Long Poly Stoney (LPS) Coral
What is an LPS
LPS is the name given to the group of coral species that have a stony skeleton, made from calcium carbonate, and large fleshy polyps.
Many of the popular LPS coral species look a bit like a cross between a small polyp stony coral and a soft coral.
LPS is the name given to the group of coral species that have a stony skeleton, made from calcium carbonate, and large fleshy polyps.
Many of the popular LPS coral species look a bit like a cross between a small polyp stony coral and a soft coral.
How to Care
It is sometimes dangerous to provide generalizations, about large groups of coral species awkwardly lumped together as LPS coral, but in many instances, these corals are from deeper, slower moving water that is even sometimes turbid (the water is murky). They typically require low-to-moderate lighting and flow and are sometimes capable of feeding directly on meaty foods.
An LPS coral should never be removed from the aquarium while the polyps are inflated, because inflated, fleshy polyps may tear on their own skeleton when removed from the water.
Use caution when placing LPS corals near other corals—many LPS species have long sweeper (stinging) tentacles, and will battle with neighbors that are too close. Sweeper tentacles can be surprisingly long and extend well beyond the visible body of the coral.
Since large polyp stony corals have a calcified external skeleton, it is important to monitor and control for alkalinity and dissolved calcium levels. Insufficient levels of calcium will result in erosion of the skeleton and eventually death of the organism. Sufficient levels can sometimes be achieved with the regular use (and exchange) of saltwater made from a high-quality salt mix, although supplementation may be necessary to maintain optimal calcium / alkalinity levels in between water changes. Arguably, the more involved managing of water chemistry is one of the things that makes LPS corals more difficult to keep than their soft-bodied cousins.
It is sometimes dangerous to provide generalizations, about large groups of coral species awkwardly lumped together as LPS coral, but in many instances, these corals are from deeper, slower moving water that is even sometimes turbid (the water is murky). They typically require low-to-moderate lighting and flow and are sometimes capable of feeding directly on meaty foods.
- Care = Easy
- Aggressiveness = Low
- Lighting = Low / Moderate
- Flow = Slow
- Placement = Low
- Water = Most softies are not only tolerant of ‘dirty’ water but may exhibit better growth under such conditions where they can absorb some nutrients directly from the water.
An LPS coral should never be removed from the aquarium while the polyps are inflated, because inflated, fleshy polyps may tear on their own skeleton when removed from the water.
Use caution when placing LPS corals near other corals—many LPS species have long sweeper (stinging) tentacles, and will battle with neighbors that are too close. Sweeper tentacles can be surprisingly long and extend well beyond the visible body of the coral.
Since large polyp stony corals have a calcified external skeleton, it is important to monitor and control for alkalinity and dissolved calcium levels. Insufficient levels of calcium will result in erosion of the skeleton and eventually death of the organism. Sufficient levels can sometimes be achieved with the regular use (and exchange) of saltwater made from a high-quality salt mix, although supplementation may be necessary to maintain optimal calcium / alkalinity levels in between water changes. Arguably, the more involved managing of water chemistry is one of the things that makes LPS corals more difficult to keep than their soft-bodied cousins.
Types for Beginners
- Frogspawn
- Duncans
- Acans
Types Carried
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