What is lps and sps corals

Unless you can ensure a healthy water flow at the bottom, you need to keep them near the top of the aquarium. If you enjoy the shape of Brain Corals but want brighter colors for your reef tank, the Favites genus has the best selection.

All brain corals share similar looping designs reminiscent of the fleshy organ from which they get their name. The Lobophyllia genus comes in a variety of colors. Some are rarer and more expensive than others, so keep an eye on that price tag when you go shopping. As you might guess from the name, Bubble Corals resemble a collection of fragile orbs clustered together.

You can find every color you can think of — including a rainbow variety. However, the cute act ends there. You need to leave plenty of room on all sides to prevent these aggressive little LPS corals from taking swipes out of their neighbors. Open Brain Corals earned their name from the unusual shape of their growth. As they mature, they start to look similar to the inside of — well, the human brain. Pagoda Cup Corals come in a variety of shapes. If you relish a challenge, look for one with thin plating or a convoluted shape.

The choice is yours. Much like the Candy Cane Coral, Pagodas have a docile nature. You can place them along the bottom or middle of your tank and not worry about their neighbors falling prey to a midnight attack. Easy to manage or not, you still need a stable reef environment before introducing your little LPS buds.

In aquarium settings, LPS corals tend to prefer slow water flows. LPS corals are generally thought of as easier to care for because they are more tolerant to chemical changes in the environment, such as higher levels of nitrates and phosphates than SPS corals. However, LPS corals typically require higher calcium levels in the water to grow their corallite bases. Because of this, aquarists must add calcium and alkalinity supplements to support their growth.

While LPS coral descriptions are predominantly about the appearance of their polyps, which often cover their skeletons, leaving them unseen, SPS corals polyps are smaller, so the structure is defined more by their skeleton shapes. Together the tiny polyps give the coral surface the appearance of pores. The small polyps covering the surface of this coral skeletal structure look like tiny brown, yellow, orange, green, pink or purple polka dots.

Bird's nest corals are one of the fastest-growing SPS corals. In the wild, they grow approximately 0. In aquariums, SPS corals are considered more difficult to manage than LPS corals because they prefer faster water flows and a strictly regulated environment with low nitrate and phosphate levels.

However, though they have more significant challenges, one of the benefits aquarists find when keeping SPS corals is they tend to be less aggressive due to their tiny tentacles.

Adrianne Elizabeth is a freelance writer and editor. Maintaining a healthy saltwater aquarium depends on keeping toxins at acceptable concentrations.

Two of the most common offenders that can accumulate and devastate your corals are nitrates and phosphates. They promote the growth of toxic algae blooms, a condition known as green water.

Also, nitrates hurt the ability of SPS coral to produce their skeleton. Bacteria living in your aquarium act as natural filtration system. They produce nitrates as by product after breaking down ammonia and nitrites, which are extremely harmful. Unfiltered tap water or certain sea salt mixes can be another source of unwanted nitrates.

Phosphates are produced naturally in your aquarium. Decaying plants, left over food, fish feces, dead fish, contaminated water, and commercial aquarium chemicals are all potential sources. They are fascinating to watch and will surely wow your guests. But no one is going to be impressed by your bleached, dying coral. Not to mention, neglecting them is akin to animal cruelty. So make sure you are prepared to take on this responsibility. Count on us for all your saltwater aquarium and coral needs.

What about calcium requirements. I was nervous at first but you need to take the leap and get into it. There will be troubles along the way but this is how you adapt and overcome.

The rewards outweigh the risks in my eyes. Also, every tank, every coral, every condition is different. Always love looking at informative information, always learning something new each and everyday in the hoby. I love the corals I got from your auction except I piggybacked shippingbwith someone that dont know how to take care of corals where left out in the cold bought I brought em back and there beautifully colored now.

I just got my first Acropora the other month and they seem to be doing very well. Very helpful information. I have softies zoas and sps mostly what would be good parameters for all of them the softies are zoas but good info as always.

Another great article. Jarvis Island pic? That is truly the middle of nowhere in the best way possible. Good summary. Always understanding your corals and the fundamentals of how they live and grow is definitely a must for me and for anyone wanting to start a reef tank.

Having a strong foundation on the basic needs of coral and the other inhabitants in you tank sets you up for success. This article definitely highlights those things. Adds a nice bit of flair and movement.

Wish more people would read before they jump right in. But sometimes, unfortunately, the best way to learn is through failure.

Neat blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your theme.

Will you kindly drop me a e-mail? Your email address will not be published. Sworls of Montipora aequituberculata, a core coral, attract fish at Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific, about 1, miles southwest of Honolulu. Jim E. Coral Biology As with any animal, it is necessary to to appreciate and understand their biology in order to best care for them.

What Kinds of Corals are there? Getting Started You will need to make an investment of time and money to own and maintain healthy corals in your home aquarium.

Do you want an acrylic or a glass tank? Feeding: Direct vs Indirect vs Zooxanthellae Algae Zooxanthellae Algae Zooxanthellae algae are a type of plankton that live in symbiosis with coral, jellyfish, and other ocean creatures. Direct Feeding Corals with larger tentacles and mouths can be feed directly with macroscopic prey. Indirect Feeding This occurs when coral absorb dissolved nutrients from the water. Lighting Corals need light to survive.

Flow requirements Water currents help corals eat, get rid of waste products, reproduce, and carry out biochemical processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. Toxins: Nitrates and Phosphates Maintaining a healthy saltwater aquarium depends on keeping toxins at acceptable concentrations.

Next post: Saltwater Fish Aquarium Setup: Daniel R. I think I have more thinking to do before making the jump. Austin Gentry. We like to keep our Calcium at ,.