Most corals fall into one of 4 categories; soft coral, large polyp stony (LPS) coral, small polyp stony (SPS) coral, and non-photosynthetic (NPS) coral. Each of these four coral types has its unique care needs and appearance. The following infographic lays out the basic requirements and guidelines for keeping each of these coral species.
Requirements | SPS | LPS | Soft | Non-Photosynthetic |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lighting | Medium to High |
Low to Medium |
Low to Medium |
N/A |
Flow | Medium to High |
Medium |
Low to Medium |
Low |
Tank Placement | Middle to Top |
Middle to Bottom |
Middle to Bottom |
Bottom |
Difficulty | Expert |
Intermediate |
Beginner |
Expert |
Feeding | Recommended |
Recommended |
Optional |
Required |
NO3 | 1-5 ppm |
1-10 ppm |
1-10 ppm |
1-10 ppm |
PO4 | 0.01-0.04 ppm |
0.01-0.10 ppm |
0.01-0.10 ppm |
0.01-0.10 ppm |
Most Common | Acropora & Montipora |
Euphyllia & Acans |
Zoanthids & Mushrooms |
Gorgonians & Tubastrea |
One to Keep | Montipora |
Torches & Hammers |
Zoanthids |
Gorgonians |
One to Avoid | Acropora Echinata |
Goniopora |
Xenia |
Dendronephthya |
While each of these coral types and varieties have plenty of diversity when it comes to their individual care requirements, this chart serves as a guide to help illuminate some of the basic needs of each coral family.
If you have any questions about the requirements of a specific coral species, or you’re in need of a suggestion for which coral to add to your tank, feel free to contact our experts here.
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