LPS Corals Care Guide for Reef Tanks | Myreeflog

Introduction to LPS Corals in Reef Aquariums

Large Polyp Stony corals, commonly called LPS corals, are prized for their fleshy polyps, dramatic movement, and bold coloration. From Euphyllia torches, hammers, and frogspawns to Micromussa (Acan), Favia, Trachyphyllia, Blastomussa, Duncanopsammia, Caulastrea, Lobophyllia, and Scolymia, these corals add instant visual impact while remaining attainable for many reef keepers.

LPS corals generally favor moderate light and flow, plus a nutrient environment that is not ultra sterile. They respond well to regular feeding and stable alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. With My Reef Log, you can quickly track tests, visualize trends, and set maintenance reminders that help keep parameters stable and your lps-corals thriving.

This coral guide covers the ideal water parameters, lighting and flow, feeding, placement, compatibility, and troubleshooting for LPS corals, with specific ranges and actionable tips for hobbyists of all levels.

Ideal Water Parameters for LPS Corals

Consistency is more important than chasing a single perfect number. Target the ranges below and avoid daily swings. When dialing in dosing, test at the same time each day and keep alkalinity changes within 0.2 dKH per 24 hours.

• Temperature: 77-79°F (25-26°C). Use a reliable heater and a fan or chiller if needed to keep day-night swings under 1°F. See Temperature in Reef Tanks: Complete Guide | Myreeflog.
• Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026 (34-35 ppt). Calibrate your refractometer monthly using 35 ppt solution.
• Alkalinity: 8.0-9.5 dKH. Stable alkalinity supports skeleton growth and polyp inflation.
• Calcium: 400-450 ppm. Pair with alkalinity balancing to avoid precipitation.
• Magnesium: 1280-1380 ppm. Helps buffer against abiotic precipitation and stabilizes alkalinity-calcium balance. Learn more in Magnesium in Reef Tanks: Complete Guide | Myreeflog.
• Nitrate: 2-15 ppm. Many LPS show better color and growth with moderate nitrate. See Nitrate in Reef Tanks: Complete Guide | Myreeflog.
• Phosphate: 0.03-0.08 ppm. Enough for metabolism without fueling nuisance algae. For deeper context, read Phosphate in Reef Tanks: Complete Guide | Myreeflog.

Log your tests with My Reef Log to visualize consumption. For example, if alkalinity drops from 9.0 to 8.6 dKH in 24 hours, your tank uses roughly 0.4 dKH per day. That data makes it straightforward to set dosing and keep levels stable.

Lighting Requirements for LPS Corals

LPS corals typically prefer lower to moderate PAR compared to SPS. Blue heavy spectrum (20,000 K look, strong 420-470 nm output) enhances fluorescence and polyp extension, while a balanced mix of white channels preserves color rendition.

• General PAR range: 75-150 for most LPS corals.
• Euphyllia (torch, hammer, frogspawn): 100-180 PAR. Torches often tolerate the upper end if flow is right.
• Trachyphyllia and Scolymia: 80-140 PAR, with many specimens happiest near 90-120 PAR on the sandbed.
• Micromussa lordhowensis (Acan): 50-120 PAR. Too much light can cause receding tissue and washed-out colors.
• Favia and Favites: 100-150 PAR. Many pigmentation patterns deepen at moderate levels.
• Blastomussa: 60-120 PAR. Gentle light supports plump, extended heads.
• Caulastrea (candy cane): 100-150 PAR. Stable nutrients and moderate light produce crisp, inflated polyps.

Light acclimation: Start new LPS at reduced intensity, then increase by 10-15 percent every 3-4 days while watching for signs of stress. A simple method is to place window screen layers over the coral and remove one layer every few days. Avoid sudden shifts and keep PAR increases stepwise.

Flow Requirements and Coral Placement

LPS corals prefer moderate, indirect, random flow. Aim for a total tank turnover of 10-20x per hour through a mix of return pump flow and wavemakers. Avoid direct, laminar jets that whip polyps or expose skeleton.

• Euphyllia: Moderate, indirect flow that gently sways tentacles. If tissue pulls away from skeleton on one side, reduce direct blast.
• Trachyphyllia and Scolymia: Low to moderate flow on the sandbed to prevent detritus accumulation without flattening the polyp.
• Micromussa, Favia, Blastomussa: Moderate flow is ideal. Ensure detritus does not settle between ridges.
• Caulastrea and Duncanopsammia: Moderate random flow helps keep polyps clean and extended.

Placement tips: Keep fleshy corals off sharp rock edges. Use polycarbonate frag racks or flat shelves for healing. Place sandbed LPS on flat areas so their tissue does not rub. Rotate a coral a quarter turn per day if it is elongating toward a light hotspot, which helps it adjust evenly.

Feeding LPS Corals

LPS corals benefit from regular supplemental feeding, especially fleshy species. Many open polyp feeding responses after lights dim or when broadcast foods enter the water column.

• Foods: Mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, finely chopped krill or clam, high quality reef pellets, and powdered diets like reef-specific microfoods.
• Schedule: Target feed 1-2 times per week. For heavy feeders like Micromussa, Blastomussa, and Scolymia, once weekly is often enough. Euphyllia and Favia can be fed every 7-10 days.
• Method: Turn off pumps for 10-15 minutes, gently place small portions on the mouth area, observe capture. Resume gentle flow after feeding.
• Portion size: A pea-sized piece for medium heads is plenty. Overfeeding can spike nutrients, so monitor nitrate and phosphate.

