Star Spike Coral Asterospicularia Laurae

Coral Overview

Star Spike Coral, Asterospicularia laurae, is an uncommon soft coral with bright, star-like polyps, thick upright growth, and a flowing appearance when fully extended. In our experience, this is an easy to keep soft coral that adds both texture and motion to the reef aquarium. When happy, it shows a lot of movement in the water and develops a full, lively look that stands out from more common soft corals.

The common name Star Spike Coral comes from the tiny star-shaped spicules associated with this coral group. Those small structural elements are part of what gave Asterospicularia its scientific name, making the common name a natural and descriptive fit.

This coral tends to grow into a thick mat that can look almost like a carpet of broccoli as it develops. It often grows to roughly 2 to 3 inches tall before spreading outward and carpeting the surrounding rockwork. Given enough time and space, this coral can develop into a broad, attractive patch over the surrounding rockwork, so it is best placed where that growth form has room to develop.

Care Requirements

Star Spike Coral is generally best kept in a stable reef aquarium with moderate lighting and moderate, indirect flow. Enough water movement should reach the colony to keep the polyps gently moving and the surface free of debris, but overly direct flow can limit extension and make the coral look less natural.

Like many soft corals, this species tends to respond well to consistency. Stable salinity, temperature, and nutrients are usually more important than pushing aggressive light or flow. Give the colony room to expand, especially if you want to allow its thick, spreading growth form to develop naturally over time.

We used the HydroShock 3 Part Complete System to grow this coral. It includes calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, and trace elements in the ratios that corals consume them.

Feeding & Nutrition

Star Spike Coral receives much of its energy through photosynthesis, but it may also benefit from a stable, well-fed reef system with good dissolved and suspended nutrition. In most aquariums, broad system health is more important than trying to target feed this coral heavily.

For reefkeepers focused on overall reef nutrition and microbial support, Palustris Live Bacteria Bacto Fuel, Rhodomonas Live Phytoplankton, and Isochrysis Live Phytoplankton can be used as part of a broader reef nutrition approach. These are best viewed as supportive tools within a balanced system rather than quick fixes.

Known Sensitivities

Star Spike Coral can react to transport, acclimation stress, and sudden changes in water chemistry by closing up for a period after arrival or after being moved. That response is fairly typical for soft corals and does not always indicate a long-term problem.

It may also respond poorly to unstable salinity, temperature swings, debris collecting on the colony, or strong direct flow aimed at the tissue. While this is an easier soft coral in our experience, it still does best in a stable environment where it has time to settle in and expand at its own pace.

Shipping & Arrival Guarantee

We pack corals carefully to help them arrive in strong condition and transition as smoothly as possible into their new system. You can review our Shipping information and our Arrive Alive Guarantee for full details.

After arrival, gentle acclimation, stable parameters, and a little patience will usually give this coral the best chance to settle in and begin extending normally.

Our Daily Dose: How We Keep Our Corals Thriving

At New Dawn Aquaculture, every coral system runs on precision, consistency, and the right balance of chemistry and nutrition. Gone are the days of dosing generic off the shelf products. Today, we rely exclusively on our own Reef Charge line to fuel coral growth, coloration, and resilience.

This page outlines exactly what we dose, why we dose it, and how these products keep our reef flats healthy and stable.

The Foundation: Hydroshock 3-Part System

Our Hydroshock 3-Part System is the backbone of every coral system. Together, these three components maintain balanced calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium — the critical building blocks for coral skeleton growth and long-term stability.

Hydroshock Calcium | Part 1

Delivers bio-available calcium and trace elements like strontium, potassium, and iron. Supports strong coral skeletal growth and coloration while maintaining natural ionic balance.

Hydroshock Alkalinity | Part 2

Restores carbonate alkalinity consumed by coral growth and maintains stable pH. Includes boron for enhanced buffering capacity and reduced daily pH swings.

Hydroshock Magnesium | Part 3

Completes the system by maintaining magnesium, sulfate, and potassium balance. Prevents precipitation and stabilizes ionic ratios for optimal coral health and coloration.

Why It Matters: Balanced calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium are the foundation of coral health. Even slight imbalances can slow growth or dull coloration. Hydroshock keeps these parameters rock solid.

Ammplify: Feeding Corals and Microbial Life

Why We Dose It: A nutrient-starved reef is not a healthy reef. Ammplify keeps our systems biologically active without resorting to heavy feeding or unstable additives.

Balancing Nutrients: Nitrify & Phosphorize

Even with Ammplify, our coral systems can run extremely lean. When nitrate or phosphate levels drop too low, we carefully dose Nitrify and Phosphorize to bring nutrient levels back into balance.

Our Approach: We only dose these when testing shows a deficiency. Balanced nutrients keep corals vibrant without fueling nuisance algae.

The Result: Stable, Thriving Coral Flats

By combining the Hydroshock 3-Part System, Ammplify, and occasional nutrient supplements, we maintain stable chemistry, controlled nutrients, and consistent coral growth across all systems. Every coral you see from New Dawn Aquaculture is grown under this exact routine, using the same care we recommend for any serious reef keeper.

Learn More

Visit our Reef Charge product line to explore the additives we use daily. These are the same products trusted in every New Dawn Aquaculture coral system.

