The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral is a large polyp stone which is also commonly referred as Heliofungia plate, mushroom, or disk coral. The name Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral itself describes its skeleton shape. With its long tentacles, it resembles an anemone, and that makes it a valuable addition to any reef tank. The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral is a solitary, aggressive coral which should be kept at a distance lest it destroys other neighboring corals. It often inflates itself with water and expands twice its size, its sweeper tentacles extending well beyond its base. The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral thrives well in the bottom of the reef aquarium, preferably lying on a fine sand substrate. It is very easy to maintain, and that?s what makes it a very good choice for a beginner reef aquarist. The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral requires moderate lighting along with moderate water movement within the aquarium. It should be well fed with micro-plankton or brine shrimp; and for its continued good health, it should also be supplemented with calcium, strontium and other trace elements to the water. The Green Long Tentacle Plate Coral thrives well in a temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit and pH of 8.40, which is considered ideal for this coral. It needs moderate water movement in the tank for its tentacles to open up freely.
The Long Tentacle Plate Coral has a flat calcareous bottom with soft tissued tentacles that flow out from its base. These corals are often confused as Anemones by the novice. They require a sand bed area where they can be placed.The size of this item is when fully open under metal halides.Corals are part of a biological group known as Cnidaria. Most Cnidaria have a mouth, or mouths, that opens into one big body cavity. Due to the lack of a true digestive system, this cavity acts in its place and after the food is broken down the nutrients are then sent through the rest of the body as food. There is also no excretory system; therefore the waste is sent back through the mouth or secreted into the surrounding water.Tentacles of varying size will usually surround the mouth of Cnidaria. Most Cnidaria have tentacles with stinging cells that can shoot tiny poison darts into their prey or can even be used as a defense mechanism. Some corals lack tentacles and instead cover themselves with a thin layer of mucus and use that to collect bacteria and plankton as food. Some corals even use both of these methods. Cnidaria can either be an individual animal or members of a complex colony. These "Colony Corals" share the food and nutrients taken in by each individual.Corals have tiny living organisms that actually live in their tissue. These are called zooxanthellae and they are the reason why such strong lighting is needed in the saltwater aquarium. These algae-like creatures provide the coral with oxygen and other nutrients that are produced during photosynthesis. During this process, the zooxanthellae take up carbon dioxide and provide nutrients to the coral.Corals can use two different types of defense mechanisms. One of which is a sweeper tentacle wherein the coral reaches its tentacles out to try to damage another coral with nematocysts. The other is when the coral releases a minute amount of toxin into the water to poison another coral within certain proximity. Most "Hard Corals" should not be placed within reach of another coral.
