ASF USA

ASF USA Manufacturer of advanced saltwater and freshwater aquarium products

🌿 Hammer Coral (Fimbriaphyllia ancora) — Care Guide 🌿Hammer corals are iconic LPS with flowing, hammer-shaped tentacles ...
12/17/2025

🌿 Hammer Coral (Fimbriaphyllia ancora) — Care Guide 🌿

Hammer corals are iconic LPS with flowing, hammer-shaped tentacles that bring instant movement and color to a reef. They’re manageable for most hobbyists with stable conditions.

📍 Placement
• Mid to lower areas of the tank
• Rock ledges or sandy bases work well
• Leave space — their sweeper tentacles can extend several inches

💡 Lighting
• Moderate
• PAR 80–150
• Too much light causes tissue recession; too little reduces extension

🌊 Flow
• Low to moderate
• Gentle back-and-forth motion
• Avoid direct jets that make the polyps whip or retract

🍽 Feeding
• Benefits from occasional target feeding
• Accepts mysis, brine, reef roids, and fine LPS foods
• Once a week is enough for strong growth

🧪 Water Conditions
• Stable LPS-friendly parameters
• 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Alk 8–9 dKH
• Calcium 420–460 ppm
• Magnesium 1300–1400 ppm
• Nitrate 5–15 ppm
• Phosphate 0.03–0.1 ppm

💪 Ease of Keeping
• Moderate
• Does well in stable tanks with consistent nutrients
• Sensitive to large alkalinity swings

🌱 Growth & Behavior
• Forms large, branching or wall-type colonies
• Extends fleshy hammer-shaped tentacles during the day
• Displays sweeper tentacles at night — keep distance from neighbors

Hammer corals add motion, color, and a classic LPS look to any reef. A standout piece for hobbyists building a vibrant, dynamic display.

12/15/2025

🌊🐟 Did you know that bacteria are essential allies for your aquarium? 🦠
They play a crucial role in water balance by transforming waste into less harmful elements for your fish. Without them, your aquarium environment would not be viable. Remember to prepare your tank well and provide them with a space where they can thrive, such as filters or porous rocks.

We all know these people, 😂
12/12/2025

We all know these people, 😂

🌿 Broccoli Coral (Litophyton sp.) — Care Guide 🌿Broccoli corals bring soft, tree-like movement and unique texture to a r...
12/10/2025

🌿 Broccoli Coral (Litophyton sp.) — Care Guide 🌿

Broccoli corals bring soft, tree-like movement and unique texture to a reef. Their branching, fluffy appearance makes them stand out, and they’re forgiving enough for most hobbyists.

📍 Placement
• Mid to upper areas of the tank
• Mount on stable rockwork
• Leave room around the branches — they expand and sway

💡 Lighting
• Moderate
• PAR 80–150 works well
• Too little light = drooping; too much = shrinking or closed polyps

🌊 Flow
• Moderate, indirect
• Consistent movement helps them shed mucus and maintain health
• Avoid blasting flow that collapses the branches

🍽 Feeding
• Photosynthetic but benefits from occasional feeding
• Accepts phytoplankton, marine snow, and fine particulate foods
• Light broadcast feeding once or twice a week supports growth

🧪 Water Conditions
• Standard soft-coral reef parameters
• 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Alk 8–9 dKH
• Calcium 400–450 ppm
• Nitrate 5–20 ppm
• Phosphate 0.05–0.15 ppm

💪 Ease of Keeping
• Hardy and adaptable
• Tolerates a range of nutrient levels
• Suitable for newer reef keepers

🌱 Growth & Behavior
• Develops thick, tree-like branches topped with tufts of polyps
• Periodically closes to shed a waxy layer — normal behavior
• Can grow large over time, so plan for expansion

Broccoli corals add soft, flowing motion and a natural reef look to any tank. A great choice for hobbyists who want a striking yet resilient showpiece.

It’s all about the grammar! It could be your get of jail free card 😂
12/05/2025

It’s all about the grammar!
It could be your get of jail free card 😂

🌿 Rhodactis Mushroom Coral — Care Guide 🌿Rhodactis mushrooms are one of the most rewarding corals for reef keepers. Hard...
12/03/2025

🌿 Rhodactis Mushroom Coral — Care Guide 🌿

Rhodactis mushrooms are one of the most rewarding corals for reef keepers. Hardy, colorful, and adaptable, they’re ideal for beginners and loved by experienced hobbyists.

