Advanced SPS Coral Care Guide — Growing Acropora & Montipora

SPS (Small Polyp Stony coral) is the most challenging group in coral keeping, but when conditions are right, they display breathtakingly beautiful colors. This guide covers the essentials of SPS care, focusing on Acropora and Montipora.

Essential Water Parameters for SPS

SPS corals are highly sensitive to water quality fluctuations, making a stable environment indispensable.

• KH (Carbonate Hardness): 7-9 dKH (daily fluctuation ideally within 0.5)
• Calcium: 400-450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm
• Phosphate: Below 0.03 ppm
• Nitrate: 1-5 ppm (neither zero nor too high)
• Specific Gravity: 1.025-1.026

The balance among KH, calcium, and magnesium is crucial — if any one parameter is off, skeletal formation is impaired.

Lighting Selection and Settings

SPS corals require intense light.

• Recommended PAR: 200-350 umol/m2/s (varies by species)
• Spectrum: Emphasize blue (420-460nm) to enhance fluorescent colors
• Duration: 8-10 hours with gradual sunrise ramp-up
• Popular LEDs: Radion, AI Hydra, and Kessil series

After introduction, place corals at the bottom of the tank and gradually raise them over 2-3 weeks — this light acclimation is key to preventing bleaching.

The Importance of Water Flow

SPS prefer random, moderately strong flow.

• Recommended flow: 30-50x tank volume per hour total turnover
• Pump placement: Use 2+ pumps at different angles for random flow
• Note: Avoid direct flow on polyps — bounce off walls and rock

Color Enhancement Tips

• Maintain nitrates at 2-5 ppm for optimal fluorescence
• Amino acid supplements promote color expression
• Increase blue LED ratio to stimulate fluorescent protein production
• Keep temperature stable around 25C

Find High-Quality SPS on Bri-Choku

On Bri-Choku, you can purchase well-colored SPS frags directly from specialist breeders. Verifying parent colony information and growing conditions is a major advantage of direct sales.