As divers we swim around reefs marveling at all the weird and wonderful creatures that surround us. Black Branching Tubastrea.
What do SPS need? Upon entering the world of small polyp stony corals (or SPS), many people ask the magic question, “Which types are best for beginners?” In my opinion the most beginner-friendly choices are found in the genera Montipora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, and Stylophora.Most of the corals I’ll discuss here are commonly available, so there should be a low cost of entry. Different Coral types and how to recognize them.
Some of the easier-to-keep SPS corals include some species of Montipora, Porites and Pavona. Staghorn Coral. There are occasional coral species whose polyps don't fit the norm of their group, being too large or too small. These corals are generally the first that comes to mind when someone joins the reef aquarium hobby, sometimes called the ‘true’ corals because they are the corals that build the backbone of the reefs. Free shipping. For most, establishing a reef tank of colorful SPS corals is a long path of learning, making mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and constantly expanding one’s knowledge base and experience. These then become building blocks of coral reefs. Acropora are the crown jewel of the SPS world. Types of Hard Coral. Staghorn Coral. Bird's Nest coral. The SPS corals, or Small-Polyped Stony corals, have the reputation for being the most difficult to keep, demanding excellent flow and lighting, stable tank conditions, and pristine water quality. SPS coral is the name given to the group of coral species that have a stony calcium carbonate skeleton with tiny coral polyps. SPS corals also need to have substantial water movement. 15 day guarantee. The reef aquarium hobby long ago divided stony corals into two categories, Large Polyp Stony (LPS) and Small Polyp Stony (SPS). Hard corals are of two types: LPS and SPS. Montipora digitata. Though this generally works pretty well in recognizing a particular type of coral, it isn't an exact description. Limiting corals and fish is the inherent problem with keeping smaller tanks so try to pick a direction and not just randomly buy corals on impulse (easier posted than done). Please see below for care tips for Acropora. SPS hard corals are generally considered more difficult to keep than the LPS or soft corals and are not recommended for beginners. Acropora valenciennesi. Coral Biology 101 As with any animal, it is necessary to appreciate and understand their biology in … photo by Nick Hobgood on flickr. This view is somewhat antiquated, but still serves as a guideline for care where SPS are thought to require more "expert care" than their LPS counterparts. Bird's Nest coral. Introduction The primary domain of divers is the coral reef, since most diving around the world takes place on coral reefs in the tropics. However, many exceptions apply. Although hard corals possess a hard skeleton known as coralite, they also possess the soft parts commonly found on other types of coral. If these levels drop too low it can compromise the structure of the coral or lead to death. Distichopora sp. Having said that, Acropora are one of the most difficult corals to keep. Types of Coral SPS coral means 'Small Polyp Stony coral', named for the smaller polyps this Stony calcerous skeleton has. Types of Hard Coral. Large Polyp Stony Corals are generally larger calcareous corals with large fleshy polyps.
LPS have much larger polyps than the SPS. Buy SPS corals online. Drew's Acropora. LPS coral and SPS coral make for amazing pets but require certain knowledge and equipment. SPS certainly represent one of the ultimate challenges in saltwater aquaria. No other genus has the sheer number of species as Acropora and when reef aquarists talk about the requirements to keep an SPS system, they are talking specifically about the care requirements of Acropora. LPS and SPS. In general, the Small Polyped Stony corals have small polyps on a calcareouss skeleton.
The degree of extension of the tentacles depends upon the amount of light, current, and whether the coral is feeding or not. SPS coral care in marine, saltwater, and reef aquariums. They are much more colourful than soft corals and named because they build a hard skeleton which remains after death. I just spent days deciding on acropora that fit the plan of my tank, the goal. A. millepora. Living conditions within a reef tank need to be near perfect to maximize the potential for vivid colorful coral colonies to thrive and prosper. SPS Corals; Psammacora sp. Porites sp. photo by Nick Hobgood on flickr. In a larger tank, as you have seen it's a lot easier to mix coral types. These SPS coral species are a beginner’s best bet Upon entering the world of small polyp stony corals (or SPS), many people ask the magic question, “Which types are best for beginners?” In my opinion the most beginner-friendly choices are found in the genera Montipora , Pocillopora , …
Reef Aquarium SPS Corals. Pavona sp. Lots of reef hobby videos. Aquarium Creations Online sells a large selection of popular and rare SPS corals for the reef aquarium. Corals are among the most diverse and beautiful species of animals on the planet. In result of needing calcium carbonate to build a skeleton, SPS corals require a consistent calcium and alkalinity level.