Heres a Newb ?, What are SPS / LPS corals?

lightngsvt · #1 08/27/2004, 10:26 PM

Well I keep seeing the terms LSP and SPS corals, but never have seen a definition / explanation. I know they are different types of corals with very specific water chemistry requirements and high light requirements. Can someone help clear this up?

Im personally interested in some Zoa's, leathers and mushrooms for my (soon to be) 60x18x20 tank (I cant wait). Are these all considered softies? And do they all share similar requirements?

Also, can you point me to some good resources for reading about corals, for the newb?

bertoni · #2 08/27/2004, 10:33 PM

LPS = large polyp stony
SPS = small polyp stony

So the name refers to the size of the coral's polyps.

It's a bit of a judgement call, and definitely a hobbyist term rather than a scientfic one.

Acropora are probably the most common SPS cited.

Trachyphyllia and Caulatrea would, I think, qualify as LPS.

Eric Borneman's book "Aquarium Corals" is a good hobbyist reference on coral anatomy.

The animals you list are called soft corals by many, and many of them can coexist in the same tank.