📍 Placement
• Low to mid areas of the tank
• Rockwork or substrate
• Give them space — they expand and can shade nearby corals

💡 Lighting
• Low to moderate
• Too much light causes shrinking or bleaching
• Gentle PAR levels (50–120) keep coloration rich

🌊 Flow
• Low to moderate
• Enough movement to keep them clean, but not enough to lift the edges

🍽 Feeding
• Benefit from occasional target feeding
• Accepts reef roids, fine meaty foods, and dissolved nutrients
• Not required daily; once or twice a week is plenty

🧪 Water Conditions
• Stable reef parameters
• 24–26°C (75–79°F)
• Alk 8–9 dKH
• Calcium 400–450 ppm
• Nitrate 5–15 ppm
• Phosphate 0.03–0.1 ppm

💪 Ease of Keeping
• Very hardy
• Tolerates minor parameter swings
• Great starter coral for new reefers

🌱 Growth & Behavior
• Expands into large, textured disks
• Can spread by splitting
• Keep them away from delicate SPS that dislike contact

Rhodactis mushrooms bring movement, color, and personality to any reef. A perfect coral for building confidence and creating a vibrant, forgiving aquascape.

11/29/2025

Something a bit different - Twycross Zoo
Had a brilliant family evening at the Festival of Lanterns at Twycross Zoo. The illuminated fish, corals, and sea-life displays were incredible to walk through—bright, detailed, and full of character. A completely different way to see the underwater world brought to life. Thought I’d share a few highlights from a night that genuinely stood out. 🌊✨

11/27/2025

🦃🐠 Happy Thanksgiving from ASF USA! 🐠🦃

A huge thank you to everyone who’s supported us this year — retailers, hobbyists, aquascapers, and every fish-keeper who keeps the community swimming strong. It’s been a great year, and we’re grateful for all of it.

Wishing you a relaxing holiday, clear water, peaceful tanks, and zero filter clogs. May your weekend be as calm as a well-balanced aquarium!

Have an amazing Thanksgiving!

11/26/2025

✨ Sarcophyton glaucum – Fiji Leather Coral ✨

📝 Description
The Sarcophyton glaucum, commonly known as the Leather Coral or Toadstool Coral, is a stunning soft coral admired for its smooth, mushroom-like cap and graceful, organic form. Its hues range from warm beige and golden tan to subtle greens that glow vividly under actinic lighting. At the top, delicate polyps extend like a miniature field, swaying gently with the current.

🏝️ Habitat
Native to the shallow lagoons and reef slopes of the Fijian islands, Sarcophyton glaucum thrives in well-lit areas with moderate water movement. In the wild, it anchors firmly to stable rock structures, basking in bright light and oxygen-rich waters where it grows into impressive, umbrella-shaped colonies.

💧 Water Parameters
To keep this coral thriving and vibrant, maintain stable, pristine conditions:
🌡️ Temperature: 24–27°C (75–80°F)
⚖️ Salinity: 1.024–1.026
📏 Alkalinity: 8–10 dKH
🦴 Calcium: 400–440 ppm
🔷 Magnesium: 1250–1350 ppm
📉 Nutrients: Nitrates 2–15 ppm, Phosphates 0.03–0.08 ppm

🌿 Feeding
Primarily photosynthetic thanks to its symbiotic zooxanthellae, the Sarcophyton glaucum relies mostly on light for nutrition. However, it benefits from occasional target or broadcast feeding with fine particulate foods like phytoplankton, marine snow, or amino acid supplements — especially after shedding its outer layer, a natural process that helps keep it clean and healthy.

🔆 Lighting
Enjoys moderate to strong lighting, similar to the upper reef zones it inhabits. Under blue or actinic LEDs, its polyps shimmer with subtle golden or green fluorescence, creating a calming and mesmerizing effect.

🌊 Water Flow
Prefers a moderate, variable flow — enough to gently move its polyps and keep the surface clean, but not so strong that it prevents full polyp extension.

🐚 Pro tip: Sarcophytons can release mild chemical compounds that inhibit the growth of nearby stony corals. Use activated carbon and provide it with plenty of space to spread its wide, fleshy cap without competition.

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780 Chambers Lane, Ste 200
Simi Valley, CA
CA93065

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