Mushroom Coral

About

Mushroom coral (Cycloseris vaughani) is a solitary, free-living disc coral native to the Pacific Ocean, where it inhabits sandy and silty substrates between reef formations rather than anchoring itself to hard rock. It ranges across tropical and subtropical waters from the surface down to around 40 meters. Each polyp forms a single rounded disc, domed on top and flat underneath, with a pale, lightly mottled brown coloration and a noticeably lighter mouth at the center. The alternating costae, the ridges that radiate outward to the edge of the disc, are a useful identification feature when you look closely. Because it lives unattached, it can shift position on the substrate, which is worth keeping in mind when placing it in the aquarium. In a reef tank, it does best on a sandy bottom with low flow, which mirrors the calm inter-reef environments it naturally occupies. Lighting needs are moderate rather than intense, so it isn't demanding in that regard. It's considered a beginner-friendly coral, making it a reasonable starting point for those new to keeping LPS and solitary disc corals. Just give it a soft, open patch of sand and avoid placing it where strong currents might tumble it around.