At New Dawn Aquaculture, our corals are sustained on a natural diet built around living micro-organisms produced through our Planktura brand. Rather than relying on powdered or preserved foods, we focus on providing live nutrition that supports both coral health and the overall microbiome of our reef systems.

Live Phytoplankton

Every coral system receives daily doses of live phytoplankton grown in-house at Planktura. Each strain offers unique nutritional benefits that contribute to coral health, coloration, and nutrient balance.

Nannochloropsis Live Phytoplankton

A dense, single-celled green phyto high in omega-3 fatty acids. Excellent for maintaining water clarity and supporting filter feeders. Helps stabilize nutrient export and feeds bacterial populations.

Isochrysis Live Phytoplankton

A brown-gold flagellate rich in DHA and carotenoids. Great for feeding zooplankton and enhancing coral coloration, especially for LPS and soft corals. Encourages polyp extension and natural feeding behavior.

Rhodomonas Live Phytoplankton

A deep red cryptophyte high in natural pigments and fatty acids. Promotes vivid coral coloration and benefits filter feeders and non-photosynthetic corals through its balanced nutrient content.

Tetraselmis Live Phytoplankton

A highly active green phyto rich in amino acids and lipids. Supports coral tissue repair and boosts beneficial bacterial growth. Excellent for mixed reefs with both SPS and LPS species.

Live phytoplankton feeds corals directly while sustaining copepods, rotifers, and beneficial bacteria. It creates a balanced, living food web that mirrors the natural reef ecosystem.

Live Bacteria Cultures

In addition to phytoplankton, our systems are dosed with live bacteria from Planktura’s microbial culture line to maintain water quality and microbial diversity.

Palustris Live Bacteria – Bacto Fuel

A concentrated culture of Rhodopseudomonas palustris, a purple non-sulfur bacterium that enhances nutrient cycling and water clarity. It helps reduce nitrate and phosphate while providing a bioavailable nitrogen source for corals.

This live bacterial supplement supports a healthy microbiome, aids in organic waste breakdown, and helps maintain balanced nutrient levels. The result is improved coral health, color, and system stability.

Natural Feeding Philosophy

Our approach to coral feeding mirrors the reef ecosystem itself. Instead of relying on heavy particulate feeding, we cultivate a continuous supply of live micro-organisms that nourish the entire food web, from bacteria and plankton to the corals themselves.

This natural method produces cleaner systems, stronger coral tissue, and long-term stability. Every coral we sell has been grown and colored under these same feeding conditions.

Learn More

Explore the Planktura product line to learn more about our live phytoplankton and bacterial cultures, and how you can feed your reef the same way we do at New Dawn Aquaculture.

Corals come in many shapes, sizes, and growth styles. To make choosing and caring for them easier, we group them into four main categories: SPS, LPS, Soft Corals, and Zoanthids and Mushrooms. Each group has its own care requirements, growth habits, and visual appeal.

SPS Corals (Small Polyp Stony)

SPS corals build rigid calcium skeletons and have very small polyps that extend slightly from their surface. They are known for their incredible structure and vivid coloration but require precise water chemistry and high-intensity lighting. Stability is everything with SPS systems.

• Care Level: Advanced
• Lighting: High
• Flow: Strong, turbulent
• Examples: Acropora, Montipora, Stylophora

SPS thrive in environments with consistent alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels. Dosing and nutrient control are essential for maintaining color and growth.

LPS Corals (Large Polyp Stony)

LPS corals have larger, fleshy polyps that sway in the water and give them a more dynamic appearance. They are generally hardier than SPS and can tolerate slightly higher nutrient levels. Their skeletons are still calcium-based but less dense and faster-growing.

• Care Level: Intermediate
• Lighting: Moderate to high
• Flow: Moderate and indirect
• Examples: Hammer, Torch, Frogspawn, Acan, Candy Cane

LPS corals appreciate regular feeding with fine particulate foods and benefit from balanced nutrients supported by products like Hydroshock and Ammplify.

Soft Corals

Soft corals lack a hard skeleton and instead have flexible, leathery bodies that bend with the current. They are some of the most forgiving and beginner-friendly corals and adapt well to a range of lighting and nutrient levels.

• Care Level: Beginner
• Lighting: Low to moderate
• Flow: Moderate to strong
• Examples: Kenya Tree, Leather Corals, Xenia, Clove Polyps

Soft corals grow quickly and can help stabilize new tanks by naturally absorbing nutrients. They are ideal for newer reef systems or as fillers between larger LPS colonies.

Zoanthids and Mushrooms

Zoanthids and Mushroom corals are some of the most colorful and resilient species in the reef aquarium hobby. They spread across rockwork and create vibrant carpets of texture and color.

• Care Level: Beginner
• Lighting: Low to moderate
• Flow: Gentle to moderate
• Examples: Zoanthus, Palythoa, Ricordea, Discosoma

These corals tolerate a wide range of conditions, making them perfect for mixed reefs. Stable nutrients and trace element dosing help maintain their color intensity and growth rate.

Choosing the Right Coral for Your System

When building a reef, match your coral choices to your equipment, experience level, and maintenance routine. SPS corals reward precision, LPS corals add movement and variety, Soft corals bring growth and coverage, and Zoanthids and Mushrooms fill in color and texture.

Every coral grown at New Dawn Aquaculture is cultivated under stable, nutrient-balanced conditions using our Reef Charge product line. Whether you are setting up your first reef or expanding an established one, our systems and products provide the foundation for success.