Neon Bloom Ricordea (Ricordea florida)
Quick Stats
- Care Level: Easy to Moderate
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Colour Form: Vibrant Mix of Neon Hues, Including Green, Orange, Blue, and Purple
- Water Conditions: 24-26°C, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
- Family: Ricordeidae
- Lighting: Moderate
- Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Amino Acids, Trace Elements
- Water Flow: Low to Moderate
- Placement: Bottom to Middle
Overview
The Neon Bloom Ricordea is a mesmerizing soft coral known for its intense, fluorescent coloration and distinctive bubble-like texture. Its fleshy, disk-like structure displays a breathtaking mix of electric greens, fiery oranges, deep blues, and glowing purples, making it a true showstopper under actinic lighting. Unlike other mushrooms, Ricordea has a more structured, polyp-like appearance, adding an extra layer of visual appeal to any reef setup.
Care & Feeding
Thriving in moderate lighting and low to moderate water flow, the Neon Bloom Ricordea will remain fully inflated, displaying its best coloration. While it relies on photosynthesis, it also benefits from target feedings of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and coral-specific foods, which encourage faster growth and deeper pigmentation.
Keeping stable calcium, magnesium, and trace element levels will help maintain its vivid fluorescence and overall health.
Optimal Parameters
- Alkalinity (dKH): 8-12
- Calcium (Ca): 400-450 ppm
- Magnesium (Mg): 1250-1350 ppm
- Nitrate (NO3): 5-15 ppm
- Phosphate (PO4): 0.03-0.08 ppm
Placement
The Neon Bloom Ricordea prefers bottom to middle placement in the tank, where it can receive gentle, indirect flow without being blasted by strong currents. Its peaceful nature allows it to coexist with other non-aggressive corals, but giving it a bit of space ensures optimal expansion.
With its striking neon colors, soft yet structured form, and effortless care, the Neon Bloom Ricordea is a must-have for reef keepers looking to infuse their tank with glowing, tropical beauty!