In the reef hobby, corals are often grouped as soft coral, LPS, and SPS. Those labels are useful because each group tends to have different expectations for stability, lighting, flow, spacing, and experience. Knowing which type you are buying can save a lot of frustration on a first reef tank.

Soft Corals

Soft corals such as leathers, zoanthids, and mushroom corals are often among the more forgiving choices for a newer reef keeper. Many tolerate a broader range of lighting and water conditions than more demanding stony corals.

That does not mean they are maintenance-free. Stable salinity, appropriate light and flow, and enough room to grow still matter. But if you are buying your first coral frags, this is often the group Caesar's original guide recommends considering first.

LPS (Large Polyp Stony)

LPS corals include familiar reef favorites such as hammer, torch, and many favia-type corals. Their large, fleshy polyps can create dramatic movement and color, but they generally ask for more consistency than beginner soft corals.

Spacing is especially important. Some LPS corals can extend sweeper tentacles or otherwise sting neighboring corals, so a frag that looks small today may need considerably more room as it grows.

SPS (Small Polyp Stony)

SPS corals such as Acropora are typically the least forgiving of the three hobby groups. They generally perform best in mature reef systems with strong appropriate lighting, good flow, and consistently stable water chemistry.

For a newer reef keeper, SPS is usually something to work toward rather than the first place to start. Success becomes much easier once you understand how your tank responds to changes and can keep conditions consistent over time.

Placement & Flow

There is no single “coral shelf” that works for every frag. Placement should be based on the exact coral’s light and flow needs, how large it may become, and whether it can sting nearby animals.

Before permanently gluing a new frag into place, confirm where that species should sit in your aquarium. Many corals appreciate indirect water movement, but the ideal strength varies significantly by species.

A Couple of Fun Facts

• A “frag” is a small piece of coral grown or cut from a larger colony. Under suitable conditions it can continue growing into a much larger colony over time.
• Reef lighting can strongly influence how coral coloration appears. The blue-heavy spectrum common in reef LEDs can make fluorescent pigments look very different from how they appear under normal room lighting.