Sarah Brown
Ricordea corals are a highly sought-after addition to saltwater aquariums due to their unique bubble-like appearance and vibrant colours. They are also popular among beginners and experienced aquarists alike because they are easy to care for and have minimal care needs. There are two species of Ricordea mushrooms: Ricordea Florida and Ricordea Yuma. While they are similar in terms of lighting and flow, Ricordea Yuma is more challenging to maintain than Ricordea Florida as it is more sensitive to water quality. In this article, we will discuss how to care for Ricordea corals in your saltwater aquarium.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genus | Ricordea |
| Species | Ricordea florida, Ricordea yuma |
| Appearance | Bubble-like, bright pigmentation, remarkable fluorescence |
| Lighting | Low to moderate (75-150 par) |
| Water flow | Low to medium |
| Placement | Low |
| Growth speed | Slow |
| Food | Microplankton, phytoplankton, zooplankton, coral dust, fauna marin |
| Water quality | Sensitive to water quality, regular partial water changes required |
| Water temperature | Determines overall shape |
| Water chemistry | Ricordea yuma is more sensitive than Ricordea florida |
| Calcium and alkalinity levels | Not strict, but cannot be ignored |
| Calcium and alkalinity levels | Not strict, but cannot be ignored |
| Behaviour | Semi-aggressive, carries a powerful sting |
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What You'll Learn
- Lighting: Ricordea mushrooms prefer low to moderate lighting, but this depends on the species
- Water flow: Keep water flow low to moderate to prevent the mushrooms from detaching and floating around
- Water quality: Ricordea yuma is more sensitive to water quality than Ricordea florida
- Food: Ricordea mushrooms are filter feeders and can be fed microplankton or food designed for filter-feeding invertebrates
- Placement: Ricordea mushrooms should not be placed directly next to other corals as they carry a powerful sting
Lighting: Ricordea mushrooms prefer low to moderate lighting, but this depends on the species
Ricordea mushrooms are highly sought-after corals for saltwater aquariums due to their distinct bubble-like appearance, bright pigmentation, and remarkable fluorescence. They are also popular because they are easy to care for and come in a wide variety of colours.
Ricordea mushrooms generally prefer low to moderate lighting, but this depends on the species. They are often found in shallow waters, where they are exposed to more light in the wild, and they are accustomed to high levels of flow. However, in home aquariums, they will thrive under lower flow conditions.
Ricordea florida and Ricordea yuma are the two species of Ricordea mushrooms. They are similar in terms of lighting and flow, but R. yuma is more challenging to maintain than R. florida and is more sensitive to water quality. R. florida is native to Florida and the Caribbean, while R. yuma is found in the tropical Pacific.
To mimic the natural environment of Ricordea mushrooms, you should provide moderately bright lighting. They are not deepwater species, so anything above 50 PAR should be sufficient. You may need to experiment with different types of lights, as some sources indicate that metal halides may not be ideal for these mushrooms.
It is important to note that if your Ricordea mushrooms receive too much light, they may detach and float around the tank until they find a more suitable location. They prefer attaching to rocks and will reproduce and spread relatively quickly.
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Water flow: Keep water flow low to moderate to prevent the mushrooms from detaching and floating around
Ricordea mushrooms, or flower mushroom corals, are popular among saltwater aquarium enthusiasts due to their ease of care and vibrant colours. They are generally hardy and adaptable, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind when it comes to water flow.
Ricordea mushrooms prefer low to moderate water flow. This is because they are anemones rather than true corals, and their polyps are not overly sensitive to water movement. A low to moderate flow will also help to prevent the corals from detaching and floating around in the tank. If the water flow is too high, it can cause stress and even blow the mushrooms onto nearby corals, potentially delivering potent stings to their tank mates.
To maintain a low to moderate water flow, it is recommended to keep the flow modest and avoid turbulence. Ricordea mushrooms are accustomed to higher levels of flow in the wild, but they will thrive under lower flow conditions in home aquariums. It is also important to note that these mushrooms prefer attaching to rocks, so providing a suitable surface for them to attach to will help prevent them from detaching.
Regular partial water changes are essential to maintaining water quality and promoting the health and survival of your Ricordea mushrooms. These corals are semi-aggressive and need to be adequately spaced out from other corals, especially those with long sweeper tentacles.
Overall, by maintaining low to moderate water flow and providing a suitable environment, you can help prevent your Ricordea mushrooms from detaching and ensure their health and well-being in your saltwater aquarium.
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Water quality: Ricordea yuma is more sensitive to water quality than Ricordea florida
The Ricordea genus of mushroom corals is highly desirable for reef aquariums due to their unique, bubble-like appearance. There are two species of Ricordea mushrooms: Ricordea florida and Ricordea yuma. Despite their similarities in terms of lighting and flow, there is a significant difference in their water chemistry requirements.
