LPS Coral Care Guide

LPS corals, or Large Polyp Stony corals, are some of the most popular corals in the reef hobby. They are known for their fleshy polyps, bright colors, flowing movement, and bold showpiece appearance. Many LPS corals are easier to care for than advanced SPS corals, making them a great choice for reefers who want color, movement, and variety.

What Are LPS Corals?

LPS corals are stony corals with larger fleshy polyps and hard skeletons. Common examples include hammers, torches, frogspawn, chalices, favias, blastomussa, scolymia, fungia, duncans, acans, lobophyllia, pectinia, and goniopora.

Many LPS corals do well in moderate lighting and moderate flow, but care can vary depending on the species. Some are beginner-friendly, while others are better suited for experienced reefers.

General LPS Care Requirements

  • Care Level: Beginner to Intermediate, depending on the coral
  • Lighting: Low to Moderate
  • Flow: Low to Medium, usually gentle and indirect
  • Placement: Sand bed, lower rockwork, or mid rockwork
  • Stability: Important, especially for alkalinity and nutrients
  • Best For: Reefers looking for color, movement, and showpiece corals

Recommended Water Parameters

  • Temperature: 76–79°F
  • Salinity: 1.025–1.026 specific gravity
  • Alkalinity: 8–9 dKH
  • Calcium: 400–450 ppm
  • Magnesium: 1250–1400 ppm
  • Nitrate: Low to moderate
  • Phosphate: Low but detectable

Lighting and Flow

Most LPS corals prefer low to moderate lighting. Too much light can cause some LPS corals to shrink, bleach, or lose tissue. When adding a new LPS coral, it is often best to start it lower in the tank and slowly adjust placement if needed.

Flow should usually be gentle and indirect. The coral should move naturally without being blasted. Too much direct flow can cause tissue damage, especially on fleshy corals like hammers, torches, frogspawn, blastos, scolys, lobos, and plates.

Spacing and Aggression

Many LPS corals can be semi-aggressive or aggressive. Some corals, especially torches, hammers, frogspawn, chalices, pectinia, favia, and echinata, may have sweeper tentacles or strong stinging ability.

Give LPS corals enough space so they do not touch or sting nearby corals. This is especially important at night when some corals extend feeder or sweeper tentacles.

Beginner LPS Tips

  • Start with hardy LPS such as candy cane corals, duncans, some favias, blastos, and beginner-friendly chalices.
  • Avoid placing fleshy LPS directly in strong flow.
  • Give aggressive LPS extra space from nearby corals.
  • Keep alkalinity stable to support skeleton growth.
  • Feed occasionally if the coral accepts food, but avoid overfeeding the tank.

Popular LPS Corals

  • Hammer Corals
  • Torch Corals
  • Frogspawn Corals
  • Chalice Corals
  • Favia and Favites
  • Blastomussa
  • Duncan Corals
  • Goniopora
  • Scolymia, Lobophyllia, and Plate Corals

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Browse our available LPS corals, including beginner-friendly pieces, collector chalices, Euphyllia, blastos, favias, plates, and showpiece corals.

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Important Note

Every reef tank is different. Lighting, flow, nutrients, and coral aggression can vary depending on the species and system. Use this guide as a general starting point and always acclimate new corals carefully.

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