Seas and Oceans all around the world have millions of corals. There are many species of corals around the world and it’s estimated that only a small percentage of them have been documented.
There are quite many types of Corals that you can buy. There are corals that need a lot of water to live but a fish tank doesn’t have that much water. Hence, If you want to get corals for your home aquarium then, you have two options; either you can get an LPS coral or, you can get an SPS coral.
In this article, we are going to go over both of these corals and see what you can expect from them. We will also give you an extensive list of 10 Easy & Best LPS Corals For Beginners. So, without any delay, let us start.
Difference Between LPS & SPS Corals
Corals are organisms that are found in saltwater and they can be seen in colonies of polyps. They can reproduce and grow and hence they are living organisms. LPS and SPS corals are found in fish tanks and/or aquariums. LPS stands for “Large Polyp Stony Coral” while SPS stands for “Small Polyp Stony Coral.”
The difference between LPS and SPS corals with different factors in place are given below:
Requirements of Light: SPS corals need a great amount of light which is mainly produced by fluorescent lighting or metal halide. The lighting is necessary because SPS corals need it to grow. LPS corals, on the other hand, need more lighting than a traditional fish tank can possibly provide. But the light doesn’t need to be bright. You can get good growth with medium to high light.
Aggression: Corals can be surprisingly aggressive sometimes. LPS corals have the strong stinging capability and when you place it close to its neighbors there can be quite some problem. LPS corals have longer tentacles and they can use it to push other corals away. SPS corals are not really aggressive but they won’t survive the sting of an LPS coral.
Water: LPS corals can grow in comparatively poorer water quality, unlike the SPS corals. LPS corals tend sway along with the water current. If they are upset by the water, then they’ll retract. SPS corals need strict water quality and preferably a strong current. The water shouldn’t have any impurities (especially nitrates) as they can affect the SPS corals.
Why LPS is considered Beginner’s Friendly?
There are many reasons why LPS is best for beginners, some of the reasons are briefly explained below:
Perseverance
One of the main reasons why LPS is considered Beginner’s friendly is its ability to survive extreme conditions. Since LPS are pretty aggressive, they can survive in your home aquarium. Another factor that equally adds in the survival of LPS corals is the ability to handle impure water, although it is advisable to not keep them in impure water for too long.
Requirements
The LSP Corals require less light than SPS corals which makes the lighting inexpensive hence, your whole aquarium setup will be inexpensive as well. They can also breed openly without any input from you so, that’s pretty flexible as well. As far as the maintenance requirements go, things such as water changes, chemical adjustment, temperature regulation etc don’t really need to be adjusted all the time. Sure, you need to adjust them every once in a while but they don’t require that much of a maintenance hassle.
Easy Care Level
LPS are pretty easy to feed and they are big as well. You don’t need to do much caring for it and that makes it really perfect for beginners. Minimum responsibility is quite enough. In comparison to SPS corals, LPS corals are easier to manage.
Price
One of the best things about LPS corals is the price bracket on which these corals are available. Since there are hundreds and thousands of LPS species, you can get these for all price range so, whether you are a professional or a beginner, you can get LPS corals in your aquarium and it won’t make a hole in your pocket. This wide price bracket makes these corals a pretty good buy for beginners.
Requirements of LPS Corals
Hundreds of LPS coral species are there in the world. They each have their own requirements. As the corals are so diverse, some LPS corals are easier to take care of than others. However, there are some basic requirements that stay the same no matter what kind of LPS corals you are trying to house. Here are the requirements that you most probably want to fulfill:
- You need good water conditional with you, A solid RODI system can be helpful.
- A filter or a sump is the best for keeping the corals. You can use a protein skimmer to filter your tank.
- You may also need a nitrate-reducing filter, more nitrates means lesser longevity of the corals so, reduce nitrate!
- A heater might be necessary and a water head for the moving water flow is also a necessity.
- LPS need three types of supplements; Calcium, Magnesium, and Alkaline. They can be in both powdered or liquid form. The nutrient levels can be monitored via test kits.
- You need a strong source of light, LEDs can be used or you can also go for quality reef light, we recommend 2 watts of lights per gallon.
- You can change the water in your aquarium at a proper schedule, twice a month will do the trick.
10 Best LPS Corals That Are Easy To Start With
1. Blasto Coral
Blasto Coral is a hardy LPS coral whose main specialty is the design. It adds a lot of color to your tank. The downside to this coral is its aggressive nature but they do make up for it with its an undeniably great variety of colors and they’re also pretty affordable to buy. It has lowe risk and it’s easier to feed as well, making it a perfect choice for beginners.