Ricordea yuma is more challenging to maintain than Ricordea florida due to its higher sensitivity to water quality. This makes it more difficult to keep long-term. While it is true that both species lack a hard skeleton, and therefore have more flexibility in calcium and alkalinity levels, water chemistry for Ricordea yuma must still be carefully monitored.
Ricordea florida, on the other hand, is considered easy to care for, provided that proper lighting and water parameters are maintained. They require very little beyond this. They are not overly aggressive and make good tank mates in a reef tank, but they should not be placed too closely to other coral species.
Ricordea yuma, on the other hand, requires more careful attention to water quality. They are found in shallow, clear waters in the Indo-Pacific region, and they tend to have more vibrant coloration than Ricordea florida. They can be found in a wide variety of colours, with green, orange, and red being the most common.
In summary, while both species of Ricordea mushrooms have similar lighting and flow requirements, Ricordea yuma is more sensitive to water quality than Ricordea florida and requires more careful maintenance to thrive in a reef aquarium.
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Food: Ricordea mushrooms are filter feeders and can be fed microplankton or food designed for filter-feeding invertebrates
Ricordea mushrooms are filter feeders and can be fed microplankton or food designed for filter-feeding invertebrates. They are not picky eaters and will accept most coral foods. They also appreciate fauna marin coral dust.
Ricordea mushrooms receive many of their nutrients through their symbiotic relationship with a photosynthetic algae, known as zooxanthellae. They also filter-feed on the nutrients in the water column. They react to very fine foods, like a cloudy supernate that you get by thawing frozen food, but they won't actually eat it. They will check it out, realise it's not for them, and then ignore it.
Ricordea mushrooms will do better with meatier foods, but try to keep the food pieces to about half the size of a mysis. They are often placed lower down in aquariums and do well under strong blue LED lighting. They are found in shallow waters, which suggests they prefer high light, but they are often found on the underside of rocks where they receive very low light.
Ricordea mushrooms are highly sought-after corals in the saltwater aquarium hobby due to their distinct bubble-like appearance, bright pigmentation, remarkable fluorescence, and ease of care. They are popular with beginners and experienced aquarists due to their minimal care needs and wide tolerance for lighting conditions. They are also inexpensive, simple to frag, and will thrive for years if optimal conditions are present in your reef aquarium.
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Placement: Ricordea mushrooms should not be placed directly next to other corals as they carry a powerful sting
Ricordea mushrooms are semi-aggressive and carry a powerful sting. Therefore, it is important to give them enough space to grow, colonize and thrive. They should not be placed directly next to other corals. While they are not overtly aggressive, they can sting through direct contact and do not have sweepers. They can, however, be placed directly next to zoanthids and some soft corals.
Ricordea mushrooms are found in a variety of colours, including blues, greens, oranges, pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and tans. They are highly sought-after in the saltwater aquarium hobby due to their distinct bubble-like appearance, bright pigmentation, remarkable fluorescence, and ease of care. They are also inexpensive and simple to frag.
Ricordea mushrooms prefer attaching to rocks and usually come pre-attached to some live rock rubble. They can be glued or affixed using epoxy to bond them to the rockwork in the aquarium. They reproduce and spread relatively quickly, so many reef-keepers prefer to put them on their own rock, separate from the main rock work.
Ricordea mushrooms are found in shallow waters and are exposed to more light in the wild. They are accustomed to high levels of flow in the wild but will thrive under lower flow conditions in home aquariums. They prefer high-nutrient water and are tolerant of elevated nitrate and phosphate levels. They are often placed lower down in aquariums and do well under strong blue LED lighting.
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Frequently asked questions
There are two species of Ricordea Mushrooms: Ricordea Yuma and Ricordea Florida. They are often confused with each other but can be distinguished by the orientation of their tentacles.
Ricordea Mushrooms are typically found in shallow waters and thus require moderate to high lighting. Low light conditions can range from 30-50 PAR, medium light from 50-150 PAR, and anything above 150 PAR is considered high light.
Ricordea Mushrooms prefer low to medium water flow. High water flow can stress them and cause them to detach and float around. They also require regular partial water changes to maintain optimal water quality and encourage their growth.
Ricordea Mushrooms have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae (zooxanthellae) and receive many of their nutrients from this source. They also filter-feed on nutrients in the water column and can be provided with additional food like microplankton or foods designed for filter-feeding invertebrates.
Yes, Ricordea Mushrooms are popular among beginners and experienced aquarists due to their minimal care needs and wide tolerance for lighting conditions. They are colorful and vibrant, making them a beautiful addition to any saltwater aquarium.
