- Sku: FSYM-1
- Vendor: Eye Catching Coral
Sympodium (Sympodium sp.)
Sympodium sp. is one of the easiest and most rewarding soft corals for a reef tank, prized for its shimmering blue-grey mat and constantly swaying, feather-tipped polyps. It stays low and encrusting, so it drapes over rock like a living carpet and adds gentle motion that most stony corals cannot. Beginner friendly and fully photosynthetic, it is a great first coral or an easy filler for open rock. Browse the rest of our live coral frags and colonies.
Care Guide
Sympodium is about as forgiving as reef corals get. It draws most of its energy from light through symbiotic zooxanthellae, so a stable, established tank is really all it asks for. Give it moderate light and moderate, indirect flow to keep the polyps open and waving. It has no aggressive sweeper tentacles, but it is a fast encruster, so place it on its own rock or an island with a little open space around it so it does not creep onto slower neighbors.
- Lighting: Low to moderate reef lighting (roughly 50 to 150 PAR). Too much light can bleach it, too little dims the color.
- Flow: Moderate, indirect flow. The polyps should sway, not get blasted flat.
- Placement: Low to mid on the rockwork, on an isolated rock or island. It spreads by encrusting, so leave a buffer.
- Feeding: Photosynthetic and does not need target feeding. It benefits from occasional phytoplankton and reef aminos, which can boost polyp extension and spread rate.
Specifications
| Scientific Name | Sympodium sp. |
| Common Names | Sympodium, Blue Clove Polyp, Blue Xenia (trade name) |
| Coral Type | Soft coral (encrusting) |
| Care Level | Beginner |
| Lighting | Low to moderate |
| Flow | Moderate, indirect |
| Temperament | Peaceful (encrusting, no sweeper tentacles) |
| Reef Safe | Yes |
| Water Parameters | 72 to 78°F, salinity 1.024 to 1.026, pH 8.1 to 8.4 |
| Availability | In-store pickup only |
Choose Your Size
We offer Sympodium at several sizes so you can start small or add instant coverage. Each is the same easy-care coral, just a larger established mat.
| Frag | A small cut on a plug or rubble, perfect for starting a new colony. |
| Mini Colony | An established patch with a fuller polyp count. |
| Colony | A generous mat that makes an immediate statement. |
| Large / X-Large Colony | Show-piece pieces with heavy coverage for open rockwork. |
Recommended Foods & Supplies
- Seachem Reef Phytoplankton or Aquaforest AF Phyto Mix for occasional filter feeding
- Brightwell Reef Code A and Reef Code B to keep calcium and alkalinity stable
- More easy soft corals and beginner frags in our Corals collection
FAQ
Is Sympodium good for beginners?
Yes. It is one of the most forgiving soft corals, thriving under modest light and flow in any stable, cycled reef tank.
Does it sting other corals?
No. It has no sweeper tentacles, but it does encrust and spread, so give it a little room or an isolated rock so it does not grow over slower neighbors.
Do I need to feed it?
Not required. It is photosynthetic and feeds off your lights. Occasional phytoplankton or reef aminos can improve polyp extension and growth.
How is it different from Xenia?
It is often sold as a "blue Xenia," but Sympodium does not pulse. It forms a flatter, shimmering blue mat with steadier, waving polyps and is generally less invasive than pulsing Xenia.
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Sympodium (Sympodium sp.)
