Kenya Tree

Kenya Tree (often Capnella sp.) is one of the hardiest and fastest-growing soft corals in the hobby. It forms branching, tree-like stalks with soft, fluffy polyps and adapts to a wide range of conditions. Great for beginners, nutrient-heavy tanks, and farms that want reliable biomass.

Lighting

Moderate light, around 60 to 120 PAR. Kenya Trees tolerate low light extremely well, though brighter light produces tighter polyps and a slightly firmer structure. High light won’t typically harm them but may cause temporary shrinking during adjustment.

Flow

Moderate, rolling flow. They like a gentle sway, not a blast. Consistent movement keeps their polyps open and helps them shed any mucus film. Too little flow makes them droopy; too much flattens the branches.

Placement

Very flexible. Mid or lower rockwork is common. Kenya Trees grow upward in soft, branching stalks and can drop branches to self-propagate, so give them a spot where dropped frags won’t land on sensitive LPS. They can safely touch rockwork but shouldn’t rub against aggressive corals.

Water parameters

Exceptionally tolerant but happiest in stable, nutrient-positive systems.

Calcium 380 to 420.
Alkalinity 8 to 9.
Magnesium 1250 to 1350.
Nitrate 5 to 25.
Phosphate 0.05 to 0.2.

They thrive in tanks that many SPS would consider “dirty.”

Feeding

Primarily photosynthetic and doesn’t require feeding. They absorb dissolved nutrients readily. Feeding the tank heavier for other corals will also benefit Kenya Trees indirectly.

Growth behavior

Fast to very fast. Kenya Trees grow tall, soft trunks that fork repeatedly, forming a bushy shape. They naturally drop branches to create new colonies—a built-in propagation method. Many hobbyists call them “weeds” because of this, but in a farm or planned display, it’s an advantage.

Sensitivities

Very few. They may shrink temporarily when:
• Adjusting to new light or flow.
• After carbon dosing or aggressive filtration.
• Following temperature or salinity swings.
• Shedding old tissue.

They’re extremely resilient otherwise.

Compatibility

Peaceful. No stingers, no sweepers. They can bother neighbors only by overgrowing or dropping frags that land on sensitive corals. They coexist well with zoas, LPS, leathers, mushrooms, and SPS as long as you manage their self-propagation.