A Thread Synopsis: How to Keep SPS Corals Happy and Healthy

[revhtree]

image via @Epic Aquaculture

A Thread Synopsis: How to Keep SPS Corals Happy and Healthy​

For more details on this topic please visit the full Reef2Reef thread here.

SPS (Small Polyp Stony) corals are some of the most stunning and rewarding corals you can have in your reef tank, but they’re also a bit tricky to care for. Their vibrant colors and intricate structures make them a showstopper, but keeping them healthy requires attention to detail. Here are 10 tips to help your SPS corals thrive, based on advice from seasoned reef keepers:

1. Keep Water Parameters Stable​

SPS corals don’t like change, especially when it comes to water chemistry. Make sure your temperature, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels are always in check. These guys are sensitive!

• Temperature: 75–80°F (24–27°C)
• Salinity: 1.025–1.027
• pH: 7.8–8.5
• Alkalinity: 7–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1200–1350 ppm

2. Give Them Enough Light​

SPS corals need strong lighting, typically 250–400 PAR. LED lights with adjustable spectrums are a great option because they let you fine-tune the light to meet the needs of your corals. A mix of blue and white light mimics the natural sunlight they’re used to.

3. Ensure Strong Water Flow​

These corals love water movement. A strong, chaotic flow helps deliver nutrients and remove waste. Aim for 20–30 times the tank’s volume per hour with powerheads or wave pumps. Be careful not to create dead spots where debris can accumulate.

4. Feed, But Don’t Overfeed​

While SPS corals get most of their energy from light, they still benefit from supplemental feeding. Offer them some liquid phytoplankton, zooplankton, or amino acids, but don’t overdo it—excess food can mess with your water quality.

5. Do Regular Water Changes​

Water changes help maintain water quality and keep nutrient levels low. Aim for 10–20% every two weeks to keep your water clean and your corals happy.

6. Keep Nitrates and Phosphates Low​

High levels of nitrates and phosphates can cause algae to take over, which is bad news for your SPS corals. Keep nitrates below 5–10 ppm and phosphates under 0.05 ppm. Using a protein skimmer and macroalgae in a refugium can help control nutrient levels.

7. Minimize Stress​

SPS corals are easily stressed by water parameter fluctuations, rough handling, and pests like Aiptasia or flatworms. Keep their environment stable and free of predators to avoid stress.

8. Use a Quality Protein Skimmer​

A good protein skimmer will keep your water clean by removing organic compounds before they break down into nitrates and phosphates. This also keeps the water clear, letting more light reach your corals.

9. Place Them Properly​

SPS corals need high light and strong flow, so position them near the top of the tank where they’ll get the best of both. Be mindful of space—they can be aggressive and harm neighboring corals with their stinging tentacles.

10. Watch for Changes in Growth and Color​

Healthy SPS corals should show steady growth and vibrant colors. If you notice browning, bleaching, or slow growth, it could be a sign that something’s off with your water, lighting, or nutrients.

---

This is not an exhaustive list but will give you a great foundation for keeping SPS corals more successfully!

For more details on this topic please visit the full Reef2Reef thread here.

image via @gws3

 

[rtparty]

Number 6 needs a revision. Excess algae growth is from a lack of herbivores, not nutrient levels. There are other reasons to keep N and P under control but limiting algal growth is not one of them

 

[Trevor40]

I agree with this list. I have also learned that pests can be a huge problem for acropora. Dip everything and treat the tank with interceptor from time to time if polyp extension is not looking good.
For advanced hobbyists, ICP tests with some trace element adjustments improves coral health.

 

[Reefer Matt]

My nitrate is 20-25 ppm most of the time. I have to dose phosphate to keep it at .05 ppm. I do keep a lot of cuc, but I attribute the vivid color of my coral to the nitrate, lighting, and flow of my tank. Par is 150-280 on average.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm bookmarking this thread for whenever I decide to get SPS coral!

