JF John Deere Cyphastrea
JF John Deere has about as subtle a color scheme as the tractor aisle at a farm show. The base is unmistakable John Deere green, covered in bright orange polyps that stand out hard against it.
Originally released by Jason Fox, this is an easy, forgiving encrusting coral that steadily spreads across rock without asking for anything special. Interestingly, the original JF piece is actually listed as a Leptastrea, even though it’s often passed around the hobby as a Cyphastrea. Either way, the green and orange paint job is hard to mistake.
Care LevelEasy
GrowthEncrusting
SpeciesCyphastrea
Lighting / PAR — 100–200
100–200
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We recommend starting the JF John Deere Cyphastrea in the 100 - 200 PAR range.
Flow — Low to Moderate
Low to Moderate
Provide Low to Moderate variable flow that keeps detritus from settling on the Cyphastrea. Avoid constant direct current from the same direction in favor of random chaotic water movement.
Placement — Island
Placement of your JF John Deere Cyphastrea is one of the most important decisions.
This is where you’ll have to take lighting, flow, future growth and nearby corals into consideration.
Since it prefers 100 - 200 PAR range it will need to be mounted Island on your rock work depending on your light intensity.
Allow room for its Encrusting growth form, and consider neighboring coral colors and shape. When possible, use contrasting corals such as red next to green, blue next to orange, or yellow next to purple, and mix growth forms such as tall branching corals next to plating or encrusting corals.