Duncan Coral

Overview

Duncan Coral is an Australian-endemic large-polyp stony coral known for being one of the easiest, fastest-growing and most forgiving LPS available to reef keepers. Its round, disc-shaped polyps sit atop a branching skeletal base and open into a full, fleshy carpet of colour when settled.

Colours are usually understated, in brown, grey and green tones with contrasting mouth colouration, but its appeal lies mostly in its rapid growth and reliability rather than flashy colour. It's a great choice for stocking a reef quickly with minimal risk.

Duncans lack the long sweeper tentacles of Euphyllia species, making them one of the least aggressive LPS options for mixed reef tanks.

Placement & neighbours

Duncan Coral is one of the more peaceful LPS corals and doesn't produce significant sweeper tentacles, so it can be placed closer to neighbours than most Euphyllia, though a few centimetres of clearance is still sensible as colonies grow and expand.

Suits mid-tank placement on rockwork with moderate flow; it tolerates a wider range of conditions than most LPS and is a good choice for busy, mixed community reefs.

Health & acclimation

Drip acclimate over 20-30 minutes; Duncan Coral is comparatively tolerant but still benefits from a gradual introduction. A short coral dip on arrival helps remove any hitchhiking pests, though Duncans are less commonly targeted by Euphyllia-specific pests than Hammer, Torch or Frogspawn. Polyps that stay closed for more than a few days after introduction usually indicate flow or lighting is off rather than disease.