Coral database category
SPS coral profiles
Start with colony shape and corallite structure, then use these SPS profiles to compare growth form, surface texture, and care requirements.
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All sps corals
Every profile below is linked directly from this category page. Featured references appear first, followed by the complete alphabetical collection.
Acropora
Acropora spp.
Acropora SPS guide focused on branching SPS, lookalike separation from Montipora Digitata and Birdsnest Coral, and early checks for tip burn or base recession before changing light or flow.
Open profile →Birdsnest Coral
Seriatopora spp.
Birdsnest Coral SPS guide for identifying thin sharp branches, choosing middle placement with high flow, and managing paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension when kept near Pocillopora and Stylophora.
Open profile →Montipora Capricornis
Montipora capricornis
Montipora Capricornis care and ID profile for plating whorls, thin cap-like shelves, paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension, and practical placement decisions for mixed reef compatibility.
Open profile →Montipora Digitata
Montipora digitata
Identify Montipora Digitata by branching finger-like growth and small polyps; then set middle placement, high flow, and enough separation from Acropora and Birdsnest Coral.
Open profile →Acropora Echinata
Acropora echinata
Acropora Echinata SPS guide focused on delicate branching Acropora, lookalike separation from Acropora and Acropora Tenuis, and early checks for thin-branch tip recession before changing light or flow.
Open profile →Acropora Millepora
Acropora millepora
Use this Acropora Millepora profile to compare hairy polyp extension with Acropora and Acropora Tenuis, plan conservative spacing, and watch for reduced hairy polyp extension under high flow.
Open profile →Acropora Tenuis
Acropora tenuis
Acropora Tenuis SPS guide for identifying branching Acropora, choosing high placement with high flow, and managing color-chasing stress and pale tips when kept near Acropora and Acropora Millepora.
Open profile →Acropora Valida
Acropora valida
Identify Acropora Valida by branching Acropora and contrasting tips; then set high placement, high flow, and enough separation from Acropora and Acropora Tenuis.
Open profile →Encrusting Montipora
Montipora spp.
Use this Encrusting Montipora profile to compare thin encrusting SPS mat with Meteor Shower Cyphastrea and Leptoseris Coral, plan conservative spacing, and watch for paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension under high flow.
Open profile →Green Slimer Acropora
Acropora yongei
Green Slimer Acropora care and ID profile for bright green branches, smooth fast-growing branch form, mucus response after handling or flow stress, and practical placement decisions for mixed reef compatibility.
Open profile →Montipora Setosa
Montipora setosa
Montipora Setosa SPS guide for identifying thick blunt branches, choosing middle placement with high flow, and managing paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension when kept near Montipora Digitata and Stylophora.
Open profile →Montipora Spongodes
Montipora spongodes
Montipora Spongodes SPS guide focused on encrusting base with upright ridges, lookalike separation from Montipora Digitata and Montipora Setosa, and early checks for paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension before changing light or flow.
Open profile →Pavona Coral
Pavona spp.
Use this Pavona Coral profile to compare leafy plates or ridges with Montipora Capricornis and Psammocora Coral, plan conservative spacing, and watch for paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension under high flow.
Open profile →Pocillopora
Pocillopora spp.
Use this Pocillopora profile to compare knobby branches with Birdsnest Coral and Stylophora, plan conservative spacing, and watch for volunteer colonies and shaded-base dieback under high flow.
Open profile →Porites Coral
Porites spp.
Identify Porites Coral by dense small polyps and encrusting or branching growth; then set middle placement, high flow, and enough separation from Psammocora Coral and Montipora Digitata.
Open profile →Psammocora Coral
Psammocora spp.
Psammocora Coral care and ID profile for encrusting or branching SPS, fine sandpaper texture, paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension, and practical placement decisions for mixed reef compatibility.
Open profile →Red Planet Acropora
Acropora sp.
Red Planet Acropora SPS guide for identifying tabling Acropora growth, choosing high placement with high flow, and managing trade-lineage color shift when kept near Acropora and Acropora Valida.
Open profile →Reverse Sunset Montipora
Montipora spp.
Identify Reverse Sunset Montipora by green encrusting base and contrasting orange polyps; then set middle placement, high flow, and enough separation from Sunset Montipora and Encrusting Montipora.
Open profile →Stylocoeniella Coral
Stylocoeniella spp.
Stylocoeniella Coral SPS guide focused on encrusting SPS, lookalike separation from Meteor Shower Cyphastrea and Leptastrea Coral, and early checks for paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension before changing light or flow.
Open profile →Stylophora
Stylophora spp.
Stylophora care and ID profile for thick rounded branches, dense fuzzy polyps, paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension, and practical placement decisions for mixed reef compatibility.
Open profile →Sunset Montipora
Montipora spp.
Sunset Montipora care and ID profile for orange encrusting base, green polyps, paling, base recession, or lost polyp extension, and practical placement decisions for mixed reef compatibility.
Open profile →