Class Anthozoa Subclass Octocorallia Order Alcyonacea Family Alcyoniidae Genus Sinularia Sinularia are one of my favorite soft corals. There are several different kinds of Sinularia commonly available, and each is colorful with an interesting shape. The most familiar kind of Sinularia is probably Sinularia dura, commonly known as the cabbage Sinularia. This Sinularia grows in a shape much like a pinkish cabbage. The flesh is translucent and may have a greenish tint. Often there will be a row of polyps on the very edges of the "leaf." Other types of Sinularia grow in finger shapes or even in a shape like a cauliflower head. The shapes and colors can be highly variable, but in this genus, they are always beautiful. I have recently propagated a lot of a gorgeous and rare kind of Sinularia. This green Sinularia grows in a shape like a weeping willow tree. The color is an unearthly, glowing green. These Sinularia grow very quickly, and are pretty adaptable; I have them in several different systems here, and each one is doing fine. This particular species tends to prefer fairly strong current and light, and will look best in a combination of white and blue actinic VHO lights. These corals have specialized cells called Amebocytes, which produce calcium carbonate spicules. A spicule is like a little spine that grows in the inside of the coral lending it support. Calcium carbonate is the same material that SPS corals use to produce skeletons, although Sinularia are not directly related to SPS. Because of these spicules, Sinularia are easy to propagate. The spicules make the coral tougher than most other soft corals. They can be sewed onto plugs, or the bridal veil netting method can be used. However, the method that I have found easiest is simply to rubber band them onto GARF plugs. First procure a handful of these thin, black rubber bands. Next, cut a Sinularia into small pieces. Each piece should be big enough to have at least 1 "fork" and 2 branches. Put these pieces in a dish of water, and the parent colony can go back into the tank. Attach each piece to a plug with a thin rubber band. You should choose plugs that are flat on top (but textured enough to make it easy for the coral to hold onto). Other material, like pieces of rubble, could conceivably be used for attachment sites. These plugs should be placed into an area with limited current until they attach; otherwise they might get blown off the plug. In about a month, the green sinularia will be attached firmly to the plug. You can either take the rubber band off then or wait until the rubber band dissolves in the seawater . These Sinularia grow so quickly, that in no time you should be able to cut your cuttings again, producing more coral! FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO PURCHASE, TRADE, AND SAVE AS MANY TYPES OF CORALS AS WE CAN. 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