By Roy Torres | Infinity and Beyond Aquatics
SPS corals add branching, plating, and encrusting structure to a reef. Here’s a quick guide to feeding, PAR, placement, flow, and care—because tiny polyps can come with big expectations.
What are SPS corals?
SPS means small polyp stony. These corals build a hard calcium carbonate skeleton covered in living tissue and small polyps. Familiar examples include Acropora, Montipora, Stylophora, and Seriatopora (birdsnest). SPS is a hobby grouping: each species and strain can have different needs.
SPS care at a glance
- Tank readiness: A well-established reef with a proven, consistent care routine. Tank age alone doesn’t guarantee readiness.
- Light: Often moderate to high, with even coverage across the colony and gradual acclimation.
- Flow: Strong, varied circulation that reaches between branches without a close-range jet stripping tissue.
- Food: Energy from symbiotic algae, plus nutrients and suitably small food particles from the water.
- Water: Stable salinity, temperature, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium; controlled, measurable nutrients.
- Space: Room for growth, circulation, and separation from other corals.
PAR: a practical starting reference
PAR readings help you measure light reaching a coral. These are planning examples for acclimated specimens, not universal limits or instructions to place a new frag straight into intense light. Ask about its previous lighting first.
| Coral | Example lighting guidance | Placement and flow tip |
|---|---|---|
| Acropora | Around 300 PAR is a useful reference for many specimens; species needs vary. | An exposed, secure location with broad light coverage and strong, varied circulation. |
| Montipora | About 200–300 PAR once acclimated. Some newly added specimens can start around 125–150, depending on previous conditions. | Leave room for plates or branches; keep debris from collecting on the surface. |
| Stylophora | Moderate to high light; match the specific specimen’s care guidance rather than one fixed number. | Strong circulation reaching inside the growing colony. |
| Birdsnest / Seriatopora | Highly strain dependent: some prefer subdued light, while others favor stronger illumination. | Keep the delicate branches secure and ensure flow reaches the colony’s center. |
Good tip: Don’t assume every SPS needs maximum power or the top of the tank. Measure at the actual coral location and raise exposure gradually over weeks. A bright tip with heavily shaded lower branches is a coverage issue that more intensity may not solve.
For help with PAR and even coverage, read How to Choose a Reef Tank Light: Start With the Corals.
What do SPS corals eat?
These common SPS get much of their energy from symbiotic algae in their tissue, but light is only part of nutrition. They can also use dissolved nutrients and capture tiny suspended organisms or food particles. Small zooplankton, rotifers, and appropriately sized SPS foods may provide supplemental nutrition.
- Use small portions of suitable fine food. Large pieces of shrimp are a poor match for tiny SPS polyps.
- Broadcast feeding can spread food through the water; avoid blasting a frag directly with a baster.
- Start conservatively and follow the food’s instructions. Additional coral feeding isn’t necessary in every successful SPS aquarium.
- Keep water moving and oxygenation available during feeding.
- Watch nitrate, phosphate, and nuisance algae before increasing portions.
Good tip: Don’t add fish or overload feeding just to “feed the corals.” Match stocking and food to the aquarium’s filtration and nutrient balance.
Placement: build for grown colonies
Secure frags by their plugs or exposed skeleton, avoid crushing living tissue, and allow access for maintenance. Keep branches apart: SPS can damage one another on contact, even without long sweeper tentacles. Tiny polyps, tiny personal-space lawyers.
Plating Montipora can shade corals below, and dense branches can block water movement as they grow. Recheck light and flow as colonies expand. Keep SPS away from the reach of neighboring torch and other LPS sweepers.
Stability is the big one
Test alkalinity regularly and track consumption as colonies grow. Water changes may cover a small reef’s needs initially; larger colonies may require carefully measured supplementation. Dose for demonstrated needs, not because a bottle says “SPS.”
Keep nitrate and phosphate controlled without chasing zero. Maintain pumps, monitor temperature and salinity, and change one major variable at a time. A dependable routine matters more than constantly adjusting the tank.
Warning signs and useful habits
- Inspect arrivals: Look for pests and damaged tissue; use an appropriate coral inspection, dip, and quarantine routine. Dips don’t remove every pest or egg.
- Watch trends: Persistent paling, browning, reduced extension, or receding tissue can have several causes. Review chemistry, light, flow, pests, and recent changes.
- Know the difference: Pale tissue is different from bare white skeleton. Rapid tissue loss deserves prompt attention and experienced help.
- Give it time: Don’t move a new frag daily or turn up the lights to chase color.
My rule: Stable water, suitable light, varied flow, sensible nutrition, and growing room. The goal is a healthy colony—not a record-breaking PAR reading.
Explore our SPS Coral collection. Keeping a mixed reef? Our LPS Quick Reference Guide can help you plan the neighbors.