 

[bubbgee]

I agree with this list. I have also learned that pests can be a huge problem for acropora. Dip everything and treat the tank with interceptor from time to time if polyp extension is not looking good.
For advanced hobbyists, ICP tests with some trace element adjustments improves coral health.

I've heard that Interceptor will kill all crabs and snails. So this approach is only for frag tanks without inverts?

 

[anthonymckay]

I've heard that Interceptor will kill all crabs and snails. So this approach is only for frag tanks without inverts?

Crabs yes, snails no. I did 3 weeks of interceptor treatment back in October when I found some white bugs. I pulled every single hermit crab I could find out of my tank and put them in a brute bin with water from my tank, a heater, and a powerhead. All my hermit crabs survived in the brute container for the 3 weeks (I'd squirt some mysis in there from time to time), and all the snails in my display tank were fine. It absolutely will kill off your pod population though, so you'll need to re-seed them after you're done with treatment. I personally wouldn't want to do regular "preemptive" treatments of interceptor for that reason.

 

[bubbgee]

Crabs yes, snails no. I did 3 weeks of interceptor treatment back in October when I found some white bugs. I pulled every single hermit crab I could find out of my tank and put them in a brute bin with water from my tank, a heater, and a powerhead. All my hermit crabs survived in the brute container for the 3 weeks (I'd squirt some mysis in there from time to time), and all the snails in my display tank were fine. It absolutely will kill off your pod population though, so you'll need to re-seed them after you're done with treatment. I personally wouldn't want to do regular "preemptive" treatments of interceptor for that reason.

Ugh.. I got a lot of crabs recently to reduce GHA to some success. Cant do that until the job is done.

How do you prevent GHA outbreaks if there's no adequate clean up crew?

 

[anthonymckay]

Ugh.. I got a lot of crabs recently to reduce GHA to some success. Cant do that until the job is done.

How do you prevent GHA outbreaks if there's no adequate clean up crew?

Interceptor treatments are something you should ONLY do if you have an infestation of red/black/white bugs on your acroporas. Not all poor PE is due to pests. Confirm that is the issue before adding powerful medications to your tank. I don't agree with the previous poster saying to blindly do it from "time to time" if you have poor PE.

The three weeks I had to remove all my hermit crabs, I did see GHA starting pop up in areas, as my snails alone couldn't keep up with it. But as soon as my treatment was done I added them back into my tank and they chowed it back down within a week or so.

 

[bubbgee]

Interceptor treatments are something you should ONLY do if you have an infestation of red/black/white bugs on your acroporas. Not all poor PE is due to pests. Confirm that is the issue before adding powerful medications to your tank. I don't agree with the previous poster saying to blindly do it from "time to time" if you have poor PE.

The three weeks I had to remove all my hermit crabs, I did see GHA starting pop up in areas, as my snails alone couldn't keep up with it. But as soon as my treatment was done I added them back into my tank and they chowed it back down within a week or so.

Yeah, I get conflicting messages on this. Granted these are anecdotal until you actually do it on your tank. From my observation, those who swear by it usually do these on frag tanks once a month which won't have any inverts in them (for the most part). I definitely can't do this in my display and I don't notice any bugs yet. I am leaning towards interceptor dip if I have to.

Those who did an interceptor treatment have shown me their sps videos with impressive polyp extension and it always makes me think about doing it.

 

[Battlecorals]

image via @Epic Aquaculture

A Thread Synopsis: How to Keep SPS Corals Happy and Healthy​

For more details on this topic please visit the full Reef2Reef thread here.

SPS (Small Polyp Stony) corals are some of the most stunning and rewarding corals you can have in your reef tank, but they’re also a bit tricky to care for. Their vibrant colors and intricate structures make them a showstopper, but keeping them healthy requires attention to detail. Here are 10 tips to help your SPS corals thrive, based on advice from seasoned reef keepers:

1. Keep Water Parameters Stable​

SPS corals don’t like change, especially when it comes to water chemistry. Make sure your temperature, pH, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels are always in check. These guys are sensitive!

