Pink Hammer Coral
Pink Hammer Coral
Species: Euphyllia ancora / Fimbriaphyllia ancora
Growth Form:
Large Polyp Stony (LPS); branching or wall-type with hammer-shaped tentacle tips.
Coloration:
Soft to vibrant pink tentacles, often with lighter or slightly neon tips under blue lighting.
Temperament:
Semi-aggressive; develops sweeper tentacles — allow proper spacing.
Tank Size:
30 gallons and up (50+ gallons preferred for stability).
Placement:
Mid to lower levels with adequate space around the colony.
Lighting:
Moderate (PAR 80–150).
Flow:
Moderate, indirect flow to create gentle swaying motion.
Diet:
Photosynthetic; benefits from supplemental feeding.
Feeding:
1–2 times weekly with mysis, reef roids, or fine meaty foods.
Reef Safe:
Yes, with spacing from neighboring corals.
Care Level:
Moderate; requires stable alkalinity and consistent water parameters.
Pink Hammer Coral
Species: Euphyllia ancora / Fimbriaphyllia ancora
Growth Form:
Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral with thick, branching or wall-type skeleton. Features long fleshy tentacles with distinctive hammer or anchor-shaped tips that sway beautifully in the flow.
Coloration:
Soft to vibrant pink tentacles, often paired with lighter pastel tips or subtle neon highlights. Under actinic/blue lighting, the pink tones intensify and can display a subtle fluorescent glow.
Temperament:
Semi-aggressive. Possesses sweeper tentacles that can extend several inches, especially at night. Provide adequate spacing from neighboring corals.
Tank Size:
30 gallons and up. More stable parameters in 50+ gallons are ideal for long-term success.
Placement:
Mid to lower levels of the aquarium. Ensure sufficient space around the colony to prevent contact with other corals.
Lighting:
Moderate lighting (PAR 80–150).
Too much light can cause tissue recession or bleaching, while too little may result in reduced extension and color dulling.
Flow:
Moderate, indirect flow.
Gentle, alternating flow is ideal to create a natural swaying motion. Avoid strong, direct flow which can damage tissue.
Diet:
Primarily photosynthetic via zooxanthellae but benefits from supplemental feeding.
Feeding:
Can be fed 1–2 times per week with mysis shrimp, reef roids, or other fine meaty foods. Target feeding encourages growth and polyp expansion.
Reef Safe:
Yes, but requires space due to sweeper tentacles. Compatible with other LPS when properly spaced.
Care Level:
Moderate.
Suitable for hobbyists with stable parameters and some reef experience. Sensitive to sudden alkalinity swings and poor water quality.
Ideal Parameters:
-
Salinity: 1.025–1.026
-
Temperature: 76–78°F
-
Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH (keep stable)
-
Calcium: 400–450 ppm
-
Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
-
Nitrates: 5–15 ppm
-
Phosphates: 0.03–0.08 ppm
Fun Fact:
Hammer corals are closely related to frogspawn and torch corals, and under the right conditions, they can sometimes coexist and even form beautiful mixed Euphyllia gardens in reef aquariums.