Confused about LPS and SPS and softies.

Babygecko1233 · Nov 3, 2017

Okay.. So here's what I have in my tank:

Pulsing Xenia's.

Frog spawn.

Duncan Coral.

GSP

Hammer Head Coral.

Hairy mushrooms.

Questions:

Which ones are LPS? Which ones are LPS?

Is there a major difference?

Should I specify the tank depending on more SPs or LPs? Like species based?

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Nov 3, 2017

These are soft corals:
Pulsing Xenia's.
GSP

These are Large polyp stony corals (LPS):
Frog spawn.
Duncan Coral.
Hammer Head Coral.

These are corallimorphs:
Hairy mushrooms.

There aren't any SPS in your system. These general groupings (soft, LPS, SPS, etc.) don't really specify care, light or water quality requirements. They are just shorthand that the hobby uses. There are small polyped corals that are less demanding than large polyp corals and vice versa.

Most people keep "mixed reef" tanks with all of these groups represented and put those that require more light closer to the top of the tank, but it really runs the gamut and depends on your system. With more info on your equipment and water parameters, it's a little easier to make recommendations for what you can add but what you "should do" is really up to you...

nautical_nathaniel · Nov 3, 2017

Softies: Xenia, GSP, Mushrooms (Mushrooms are actually called corallimorphs and more closely related to anemones but we'll group them here)
LPS: Duncan,, Frogspawn, Hammers (all relatively similar in care requirements)

Soft corals have no hard skeleton and their whole body is soft to the touch. When bothered they shrink/shrivel up.
LPS corals generally have a hard skeleton which houses polyps. When bothered, they shrink into their skeleton. Care requirements vary for a wide range of LPS corals
SPS corals, like LPS have a hard skeleton which houses polyps, but the polyps are much smaller (generally) and the corals have more specific care requirements.

The terms SPS and LPS are hobbyist terms used to describe groups of corals based their characteristics. There are, however, some LPS corals that behave like SPS corals (cyphaestrea comes to mind). However, large groups of corals under the same genus will often be referred to as the name of that genus, such as Euphyllias like your frogspawn and hammer corals, which both pretty much have the same care requirements.

In regards to which type of corals you should dedicate your tank to, that's your choice

I would find corals that you like online and look up their care requirements and find groups of corals that work together and then go from there.