• Temperature: 75–80°F (24–27°C)
• Salinity: 1.025–1.027
• pH: 7.8–8.5
• Alkalinity: 7–9 dKH
• Calcium: 400–450 ppm
• Magnesium: 1200–1350 ppm

2. Give Them Enough Light​

SPS corals need strong lighting, typically 250–400 PAR. LED lights with adjustable spectrums are a great option because they let you fine-tune the light to meet the needs of your corals. A mix of blue and white light mimics the natural sunlight they’re used to.

3. Ensure Strong Water Flow​

These corals love water movement. A strong, chaotic flow helps deliver nutrients and remove waste. Aim for 20–30 times the tank’s volume per hour with powerheads or wave pumps. Be careful not to create dead spots where debris can accumulate.

4. Feed, But Don’t Overfeed​

While SPS corals get most of their energy from light, they still benefit from supplemental feeding. Offer them some liquid phytoplankton, zooplankton, or amino acids, but don’t overdo it—excess food can mess with your water quality.

5. Do Regular Water Changes​

Water changes help maintain water quality and keep nutrient levels low. Aim for 10–20% every two weeks to keep your water clean and your corals happy.

6. Keep Nitrates and Phosphates Low​

High levels of nitrates and phosphates can cause algae to take over, which is bad news for your SPS corals. Keep nitrates below 5–10 ppm and phosphates under 0.05 ppm. Using a protein skimmer and macroalgae in a refugium can help control nutrient levels.

7. Minimize Stress​

SPS corals are easily stressed by water parameter fluctuations, rough handling, and pests like Aiptasia or flatworms. Keep their environment stable and free of predators to avoid stress.

8. Use a Quality Protein Skimmer​

A good protein skimmer will keep your water clean by removing organic compounds before they break down into nitrates and phosphates. This also keeps the water clear, letting more light reach your corals.

9. Place Them Properly​

SPS corals need high light and strong flow, so position them near the top of the tank where they’ll get the best of both. Be mindful of space—they can be aggressive and harm neighboring corals with their stinging tentacles.

10. Watch for Changes in Growth and Color​

Healthy SPS corals should show steady growth and vibrant colors. If you notice browning, bleaching, or slow growth, it could be a sign that something’s off with your water, lighting, or nutrients.

---

This is not an exhaustive list but will give you a great foundation for keeping SPS corals more successfully!

For more details on this topic please visit the full Reef2Reef thread here.

image via @gws3

11. Don’t panic if one doesn’t make it. Sps are fickle things and can go on you anytime for seemingly no reason. It sucks I know and is hard not to Freak out but If the tank and rest of the inhabitants look good otherwise, It’s probably a fluke and does not require drastic corrective steps.

Doing so can lead to further losses, if we start “ fixing” things that are not in need of being fixed.

 

[bubbgee]

11. Don’t panic if one doesn’t make it. Sps are fickle things and can go on you anytime for seemingly no reason. It sucks I know and is hard not to Freak out but If the tank and rest of the inhabitants look good otherwise, It’s probably a fluke and does not require drastic corrective steps.

Doing so can lead to further losses, if we start “ fixing” things that are not in need of being fixed.

You mean, it eventually it stops hurting when you keep losing? The tank has to accept a few sps since it can't possibly kill them all?

 

[Troylee]

11. Don’t panic if one doesn’t make it. Sps are fickle things and can go on you anytime for seemingly no reason. It sucks I know and is hard not to Freak out but If the tank and rest of the inhabitants look good otherwise, It’s probably a fluke and does not require drastic corrective steps.

Doing so can lead to further losses, if we start “ fixing” things that are not in need of being fixed.

This 100% I’ve been preaching this! Bye Felicia!