Pulse Coral

About

Pulse coral (Anthelia glauca) is one of those soft corals that immediately draws the eye, not because of bold color, but because of constant movement. Each polyp rhythmically opens and closes in a wave-like motion that gives the colony an almost animated quality, which is where the common name 'waving hand polyp' comes from. In the wild, this species is documented from the waters around New Caledonia in the Western Central Pacific, where it lives as a sessile colonial organism on tropical reef structures. In the aquarium, it tends to be a forgiving choice for newer reef keepers, tolerating a range of conditions as long as flow and lighting are reasonably consistent. Moderate water movement suits it well. Enough to keep the polyps gently swaying without blasting them flat. Like other soft corals in this group, it can spread across rock and substrate over time, so it's worth keeping some space around it if you want to control its footprint. It doesn't rely heavily on feeding, getting much of its nutrition through photosynthesis via its zooxanthellae. This is a low-drama coral that rewards patience with a genuinely striking display.