out the fluorescent qualities of the gold/yellow polyps and create stronger contrast with the purple base, while a balanced spectrum will provide a more natural overall appearance.

Feeding

Cyphastrea is primarily photosynthetic, receiving much of its energy from its symbiotic algae. However, it can also benefit from nutrients and fine food particles available in the water column.

Occasional supplemental feeding with fine powdered coral foods, phytoplankton, or small zooplankton-based foods can provide additional nutrition. Feed conservatively and avoid allowing uneaten food to accumulate on the colony.

Purple and Gold Cyphastrea is an excellent choice for reef keepers looking to add bold color and texture to lower-light areas of the aquarium. Its contrasting purple base, bright gold polyps, compact encrusting growth, and striking appearance under blue reef lighting make it a versatile and visually distinctive addition to a mixed reef.