Quick Stat:
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Lighting: Low
- Water Flow: Moderate
- Placement: Bottom to middle
2. Candy Cane Coral
Probably one of the best corals that you can get, the LPS coral is a peaceful one with great colors. It can be placed anywhere in your tank and the best thing is that it doesn’t require much lighting and the coral can survive in a moderate flow as well. It also has a short tentacle that provides it with the freedom to be kept close to other corals.
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Medium
- Placement: All
3. Frogspawn
Frogspawn is a bit more aggressive coral out there. Why is it in this list then, you ask? It’s because this coral is available everywhere as it is pretty popular. If you give this oral adequate space, they can stretch to 6 inches and beyond. These corals can be mixed with hammer corals as they both will not sting each other. A variant known as Octospawn is less common but more expensive and it provides you with more color options.
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Moderate
- Placement: Middle to Top
4. Hammer Coral
Hammer Corals are a great option for beginners. They are relatively easy to care for. The major issue that this coral has though is its aggressive nature. They are readily available in a wide range of colors. The corals with yellow and orange colors are the most expensive ones. They are easier to find online but the expensive ones can only be bought through coral vendors. The cheap ones are found locally on online sites.
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Low to Medium
- Placement: Bottom to Mid
5. Duncan Coral
If you want to find a coral that looks like an anemone then, the Duncan coral is a very good option for you. It has amazing looks and they are pretty tough as well. Some torch corals can get finicky though. The best part about these corals is that they are easy to look after and you can feed it with ease too. They can also get large if you want them to and they give you a lot of movement in the aquarium. They grow pretty fast too.
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Lighting: Low to Moderate
- Water Flow: Low to Moderate
- Placement: Bottom to Middle
6. Fungia repanda
The fungia repanda is also known as Short Tentacle Plate coral. It has a relatively flat, and disc-shaped with hair-like tentacles. It is an unusual coral that is relatively flat and is shaped like a disc. The semi-aggressive nature towards other invertebrates can be a bit problematic but it is easier to handle because of the feeding habit. It prefers to stay at the aquarium’s bottom and requires moderate lighting condition. As far as the water is concerned, it requires low to medium water flow.
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Low to Medium
- Placement: Bottom
7. Brain Coral
Brain Coral is yet another aggressive coral that can attack other corals in the tank. They may be a nuisance but they are beautiful. With bright green colors and purple spottings, these corals can be a very good inclusion to your home aquarium. They enjoy to have lit up conditions and it will be nice if you place it closer to the surface.
Quick Stat
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Low
- Placement: All
8. Pagoda Cup Coral
They look like small pagodas, therefore, they are called Pagoda Cups. Since there are many kinds of pagoda cup corals, you have to be smart and choose the one that fits you the best. Avoid the ones with thin plates and convoluted shapes. Pagoda Cup corals make for a really good addition to your aquarium as they are easy to keep and pretty peaceful. If it gets proper conditions, these corals can grow pretty fast too.
Quick Stat
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Medium
- Placement: Bottom to Middle
9. Trumpet Coral
Trumpet Coral is shaped like a trumpet, they have pretty good feelers that come out of it when the food is added to the aquarium. Trumpet corals are priced based on the “heads’ count on the coral. More heads imply more expensive. You can select the corals with at least 3 heads. They are excellent for beginners as they are pretty peaceful.
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Low
- Placement: Bottom to Middle
10. Acan Brain Corals
Acan Brain Corals are an impressive addition to any aquarium. The reason is the number of patterns and colors that are available with it. Acans tend to be available in many places and they also tend to be less aggressive. The most common is the Red Acans which looks fabulous. There are plenty of other color options available if red is not for you!
Quick Stats
- Temperament: Aggressive
- Lighting: Moderate
- Water Flow: Medium
- Placement: Bottom to Middle
Final Words
Corals can be a really great addition to your fish tank. LPS corals are readily available all over the world and they are comparatively easier to keep in your aquarium. With a lot of colors and features, the LPS can be very pleasing to the eyes.
Yes, you do have to take care of it and make sure that it gets all the requirements. It’s easier said than done but one thing that’s certain is that LPS are meant for beginners. They have the strength to survive even the harshest of conditions and they are also pretty easy to feed.
One thing that you should do is keep the water inside your aquarium clean and fulfill some of the requirements.
Out of all the LPS available in the market, the 10 that we have reviewed will work perfectly for you.
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