LPS Corals: Major Things To Know For Beginners

LPS Corals

Being a beginner, to set an aquarium, you should first decide what type of setup you want? Do you want to fish only aquarium or fish with live rock, reef, lagoon, corals? If you are not sure what type of saltwater aquarium you want, you should gain more knowledge from online or local suppliers. While researching online, you will come across many pop-ups and websites with many offers such as saltwater fish for sale online, buy LPS coral online, buy best live rocks online. 

Nowadays, many people prefer to buy saltwater fishes and another setup online, as it is more easy and feasible. You might get your desired fishes on sale when buying online. Buying a saltwater fish for your newly set up aquarium can be quite exciting. Along with saltwater fishes, LPS corals are also popular among beginner aquarists for several different reasons. Before you buy a LPS coral, it is advisable to consider following details for better understanding. 

What Is An LPS Coral?

In simpler terms, corals are marine invertebrates in the class of Anthozoa of Phylum Cnidaria. They are typically live in compact settlements of many identical individual polyps. In the coral family, there are mainly two types such as LPS and SPS corals. LPS is a large polyp stony and SPS is a small polyp stony. 

Difference Between LPS v/s SPS Corals

The main differences are the size of corals, food requirements and light requirements. If polyps are large, it is easier to feed the coral. LPS corals are much easier to fit the lighting requirements.

It is easier to grow LPS coral in aquarium compares to SPS coral. As SPS coral requires a very particular space and high-intensity lighting schedule. SPS corals are expensive and time-consuming coral than LPS corals.

Why LPS Corals Are Best For The Beginners

LPS corals require less light than many other species, therefore they require less expensive lighting equipment for the aquarium setups. 

These corals are very easy to grow faster and they also require less maintenance such as water changes, chemical adjustment, and temperature regulation, etc.

Maintaining LPS over the long term is much easier. 

Which Are The Best Corals For Beginners?

- Below is a list of the easiest to keep LPS corals, should be chosen by the beginner. LPS are generally beginner coral.
- The open brain coral is one of the best beginner corals. It has bright color, and it needs sufficient lights.
- Candy cane coral has an orange to red color with white striped coloration. Most of the beginners prefer to purchase as they are low-cost available.
- The bubble coral has a soft and gentle appearance. This coral adds a moment to the tank. 
- Plate coral is little aggressive in nature, they might attach to other corals. These corals are easy to keep for beginners, they might go well with a shallow water tank.
- In short, if you decided to install LPS coral, just make sure that the tank has a well-established and has healthy echo-systems. For a better experience, you should start first with saltwater fishes and slowly move toward the LPS corals.

Caution When Placing LPS Corals

LPS coral typically require low-to-moderate lighting and flow. Sometimes they might attack directly on meaty foods. 

An LPS coral should never be removed from the aquarium while the polyps are inflated, because inflated polyps may tear on their own skeleton when removed from the water. 

As LPS corals have a calcified external skeleton, it is important to monitor and control for dissolved calcium level and alkalinity. 

Saltyunderground.com is a nice resource to opt for better knowledge of saltwater fishes and LPS