Lobophyllia rowleyensis

Community submission by Phu Huynh

Lobophyllia rowleyensis is a deep-water Lobophyllia species with large, fleshy corallites and muted but complex coloration — it's a collector's brain coral for people who appreciate subtlety over neon, and in a species-appropriate setup it's one of the most impressive LPS you can own. Bottom placement with low light and medium indirect flow; this is a deeper-water species that will bleach under the intensities that standard reef tanks run — place it in a shaded corner or beneath a rock overhang. The advanced rating is earned — rowleyensis is sensitive to temperature spikes and nutrient imbalance, and it doesn't show stress obviously until it's already in decline; monitor it closely in the first few months. Feed large meaty foods directly to the polyps once or twice a week and keep the tank on the cooler end of the reef spectrum; this species comes from deeper, calmer water and rewards a tank that reflects that.