SPS Coral Beginner's Guide | Acropora and Chalice Coral Care and Water Quality Management | ブリちょく
Coral| ✍️ BreederDirect Editorial
SPS Coral Beginner's Guide | Acropora and Chalice Coral Care and Water Quality Management
Detailed guide to water quality parameters, lighting (PAR values), and water flow settings required for SPS coral care (Acropora, Montipora, etc.). Includes RTN/STN prevention strategies and step-by-step introduction methods.
Key Takeaways
Detailed guide to water quality parameters, lighting (PAR values), and water flow settings required for SPS coral care (Acropora, Montipora, etc.). Includes RTN/STN prevention strategies and step-by-step introduction methods.
SPS Coral Beginner's Guide | Acropora and Chalice Coral Care and Water Quality Management
SPS (Small Polyp Stony Coral) corals are among the most challenging to maintain in saltwater aquariums. However, their unique forms and vibrant colors captivate reef tank enthusiasts worldwide. This article explains the water quality, lighting, and water flow requirements for successful SPS coral care, with a focus on Acropora (Stony Corals).
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SPS (Small Polyp Stony Coral) corals are characterized by a calcium-based skeleton and small polyps (mouths). Compared to LPS (Large Polyp Stony) corals and soft corals, SPS corals have extremely demanding requirements for water quality, lighting, and water flow.
Common SPS Coral Species
Species
Form
Difficulty
Acropora (Stony Corals)
Branching, Plating
★★★★★ (Highest)
Montipora
Plating, Foliose
★★★★ (High)
Pocillopora
Small Branching
★★★ (Moderate-High)
Stylophora
Branching
★★★★ (High)
Seriatopora
Dense Branching
★★★ (Moderate-High)
Basic Requirements for SPS Coral Care
Water Quality Parameters (Critical)
Stable water parameters are essential for SPS corals. Fluctuations cause STN (Slow Tissue Necrosis) or RTN (Rapid Tissue Necrosis).
Parameter
Target Range
Priority
Specific Gravity
1.025–1.026
Critical
Temperature
25–27°C (77–81°F)
Critical
pH
8.1–8.4
Important
KH (Carbonate Hardness)
8–11 dKH
Critical
Ca (Calcium)
400–450 ppm
Critical
Mg (Magnesium)
1280–1400 ppm
Important
NO3 (Nitrate)
1–5 ppm
Important
PO4 (Phosphate)
0.01–0.05 ppm
Critical
Key SPS Care Points:
- KH, Ca, and Mg are consumed daily in small amounts, requiring dosing pumps or two-part solutions (calcium water, etc.) for replenishment
- High phosphate causes excessive zooxanthellae growth, turning corals brown (browning)
- Excessive nitrate slows coral growth
Testing and Maintenance Frequency
Parameter
Recommended Test Frequency
Specific Gravity
Daily
Water Temperature
Daily
KH
2–3 times per week (important)
Ca and Mg
Weekly
NO3 and PO4
1–2 times per week
pH
Real-time monitoring recommended
Lighting Setup
Lighting Intensity for SPS Corals
SPS corals, especially Acropora, require high light intensity.
Coral Type
Required PAR (μmol/m²/s)
SPS (Acropora, etc.)
200–500+
LPS
50–200
Soft Corals
50–150
Lighting Options:
- LED (High-Output): Energy-efficient, programmable control (current standard)
- Metal Halide: High light output, natural light spread (high power consumption and heat)
- T5 Fluorescent: Previously standard, still effective today
Light Cycle Setup
Time
Intensity
Reason
Night (0–6 AM)
0–5%
Dark Period
Dawn (6–8 AM)
5–30%
Sunrise Simulation
Day (8 AM–5 PM)
70–100%
Main Photosynthesis Period
Dusk (5–8 PM)
100–30%
Sunset Simulation
Night (8 PM–12 AM)
5–0%
Twilight to Dark
Water Flow Setup
Water Flow for SPS Corals
SPS corals thrive in strong water flow. Insufficient flow causes:
- Algae and debris accumulation on corals
- Inability to expel waste
- Oxygen depletion
Recommended Flow Rate:
- 30–50 times tank volume per hour
- Example: 200L (53 gallon) tank → 6,000–10,000 L/h
Water Flow Patterns:
- Random flow mimics natural conditions and is most effective
- Avoid direct, continuous flow on single corals (use tidal or random mode)
Reading SPS Coral Health
Healthy vs. Problem Signs
Aspect
Healthy Signs
Problem Signs
Polyps
Extended and open
Withdrawn or retracted (prolonged)
Color
Vibrant (species-typical colors)
Brown discoloration or bleaching
Growth
New buds appearing
White tips with exposed skeleton (STN/RTN)
Dealing with Bleaching
Bleaching occurs when corals lose their symbiotic zooxanthellae (algae).
Common Causes:
- Sudden temperature rise (sustained above 28°C / 82°F)
- Rapid water chemistry changes (especially KH, Ca, Mg swings)
- Excessive lighting or water flow
- Stress (transport, predators)
Response:
- Identify and eliminate the cause first
- Stabilize water temperature and parameters
- Temporarily reduce light if necessary
Emergency Response to RTN/STN
RTN (Rapid Tissue Necrosis):
- Tissue sloughs off within hours
- Caused by infection or sudden water chemistry changes
- Response: Remove affected tissue, quarantine in separate system with iodine treatment, then reintroduce
STN (Slow Tissue Necrosis):
- Gradual tissue loss over days to weeks
- Caused by improper water quality, light, or flow
- Response: Remove necrotic tissue and review environmental parameters
Recommended Beginner SPS Species
Start with hardier SPS species rather than jumping directly to challenging Acropora.
Montipora (Plating): Easier to manage than Acropora
Pocillopora: Durable and ideal for beginners
Seriatopora: Relatively manageable branching SPS
Once stable, progress to Acropora
Summary
Maintaining SPS corals, especially Acropora, represents the ultimate challenge in saltwater aquariums. Long-term success requires three key elements: stable water chemistry (KH, Ca, Mg, NO3, PO4), adequate high light intensity, and proper water flow.
