Real Coral Effects
Dead coral skeleton (dried) releases CaCO3, raising KH and pH.
Great for African cichlids needing hard alkaline water. Bad for soft-water tanks.
Fake Coral
Aquarium-safe resin replicas. No chemistry effect. Work in any water.
Good for Amazon tanks, discus, or anywhere you want coral look without pH shift.
Avoid for Plants
Planted tanks need stable mild acidity for plant health. Real coral disrupts this.
Stick to fake coral replicas or skip the look entirely.
Preparation
Real coral: boil thoroughly, rinse, add gradually to monitor pH shift.
Fake coral: rinse before use. Inspect for sharp edges.