| If you are a newcomer to this fascinating hobby you | | | | appearance some have tentacles, some almost |
| might not realize that there are many types of corals | | | | flower like in appearance, many have branching |
| available for your Reef Aquarium. You firstly need to | | | | formations. Some just appear flat and have little if no |
| know why and how they are different, also what | | | | movement at all. |
| this means to the amount of time you will need to | | | | Most LPS corals require feeding as well as stable |
| spend caring for them. | | | | conditions. Good lighting is also required. T5 minimum |
| Soft corals. | | | | right through to metal halide, although many reefers |
| These are the easiest corals to keep in your reef | | | | are now keeping these corals under LED |
| aquarium and ideal for the beginner. These corals | | | | lighting. Medium to strong flow is best for these |
| generally have a leathery texture to them and have | | | | corals. |
| no skeleton structure to them. They rely on | | | | Examples: Torch, hammer coral, Duncan's, brains, |
| photosynthesis to grow. These and many others | | | | scollys, acans, favia, and many more. |
| corals have an algae present called zooxanthellae. | | | | SPS, Small polyp stony corals have a skeleton like |
| Both the coral and the algae rely on each other, if | | | | LPS, but have tiny polyps on their tree, |
| one was not present the other would simply die. So | | | | branch like appearance. These corals require |
| in order to keep these corals you will need lighting | | | | strong lighting like LPS but need strong flow to help |
| such as T8's or T5's will be more than adequate. | | | | them thrive. You will soon learn when keeping these |
| Examples of Soft corals include: zoas, button polyps, | | | | that extra equipment such as a calcium reactor or |
| mushrooms, ricordias, toadstools and more. | | | | balling light salts will be needed to keep up with their |
| Hard corals. | | | | consumption of alkalinity and calcium. If a newcomer |
| These make up the majority of the remaining corals | | | | to the hobby i would avoid these until |
| but come in two forms LPS and SPS. Large polyp | | | | you understand these corals and the methods for |
| stony and small polyp stony. Both types consist of a | | | | maintaining their needs. |
| skeleton type structure this makes them much more | | | | Examples: Acroporia, montiporia, and more. |
| demanding and require stable water parameters in | | | | To conclude this article, I would have to suggest |
| magnesium, alkalinity and calcium. without this the | | | | starting at the top and working you way down as |
| coral will simply die and all that will remain is the | | | | experience and understanding progress. This is a |
| skeleton. | | | | simple, tip of the iceberg type article that should help |
| LPS or Large poly stony corals are some of the | | | | guide your way to the basic types of corals |
| nicest corals available with amazing colors and | | | | available. There are many more that maybe covered |
| interesting features. These corals Have a fleshy | | | | in future articles. |