User Guide

How to read the coral catalog, the flow of member features (in preparation), and where to go for help.

Reading the coral catalog

The catalog (/corals) organizes corals along two axes.

Taxa (classification)

The biological axis based on scientific names (genus/species). Anchored on italicized names, it lets you trace groups such as SPS, LPS, and soft corals.

Lineages

The axis of Named Lineages known by trade names. It expresses which colony a frag descends from. Same species, different origin means separate lineages.

Reading the care spec table

Each coral page has a care spec table summarizing keeping guidelines. Values are general guides only and vary by species, individual, and tank.

•Light (PAR) and flow: rough targets differ by coral type (SPS/LPS/soft).
•Water (KH/Ca/Mg/salinity): stability matters, especially for SPS; swings can cause bleaching or RTN.
•Difficulty: beginners typically start with soft corals or LPS, moving to SPS with experience.

If a term is unfamiliar, see the glossary.

Browse the coral catalog→

How member features work

Account registration is currently in preparation. The features below are still in development and public sign-up isn't open yet. We plan to announce availability via the announcements page.

Register a specimen

Log growth and tank events

Record growth photos and tank events (moves, fragging, bleaching, recovery) over time, building a keeping history.

Create a frag

When you cut a frag from a colony, record its lineage (which specimen it descends from). Provenance is kept as a claim plus verification status.

Publish a collection

Group your records into a collection and share it with a visibility setting (private / unlisted / public). The default is private.

Record visibility

Private: Only you can see it. This is the default.
Unlisted: Only people with the link can see it; it doesn't appear in listings or the catalog.
Public: Anyone can view it and reach it from the catalog.

Reporting and getting help

Report inappropriate content

If you find rights infringement or inappropriate content in the catalog, records, or provenance claims, use the report feature on the relevant page. We review and act on reports.

Contact us

For error reports, questions, or requests about the site, use the contact page.

Go to contact→

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy corals here?▼

No. ReefBook has no marketplace. It's a site to explore corals in the catalog and (once available) record your own specimens with member features.

Can I sign up?▼

Not yet — it's in preparation. Member features (registering specimens, logging growth, creating frags, publishing collections) are still in development and public sign-up isn't open.

What's the difference between taxa and lineages?▼

Taxa are biological classifications (genus/species); lineages are Named Lineages known by trade names. Different origins are separate lineages even under the same species.

What if I find an error?▼

Please let us know via the contact page, ideally with your reasoning for scientific names, classification, or provenance.

See more FAQs→

Trading and importing corals is regulated. See regulations (CITES) — note that this site's notes are not legal advice.

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