Holy Grail Torch

Let’s face it, all torch corals are beautiful but there are some that are just truly awe inspiring. The Holy Grail Torch Coral is one of those corals. With its bright yellow tentacles and blue or purple tips there really is nothing like it. While they are one of the more expensive varieties of torch corals, their beauty makes them worth the price and they can make any reef tank a standout. Like all torches, they are a colonial coral and grow through splitting, with a single head slowly dividing into two and like all LPS corals, they grow a stony skeleton made out of sodium bicarbonate.

The Holy Grail Torch Coral is native to the waters of the Indo-Pacific region and prefer waters that have moderate levels of movement. Because they are in such high demand they are also aquacultured in Indonesia, as well as increasingly in North America. Regardless of where they are from there are many options for torch coral placement in a home aquarium. While some hobbyists place them on the sandbed, often on a frag disc to prevent them from being knocked over, they are generally placed on the rockwork. It may take some experimentation to find a spot with the appropriate amount of light and flow so it might be a good idea to not glue it down right away. It is increasingly popular to place multiple torch corals together to form a “torch garden” and some hobbyists report success keeping them in close proximity to hammer corals and frogspawn. However, they have also been known to sting these other members of the Euphyllia family so be sure to keep an eye on them.

All torch corals require moderate levels of both light and flow. In terms of lighting, they can be kept successfully in a wide range of conditions so long as the light is not overly intense. They should not, however, be kept in very low light conditions. Flow should be sufficient to cause the tentacles to sway in the current but not so intense that they stay retracted or are damaged.

Since torch corals are photosynthetic they do not have to be fed. However, many hobbyists choose to feed their torch corals and this can increase their growth speed as well as improve colouration. Torch corals can be fed a variety of foods but one good option is Vitalis LPS Pellets.

Because they are a branching species, it is fairly easy to frag a Holy Grail Torch Coral with the right equipment. Once there is a clear separation between heads, a bandsaw can be used to cut off the desired number of heads. It is worth considering an iodine dip after fragging to reduce the likelihood of infection. Remember that fragging does carry risks so be sure to weigh the pros and cons of attempting to propagate such a beautiful coral.

There are a handful of corals that elevate any home aquarium and its unique and vibrant colours and mesmerizing movement put the Holy Grail Torch Coral squarely in this category.