Unique, Uncommon Corals?

vonlycaon · Jul 19, 2026

hi!! i’ve been planning on getting a reef tank for a while and i just wanted to know what you guys think are some under appreciated, niche, unique corals that aren’t mentioned often? i know of a few like pachyseris, oulophyllia, and sphaerella, but i just wanted to know more so that i can really understand what i wanna get once my tanks established :) thank you thank you!

Michael Hughes · Jul 19, 2026

Anything you get on live rock from the Caribbean is rather unique in my opinion. My rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater had Phyllangia americana and Oculina robusta. Both really cool, really unique corals. The former has long, almost anemone-like tentacles and the latter will grow into a beautiful branching coral.

Here are some terrible photos of the frags:

vonlycaon · Jul 20, 2026

Michael Hughes said:
Anything you get on live rock from the Caribbean is rather unique in my opinion. My rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater had Phyllangia americana and Oculina robusta. Both really cool, really unique corals. The former has long, almost anemone-like tentacles and the latter will grow into a beautiful branching coral.

Here are some terrible photos of the frags:

really cool!! exactly what i was asking for, i love learning about corals that you never hear of, this is wonderful :) thank you!

docscorals · Jul 20, 2026

vonlycaon said:
hi!! i’ve been planning on getting a reef tank for a while and i just wanted to know what you guys think are some under appreciated, niche, unique corals that aren’t mentioned often? i know of a few like pachyseris, oulophyllia, and sphaerella, but i just wanted to know more so that i can really understand what i wanna get once my tanks established :) thank you thank you!

Not great with the scientific names, but I have had soft cauliflower (non-photosynthetic) and pagoda cups before. Carnation coral (also NPS) are also cool. You don’t really see or hear a lot about them. NPS corals require regular feeding, just something to know going in.

ReeFisPieces · Jul 20, 2026

Moyseleya Coral for sure had no idea what it was till I bought it.

Gumbies R Us · Jul 20, 2026

I had a hidden cup coral in my pico tank! Those you don't see too often

Mr. Mojo Rising · Jul 20, 2026

Blue Ridge coral is one of my favorites that is unique and not very common in the hobby.

VintageReefer · Jul 20, 2026

Goniastrea. It’s a unique type of Favia with imo better colors

Platygyra. It’s maze coral, and there are some real nice ones

Subsea · Jul 20, 2026

Michael Hughes said:
Anything you get on live rock from the Caribbean is rather unique in my opinion. My rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater had Phyllangia americana and Oculina robusta. Both really cool, really unique corals. The former has long, almost anemone-like tentacles and the latter will grow into a beautiful branching coral.

Here are some terrible photos of the frags:

I second desirable & unique biodiversity, not just coral, on diver collected live rock,

AlyciaMarie · Jul 20, 2026

Michael Hughes said:
Anything you get on live rock from the Caribbean is rather unique in my opinion. My rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater had Phyllangia americana

I was coming here to say this! I also had one as a hitchhiker from TBS, and I loved it. Hope I get another in future purchases.

Subsea · Jul 20, 2026

vonlycaon said:
hi!! i’ve been planning on getting a reef tank for a while and i just wanted to know what you guys think are some under appreciated, niche, unique corals that aren’t mentioned often? i know of a few like pachyseris, oulophyllia, and sphaerella, but i just wanted to know more so that i can really understand what i wanna get once my tanks established :) thank you thank you!

If this is your first reef tank, I suggest you focus on hardy soft corals.

However, for the first year, to eliminate algae progression cycles generally called the UGLIES, I suggest you inoculate your ecosystem with diver collected live rock.