Animal-World > Aquarium Coral Reefs > Stony Corals SPS

Small Polyp Stony Corals

Small Polyp Stony (SPS) Corals - Featuring Antler CoralPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Greg Rothschild

   The Small Polyp Stony (SPS) corals have small polyps on a calcerous skeleton!

   The SPS corals have much smaller polyps than the LPS corals. LPS polyps are large and soft. SPS corals are usually either branching or plated. For the most part they enjoy bright light and strong currents. They are often fragile and are propagated by breaking off pieces.

   SPS corals used to be considered very challenging. A few discoveries in the last couple decades or so have brought them into the realm of the average aquarist. Nowadays it is not uncommon to see aquariums with various species of acropora, hydnophora, and other species of SPS corals growing and thriving.

   Since SPS corals usually occupy the reef flats in turbulent water, they require high light levels produced by VHO fluorescent or metal halide (see Mini-reef: Lighting) and strong water currents or turbulence. They also require very stable temperatures and excellent water quality (low organic nutrient levels) to thrive. Levels of calcium, strontium, and trace elements must be maintained. Sources vary on whether they need feeding or not. Probably some can be fed but it is not required to do so.

For information about setting up a reef tank see: Reef Tanks - Mini-Reef Aquarium Basics

Stony Corals SPS: Click on the small images below
for more information about each one.

Family: Acroporidae - Acropora Corals
Antler Coral	Cluster Coral
Acropora microphthalma	Acropora millepora
Finger Staghorn Coral	Green Fiji Acropora
Acropora humilis	Acropora bushyensis
Purple Tipped Acropora	Staghorn Acropora
Acropora tenuis	Acropora formosa
Staghorn Coral
Acropora cervicornis

Family: Acroporidae - Montipora Corals
Cabbage Coral	Idaho Grape Montipora
Montipora foliosa	Montipora undata
Montipora Plate Coral	Plating Montipora Coral
Montipora capricornis	Montipora peltiformis
Velvet Finger Montipora	Velvet Stone Coral
Montipora digitata	Montipora spongodes

Family: Agariciidae
Elephant Skin Coral	Leaf Coral
Pachyseris rugosa	Pavona decussata
Maldive Coral
Pavona maldivensis

Family: Merulinidae
Horn Coral	Ruffled Coral
Hydnophora rigida	Merulina ampliata

Family: Pectiniidae
Chalice Coral	Green Eyed Cup Coral
Echinophyllia aspera	Mycedium Sp.

Family: Pocilliporidae
Bird's Nest Coral	Cauliflower Coral
Seriatopora hystrix	Pocillopora damicornis
Club Finger Coral
Stylophora pistillata

Family: Poritidae
Boulder Coral	Jeweled Finger Coral
Porites Porites sp.	Porites cylindrica

Family: Siderastreidae
Green Stony Pillar Coral
Psammacora contigua

What Are SPS and LPS Corals    The coral reef is a beautiful world; comprised of anemones, mushroom corals, corals, crustaceans, and a myriad of other incredible animals. The word coral itself brings to mind the reef building hard corals, or stony corals. Stony corals produce a skeleton of calcium carbonate, which then becomes the foundation and building blocks of the coral reefs.

Acropora humilis Photo courtesy: Keith Berkelhamer

   The Small Polyp Stony (SPS) Corals can have complex elegant shapes, and dazzling colors.

   Convenient terminology in the aquarium industry is used to describe stony corals as either SPS corals (small polyp stony corals) or LPS corals (large polyp stony corals).   What they look like becomes immediately obvious when you compare the size of their polyps. SPS have much smaller polyps than the LPS.

  Though this generally works pretty well for the aquarist in recognizing a particular type of coral, it isn't an exact description. There are occasional coral species whose polyps don't fit the norm of their group, being too large or too small. From a scientific perspective, there is little objectivity and no real correlation between polyp size and classification.

Types of Coral        The following genera are those corals usually referred to as Small Polyp Stony (SPS) Corals:

• Acropora
• Agariciid Corals
• Anacropora
• Astrocoeniid Corals
• Disticophora
• Echinophyllia
• Heliopora
• Hydnophora
• Merulina
• Montipora
• Mycedium
• Oxypora
• Pachyseris
• Pavona
• Pectiniid Corals
• Pocilloporid Corals
• Siderastreid Corals
• Stylophora
• Pocillopora
• Porites
• Psammacora
• Seriatopora
• Stylophora

Live Coral Care

   Keeping a bit of coral reef in the home aquarium is an exciting and rewarding adventure. Reef tanks were once considered very difficult to keep. Keeping live coral is still somewhat demanding, but today the knowledge and equipment are readily available to the average hobbyist. Anyone with the desire to learn specific husbandry techniques and the willingness to purchase the proper equipment can keep a gorgeous reef aquarium. Of course the aquarist must invest his or her time in the care of these unique animals as well.

   Beautiful home reefs can be either a simple reef with hardier, less demanding animals, or a more complex reef with higher maintenance specimens. Stony corals are more demanding and take a more dedicated effort. So keeping stony corals is itself a step beyond a simple or beginner reef.

   Having reef-keeping experience is invaluable to successfully keeping hard corals. With some of the less demanding inhabitants you can hone your skills. You will develop an understanding of the unique habitat these animals thrive in.  Some of the best inhabitants for a beginning reef are soft and leather corals, coral anemones, and anemones. Once you've gained success in keeping these, you will be ready to keep the more delicate and demanding stony corals.

Corals For Sale    Experience over the last few decades has strongly indicated that captive bred stony corals are much more adaptable and hardy than wild caught specimens. So it is better to acquire captive bred small polyp stony (SPS) corals or coral frags when possible. You'll not only get a more durable coral, but there are often many beautiful color morphs available.

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