Small Polyp Stony Coral. Small Polyp Stony Corals SPS Tyler Merrick These corals form thin plates as branches that are covered with polyps giving it a fuzzy appearance These corals are the first that come to mind when someone thinks of corals, and they are called the "true" corals because they build the backbone of the reefs and cement it together.
SPS Small Polyp Stony Corals UniqueCorals from uniquecorals.com
The thinking behind this is on the whole LPS are more tolerant to water quality than SPS and SPS tend to require. The Pavona Coral is a small polyp stony (SPS) coral, and is referred to as the Cactus, Potato Chip, or Lettuce Coral
SPS Small Polyp Stony Corals UniqueCorals
The reef aquarium hobby long ago divided stony corals into two categories, Large Polyp Stony (LPS) and Small Polyp Stony (SPS) Its common name "cactus," comes from its appearance which resembles that of a cactus Hobbyists and the aquarium industry break stony corals down into 2 basic groups based on their relative and subjective polyp size
Underwater Scenes on Acropora SPS Coral Colony into the Sea Stock Photo Image of biology. This view is somewhat antiquated, but still serves as a guideline for care where SPS are thought to require more "expert care" than their LPS counterparts Upon entering the world of small polyp stony corals (or SPS), many people ask the magic question, "Which types are best for beginners?" In my opinion the most beginner-friendly choices are found in the genera Montipora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, and Stylophora.Most of the corals I'll discuss here are commonly available, so there should be a low cost of entry.
20+ Types of Corals How to Classify and Identify. Advanced Aquarist Note: While most small polyp stony corals possess symbiotic zooxanthellae, and derive significant nutrition from photosynthesis (hence the intense lighting requirement) many species possess polyps that are capable of capturing suitably sized prey While photosynthesis provides a vital source of nutrition, it's not the only way small polyp stony corals get their daily dose of energy