Here is a list of MY 10 easy to keep LPS corals for the beginners, i have often been asked which to start of with so i am giving a full list of easy to keep LPS corals and their care and requirements. Once you have kept these successfully you can move on to more finicky LPS and start looking further at SPS, NPS.
I have all of these in my very basic system and all are flourishing with minimal care specifically for this article.
Large Polyp Stony Corals are generally larger calcareous corals with large fleshy polyps. The degree of extension of the tentacles depends upon the amount of light, current, and whether the coral is feeding or not. Most LPS corals have long sweeper tentacles which they use to keep any other organisms a safe distance away, to feed and might possibly damage other corals or livestock.
Now when i mean easy, i dont mean you can add these in the first week of adding water, i mean your water must be perfect and tank must be cycled. prefered params as follows:
Lets start off with the list:
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting:Moderate
Waterflow:Medium
Placement:All
Trumpet Coral - (Caulastrea curvata)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting:Moderate
Waterflow:Medium
Placement:Bottom to Middle
Brain Corals - (Trachyphyllia sp.)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom
Short tenticle plate coral - (Fungia repanda)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Low to Medium
Placement: Bottom
Bubble Corals - (Plerogyra sp.)
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate Waterflow: Low to Medium
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Brain Corals - (Lobophyllia sp.)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: All
Button Corals - (Cynarina sp.)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Low
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Pagoda Cup Coral - (Turbinaria peltata)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Fox Coral - (Nemenzophyllia turbida)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Low to Moderate
Waterflow: Low
Placement: Bottom
Brain Coral - (Favites spp.)
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: All
I have all of these in my very basic system and all are flourishing with minimal care specifically for this article.
Large Polyp Stony Corals are generally larger calcareous corals with large fleshy polyps. The degree of extension of the tentacles depends upon the amount of light, current, and whether the coral is feeding or not. Most LPS corals have long sweeper tentacles which they use to keep any other organisms a safe distance away, to feed and might possibly damage other corals or livestock.
Now when i mean easy, i dont mean you can add these in the first week of adding water, i mean your water must be perfect and tank must be cycled. prefered params as follows:
- Ammonnia and Nitrites at 0
- Nitrates < 10ppm
- Phosphates as close to 0 but not more than 0.25ppm
- Calcium around 400ppm - 450ppm
- Magnesium around 1350ppm
- alkalinity levels between 2.5-3.5 meq/L (7-10 dKH).
- pH 8.1-8.4
- sg 1.023-1.025
Lets start off with the list:
- Candy Cane - (Caulastrea furcata)
- Trumpet Coral - (Caulastrea curvata)
- Brain Corals - (Trachyphyllia sp.)
- Short tenticle plate coral - (Fungia repanda)
- Bubble Corals - (Plerogyra sp.)
- Brain Corals - (Lobophyllia sp.)
- Button Corals - (Cynarina sp.)
- Pagoda Cup Coral - (Turbinaria peltata)
- Fox Coral - (Nemenzophyllia turbida)
- Brain Coral - (Favites spp.)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting:Moderate
Waterflow:Medium
Placement:All
Trumpet Coral - (Caulastrea curvata)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting:Moderate
Waterflow:Medium
Placement:Bottom to Middle
Brain Corals - (Trachyphyllia sp.)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom
Short tenticle plate coral - (Fungia repanda)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Low to Medium
Placement: Bottom
Bubble Corals - (Plerogyra sp.)
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate Waterflow: Low to Medium
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Brain Corals - (Lobophyllia sp.)
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Lighting: Moderate to High
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: All
Button Corals - (Cynarina sp.)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Low
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Pagoda Cup Coral - (Turbinaria peltata)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: Bottom to Middle
Fox Coral - (Nemenzophyllia turbida)
Temperament: Peaceful
Lighting: Low to Moderate
Waterflow: Low
Placement: Bottom
Brain Coral - (Favites spp.)
Temperament: Aggressive
Lighting: Moderate
Waterflow: Medium
Placement: All