Using Live Coral in Your Tank
If you are going to use live coral in your aquarium instead of the white, bleached coral, it should not be treated, bleached, or cured in any way, which of course would kill it. It should be handled just like a live fish, and may be taken directly from the ocean and placed in the aquarium.
While en route from the ocean to your home the coral should be kept shaded and in clean sea water, with aeration if needed. When it is placed in the tank, sufficient fresh sea water should be added to insure the health and proper chemical balance of the water. Sea water varies greatly with each location; so when gathering live coral for your aquarium it is best also to bring back enough fresh sea water to fill the tank, if possible. Remove any slime from the aquarium, if any is present, after you place the corals in your tank.
The slime can easily be taken out with a fine mesh net or siphoned out with a plastic hose. Live coral should be watched closely the first few days, and if it appears to be dead and is turning white it should be promptly removed. If you are not certain that it is dead, place it in a fish bowl or other container of sea water and observe it for a few days.
Although the distribution of live coral to aquarists away from the ocean is limited, it is can shipped by air and small heads up to six inches across, complete with live tube worms, may be ordered from collectors.