Feeding typically raises nutrients, which is not inherently bad for lps-corals, but track levels to keep nitrate near 2-15 ppm and phosphate near 0.03-0.08 ppm. Use My Reef Log to tie feeding events to nutrient movements so you can tune portions and frequency.

Placement and Compatibility with Tankmates

LPS corals range from peaceful to aggressive. Many have sweeper tentacles that extend at night, so spacing is critical.

• Spacing: Leave 3-6 inches around most LPS. For aggressive corals like Galaxea, Pectinia, and some Lobophyllia, give 6-10 inches. Euphyllia typically tolerate their own kind, but torches can sting hammers and frogspawns, so keep 4-6 inches between different species.
• Fish: Good choices include clowns, gobies, blennies, chromis, many wrasses, and tangs. Avoid frequent polyp nippers like large angels and many butterflyfish. Watch for certain wrasses or filefish that pick at fleshy tissue.
• Invertebrates: Trochus, nassarius, and cerith snails are safe. Be cautious with large hermits that may bulldoze or climb on fleshy LPS. Peppermint shrimp can help with aiptasia but occasionally steal food from corals.
• Coexistence: LPS can mix with soft corals and SPS, but plan flow and spacing. High flow zones suit SPS, moderate zones suit LPS, and lower flow edges suit softies.

Common Issues and Solutions

Brown Jelly Disease on Euphyllia and Fleshy LPS

Symptoms include brown, stringy mucus and rapid tissue loss. Immediately siphon the jelly, remove affected heads, and dip remaining healthy tissue in an iodine-based coral dip for 5-10 minutes. Increase gentle flow and stabilize parameters. If the infection persists, isolate the coral in a separate container with clean tank water and repeat dips daily until clear.

Tissue Recession from Parameter Swings

Rapid alkalinity, salinity, or temperature changes can cause polyp deflation and recession. Verify SG is 35 ppt, calibrate tools, and adjust dosing to limit alkalinity shifts to under 0.2 dKH per day. Keep calcium within 400-450 ppm and magnesium 1280-1380 ppm to reduce precipitation. Track parameter trends with My Reef Log so you can catch problems before they lead to tissue loss.

Bleaching or Faded Color

Light is often the culprit. Measure PAR and reduce intensity if levels exceed the coral's range. Acclimate gradually, use screen layering, and increase nutrients slightly if nitrate and phosphate are bottomed out. Fleshy LPS often regain color at 90-130 PAR with nitrate 5-10 ppm and phosphate around 0.05 ppm.

Pests and Irritants

• Vermetid snails: Their sticky webs irritate tissue. Break the tube at the base and cap the hole with gel superglue.
• Aiptasia: Stings cause localized recession. Remove with Aiptasia treatments or add true peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) to target them.
• Algae overgrowth: Often linked to elevated nutrients or dead spots. Improve flow, manually remove algae, and adjust feeding. Keep phosphate 0.03-0.08 ppm.

Tips for Success with LPS Corals

• Quarantine new corals for 14-30 days. Dip on arrival to reduce pests and pathogens.
• Test alkalinity at least 3-4 times per week in growing tanks. Once stable, daily tests for a week help calculate consumption accurately.
• Set temperature alerts at 80°F. Stability in the 77-79°F window prevents stress that compounds other issues.
• Feed modestly, target 1-2 times per week, and log feedings to correlate with nutrient changes.
• Use carbon sparingly and change it monthly. Carbon helps remove chemical irritants from aggressive neighbors.
• Inspect for sweeper tentacles after lights out. Adjust spacing before stings cause damage.
• Measure PAR with a meter if possible. If not, start low and observe polyp extension, coloration, and feeding response to guide placement.
• Automate routine tasks. My Reef Log reminders help you stay on schedule for water tests, dosing checks, and cleaning that keep parameters stable.

Conclusion

LPS corals reward reef keepers with movement, color, and strong feeding responses, and they perform best under moderate light and flow with stable, nutrient-rich water. Pick species that match your lighting and aquascape, keep spacing generous, and feed appropriately. With disciplined testing and logging through My Reef Log, you can maintain consistency, troubleshoot quickly, and enjoy healthy growth and vibrant polyp extension across your LPS collection.

FAQ

How much PAR do LPS corals need?

Most LPS corals thrive between 75-150 PAR. Euphyllia often prefer 100-180 PAR, while Trachyphyllia and Scolymia stay happiest near 80-140 PAR. Keep changes gradual and watch polyp extension and coloration for feedback.

Can I keep LPS with SPS corals?

Yes, many mixed reefs succeed. Put SPS in higher light and higher flow zones, LPS in moderate light-flow areas, and allow extra spacing for aggressive species. For SPS-specific needs, see SPS Corals Care Guide for Reef Tanks | Myreeflog.

How often should I feed LPS corals?

Feed 1-2 times per week with small portions of meaty foods or reef pellets. Observe the coral's feeding response and adjust portions to avoid nutrient spikes. Track nitrate 2-15 ppm and phosphate 0.03-0.08 ppm.

What causes my Euphyllia to retract suddenly?

Common triggers include direct blast flow, alkalinity swings, or a nearby stinger. Verify dKH stability, redirect flow to a gentler, random pattern, and check for sweeper tentacles from neighboring corals at night.

Should I place fleshy LPS on the sandbed or rock?

Fleshy single polyp corals like Trachyphyllia and Scolymia typically do best on flat sandbed areas. Multi head LPS such as Micromussa, Favia, Caulastrea, and Euphyllia can be placed on rock ledges with moderate flow, ensuring edges do not cut or rub their tissue.