Leptastrea vs cyphastrea

[bvanfish]

Which would you choose of these for a newer reefer? I have a hammer favia Yuma and gsp going well and parameters are solid. Which is hardier in case of a slight swing?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Which would you choose of these for a newer reefer? I have a hammer favia Yuma and gsp going well and parameters are solid. Which is hardier in case of a slight swing?

The cyphastrea I've had is pretty hardy.

 

[Hairyteeth]

The cyphastrea I've had is pretty hardy.

I’ve found my meteor cyphastrea is the most bullet proof vs some of the other types I have, branching being the more finicky of the group

 

[bvanfish]

So the leptastrea is not as easy?

does yellow look good under the blues? Or the light blue of the meteor look good?

 

[Alexopora]

I would say Leptastrea is the easier out of both, as they require less light, less flow and are a lot leas sensitive than cyphastrea. That being said Cyphastrea isnt a hard sps to keep. Just one thing to note about cyphastrea is that, always start them with lower to medium lighting. Then gradually you may raise them higher in the tank giving them more light. But keyword is gradual.

 

[bvanfish]

I would say Leptastrea is the easier out of both, as they require less light, less flow and are a lot leas sensitive than cyphastrea. That being said Cyphastrea isnt a hard sps to keep. Just one thing to note about cyphastrea is that, always start them with lower to medium lighting. Then gradually you may raise them higher in the tank giving them more light. But keyword is gradual.

Is it an sps? I have seen most things saying lps? I don’t know if I am ready for sps but everywhere I’m reading saying it is extremely hardy

 

[Alexopora]

So the leptastrea is not as easy?

does yellow look good under the blues? Or the light blue of the meteor look good?

First three are Cyphastrea. These are pretty old pics of them as Im currently on a work trip, they’ve grown since I took these pics. Last two are Leptastreas. All are easy but I find Leptastreas the easiest. They can take quite a bit of flow but they look so much better in medium to low flow was the polyps are puffier.

 

[Alexopora]

Is it an sps? I have seen most things saying lps? I don’t know if I am ready for sps but everywhere I’m reading saying it is extremely hardy

Leptastrea are lps. Polyps are way bigger than sps (like Acros, Anacros, Monti, Porites, Cyphastrea, Stylophora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, Stylocoeniella)

 

[bvanfish]

What would look better under blues

a yellow purple lepta or
Yellow orange lepta

 

[V A R I A N T]

Cyphastrea grows quicker than Leptastrea, and can be considered an crusting coral. Leptastrea shows some movement in current where Cyphastrea is more static.

 

[bvanfish]

would you do a yellow cyphastrea or a purple orange leptastrea ? Trying to get a good color under blues

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

would you do a yellow cyphastrea or a purple orange leptastrea ? Trying to get a good color under blues

You'll really have to decide that yourself...

As for SPS (small polyp stony) vs LPS (large polyp stony), these are unofficial, unscientific, arbitrary hobby terms that have only existed a short time... They can be helpful when speaking in general terms (e.g. SPS need cleaner water, etc) but not all SPS have the same characteristics/needs... just like LPS have varying needs.

And then there are some corals that aren't really SPS or LPS (maybe there needs to be a new category - Medium polyp stony?) Cyphastrea is one of these in-between coral. Regardless of which category someone says a coral belongs to, luckily with the internet we can research the specific corals needs re: light, flow, nutrients, etc.

 

[Alexopora]

Cyphastrea grows quicker than Leptastrea, and can be considered an crusting coral. Leptastrea shows some movement in current where Cyphastrea is more static.

@ OP, Cyphastrea is a really good coral if u intent to have a coral that will encrust your rockwork or even try out fun projects such as encrusting over a skull. This is the coral for that. And its fast growing as well. I’d say why not get both if your tank has the space for them, is within your budget and if you want.

 

[HomebroodExotics]

Leptastria might be my favorite coral, so I would say leptastria. I haven't had much luck with cyphastrea and it's pretty boring to me honestly so that probably didn't help.

 

[bvanfish]

Ya not a bad idea! I have a smaller tank but with lots of room for coral. My main worry was getting a coral above my skill level. But the more I read the more I see that they both seem to be a pretty decently easy coral. Thanks for the help!