Walk into any reef keeping community and you'll quickly encounter two acronyms: SPS and LPS. Understanding the difference between these two coral groups is one of the most important steps a new hobbyist can take. They have different care requirements, different appearances, and very different levels of forgiveness for beginners.
What Does SPS and LPS Mean?
SPS stands for Small Polyp Stony coral. These are hard corals with tiny individual polyps and a dense calcium carbonate skeleton. Examples include Acropora, Montipora, and Stylophora.
LPS stands for Large Polyp Stony coral. Also hard corals, but with much larger, fleshier polyps and a more visible skeleton. Examples include Hammer corals, Torch corals, Frogspawn, and Bubble corals.
Key Differences at a Glance
| SPS | LPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Polyp size | Small, densely packed | Large, fleshy |
| Lighting | High (PAR 250–400+) | Low to moderate (PAR 50–200) |
| Flow | High, turbulent | Moderate, indirect |
| Water quality | Very demanding | More forgiving |
| Difficulty | Intermediate to advanced | Beginner to intermediate |
| Growth rate | Moderate to fast | Slow to moderate |
Starting with LPS: The Smarter First Step
If you're new to reef keeping, LPS corals are almost always the better starting point. They tolerate minor swings in water chemistry, require less intense lighting, and give you visible feedback through their polyp behavior — if something is wrong, an LPS coral will tell you by retracting its polyps.
Great beginner LPS corals include:
- Hammer Coral (Euphyllia ancora) — iconic flowing tentacles, very hardy
- Torch Coral (Euphyllia glabrescens) — similar care, stunning movement
- Frogspawn (Euphyllia divisa) — forgiving and grows into impressive colonies
- Duncan Coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga) — fast growing, easy to feed
Moving Up to SPS
SPS corals reward experienced reefers who have stable, mature systems. Before attempting SPS, you should have consistent parameters for at least 6–12 months, a reliable dosing system for calcium and alkalinity, and high-quality lighting capable of delivering PAR 250+.
Great intermediate SPS corals to start with:
- Montipora capricornis — one of the most forgiving SPS species
- Stylophora — hardy, fast-growing, and colorful
- Seriatopora (Bird's Nest) — delicate looking but relatively tough
Shop Our Coral Collection
Ready to add your first coral? Browse our full coral collection, including our hand-picked Beginner Friendly Corals and premium SPS Coral selection. We shoot our corals in house, and what you see is what you get on select pieces listed as WYSIWYG.