Purple Clove Polyps (AC)
A violet meadow of feathered polyps that never stops moving.
Purple clove polyps form a dense field of eight-tentacle feathered polyps in a deep, saturated violet that reads almost neon under blue-heavy lighting. They pulse and sway with the slightest current, adding constant motion to rockwork and overhangs. Aquacultured, tank-adapted, and pest-free — one of the highest-impact soft corals per dollar in the hobby.
What it needs to thrive
- Lighting
- Low to moderate — 60–120 PAR. Very adaptable across the tank.
- Flow
- Moderate to strong. Higher flow drives the signature feathery sway.
- Feeding
- Photosynthetic. Occasional broadcast feeding of fine planktonic foods accelerates spread.
- Temperament
- Peaceful, non-stinging, but a fast encroacher over open rock.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Ideal Tank Size
- 10 gallons and up.
- Water Parameters
- SG 1.025 · Temp 78°F · Alk 8.0–9.0 dKH · Ca 420–440 ppm · Mg 1350–1400 ppm · NO₃ 2–10 ppm · PO₄ 0.03–0.10 ppm
Mid to upper rockwork, overhangs, or an isolated island rock. Clove polyps spread — give them a boundary.
Non-stinging but invasive. Clavularia will creep across rock and overtake slower neighbors. Mount on an isolated rock or a raised ledge with a clear gap if you want to control the spread.
Quarantine, dip, and acclimation
Quarantine
Hold all new fish in a bare-bottom 10–20 gallon QT for a minimum of 4 weeks. Observe for flashing, clamped fins, white spots, or breathing changes. Treat preventatively with copper (1.75–2.5 ppm chelated) or tank-transfer method for ich, plus a praziquantel course for flukes. Invertebrates and corals skip QT but go through dip and observation instead.
Recommended coral dip
For every new coral: a 5–10 minute bath in your reef-safe dip of choice (Bayer Complete, CoralRx, or Reef Primer) following label dosage, followed by two clean saltwater rinses. Inspect plugs and bases for flatworms, pyramid snails, and eggs — remove or refrag onto clean plugs before placing in display.
Acclimation
Float sealed bags in your QT or display for 15 minutes to match temperature. Then drip acclimate at 2–4 drops per second for 45–60 minutes until volume has tripled. Net livestock into the tank — never pour shipping water in. Dim the lights for the first 24 hours to reduce stress.