Page 1 of 1
Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:36 am
by Flareon
Just got my first Palythoa frag and I'm kinda nervous about keeping it alive. My tank's a 20 gallon with LED lights, 78 degrees, and 1.025 salinity. Any tips on feeding or placement? Heard they can be tricky.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:15 am
by folklore
Palythoa are pretty chill once you get the hang of them. I've got mine under moderate flow and they're thriving. What's your lighting schedule like? They don't need crazy intensity but consistency helps.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 1:04 pm
by jade
I'd recommend starting with spot feeding once a week. They'll take small meaty foods like mysis shrimp. Keep an eye on your nitrates too, they can be sensitive to spikes.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 2:47 pm
by unity4
Flareon wrote: ↑Wed Jul 16, 2025 10:36 am
Just got my first Palythoa frag and I'm kinda nervous about keeping it alive. My tank's a 20 gallon with LED lights, 78 degrees, and 1.025 salinity. Any tips on feeding or placement? Heard they can be tricky.
Your params sound solid. I'd avoid direct high flow spots, they prefer a gentle sway. Also, test your alkalinity regularly, it's key for their growth.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:35 pm
by Finney
Palythoa are hardy but can be sketchy if your water's off. I've had success with weekly 10% water changes and keeping phosphates low. What's your substrate like? They do well on sand or rock.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 5:55 pm
by Flareon
Thanks for the advice, everyone. Gonna tweak my flow and start spot feeding. Appreciate the help!
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:08 pm
by folklore
jade wrote: ↑Wed Jul 16, 2025 1:04 pm
I'd recommend starting with spot feeding once a week. They'll take small meaty foods like mysis shrimp. Keep an eye on your nitrates too, they can be sensitive to spikes.
Yep, nitrates are a big one. I keep mine under 10 ppm and they've been happy. Also, try not to mess with them too much, they don't like being moved around.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 7:19 pm
by unity4
If you're using LED, make sure the spectrum's right. Too much blue can stress them out. I run mine at 14K during the day and they've colored up nicely.
Re: Palythoa care for beginners
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2025 8:12 pm
by Finney
One more thing, watch for pests. Palythoa can attract nudis or flatworms. A quick dip before adding them to your tank can save you headaches later.