Reeflings

SPS Corals

142 species

SPS (Small Polyp Stony) Corals are a favorite among experienced reefkeepers due to their stunning colors, intricate structures, and the challenge they present in terms of care. These corals are characterized by their small polyps which are less than 1 cm in diameter, and their hard calcium carbonate skeletons. Popular SPS corals include Acropora, Montipora, and Seriatopora species. They are known for their vibrant colors, ranging from deep blues and greens to bright pinks and purples, which can create a visually striking reef display.

SPS corals require specific water conditions to thrive, including stable and high water quality, strong lighting (often provided by metal halides or high-output LEDs), and robust water flow to ensure they receive sufficient nutrients and to prevent sediment from settling on their delicate structures. They are also sensitive to changes in water parameters, such as alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium levels, making them more challenging to keep than other coral types.

In terms of placement, SPS corals are typically positioned higher in the aquarium where they can receive more intense light and stronger currents. They also benefit from regular monitoring and maintenance, including water testing and supplementation of trace elements. Despite their demanding care requirements, the reward of a thriving SPS coral reef is immense, offering a dynamic and colorful centerpiece for any advanced reef aquarium.

  1. Common name: Abrolhos Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora abrolhosensis
  2. Common name: Aculeus Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora aculeus
  3. Common name: Acropora azurea
    Scientific name: Acropora azurea
  4. Common name: Acropora batunai
    Scientific name: Acropora batunai
  5. Common name: Acropora bifurcata
    Scientific name: Acropora bifurcata
  6. Bushy Acropora SPS Coral in saltwater reef aquarium tank
    Common name: Bushy Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora bushyensis
  7. Caribbean coral garden staghorn coral
    Common name: Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora carduus
  8. Caribbean coral garden staghorn coral
    Common name: Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora caroliniana
  9. Common name: Corymbose branching plate coral
    Scientific name: Acropora cerealis
  10. Common name: Chesterfield Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora chesterfieldensis
  11. Acropora digitifera EG-082
    Common name: Digitate Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora digitifera
  12. Table coral, Acropora Divaricat in Thailand
    Common name: Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora divaricata
  13. Apropora echinata frag small polyp stony coral in aquarium
    Common name: Blueberry Sea Fan
    Scientific name: Acropora echinata
  14. Egg-sperm bundles before spawning of Acropora elseyi
    Common name: Acropora elseyi
    Scientific name: Acropora elseyi
  15. Critically Endangered Staghorn Coral
    Common name: Stout irregular branching coral
    Scientific name: Acropora florida
  16. Acropora Formosa and a Scissortail Sergeant - Abudefduf Sexfasciatus
    Common name: Formosa Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora formosa
  17. Common name: Acropora forskali
    Scientific name: Acropora forskali
  18. Polyp stony coral Acropora gemmifera undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Branching Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora gemmifera
  19. Common name: Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora grandis
  20. Common name: Granulosa Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora granulosa
  21. Blue Acropora hemprichii coral in Red Sea
    Common name: Hemprich's Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora hemprichii
  22. Common name: Acropora horrida
    Scientific name: Acropora horrida
  23. Polyp stony coral finger coral (Acropora humilis) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Finger coral
    Scientific name: Acropora humilis
  24. Common name: Acropora jacquelineae
    Scientific name: Acropora jacquelineae
  25. Common name: Acropora kimbeensis
    Scientific name: Acropora kimbeensis
  26. Acroporid coral Acropora lamarcki undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Lamarck's Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora lamarcki
  27. Baby Lyretail Hogfish in Table Coral
    Common name: Acropora latistella
    Scientific name: Acropora latistella
  28. Common name: bluetip coral
    Scientific name: Acropora loripes
  29. Common name: Acropora lovelli
    Scientific name: Acropora lovelli
  30. Common name: Acropora maryae
    Scientific name: Acropora maryae
  31. coral reef
    Common name: Acropora microphthalma
    Scientific name: Acropora microphthalma
  32. Acropora millepora colorful sps coral on black background
    Common name: Fluro scale cushion coral
    Scientific name: Acropora millepora
  33. leaf plate montipora
    Common name: Montipora Capricornis
    Scientific name: Acropora monticulosa
  34. Common name: Acropora multiacuta
    Scientific name: Acropora multiacuta
  35. Common name: Acropora nana
    Scientific name: Acropora nana
  36. Stone Coral Acropora nasuta.
    Common name: Acropora nasuta
    Scientific name: Acropora nasuta
  37. Acropora coral under the sea
    Common name: Acropora nobilis
    Scientific name: Acropora nobilis
  38. Isopora palifera
    Common name: Column Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora palifera
  39. Schooling fish surround Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata, Florida Keys
    Common name: elkhorn coral
    Scientific name: Acropora palmata
  40. Common name: Acropora parilis
    Scientific name: Acropora parilis
  41. Baby Lyretail Hogfish in Table Coral
    Common name: Pharaoh's Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora pharaonis
  42. Common name: fused staghorn
    Scientific name: Acropora prolifera
  43. Tropical fish double-saddle butterflyfish over staghorn coral, underwater in the lagoon, Pacific ocean, Huahine, French Polynesia
    Common name: Acropora pulchra
    Scientific name: Acropora pulchra
  44. Lionfish hiding in Robust staghorn coral reef in Andaman sea
    Common name: Acropora robusta
    Scientific name: Acropora robusta
  45. Common name: Acropora sarmentosa
    Scientific name: Acropora sarmentosa
  46. Common name: Acropora schmitti
    Scientific name: Acropora schmitti
  47. Common name: Acropora secale
    Scientific name: Acropora secale
  48. Common name: Acropora selago
    Scientific name: Acropora selago
  49. Common name: Acropora seriata
    Scientific name: Acropora seriata
  50. Caribbean coral garden staghorn coral
    Common name: Staghorn Coral
    Scientific name: Acropora spicifera
  51. Polyp stony coral Acropora squarrosa undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Acropora squarrosa
    Scientific name: Acropora squarrosa
  52. Polyp stony coral Acropora subulata undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Acropora subulata
    Scientific name: Acropora subulata
  53. Common name: Acropora suharsonoi
    Scientific name: Acropora suharsonoi
  54. Closeup shot of acropora tenuis corals underwater
    Common name: purple tipped acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora tenuis
  55. Common name: Blue Tort Acropora
    Scientific name: Acropora tortuosa
  56. Common name: Acropora tumida
    Scientific name: Acropora tumida
  57. Common name: Acropora valenciennesi
    Scientific name: Acropora valenciennesi
  58. Bushy Acropora SPS Coral in saltwater reef aquarium tank
    Common name: Acropora valida
    Scientific name: Acropora valida
  59. Common name: Acropora variolosa
    Scientific name: Acropora variolosa
  60. Whitestar Sheet Coral on Caribbean Coral Reef
    Common name: sheet coral
    Scientific name: Agaricia lamarcki
  61. Mediterranean false orange coral (Dendrophyllia ramea)
    Common name: False flower coral
    Scientific name: Anacropora forbesi
  62. Red Sea coral reef with hard coral Anomastraea irregularis.
    Common name: Anomastraea irregularis
    Scientific name: Anomastraea irregularis
  63. A beautiful Colourful soft corals, hard coral, feather star, anemone and marine in Koh Lipe, Thailand
    Common name: Starflower coral
    Scientific name: Astreopora listeri
  64. Common name: Tombstone coral
    Scientific name: Coeloseris mayeri
  65. Small knob coral (Plesiastrea versipora) and Lesser star coral (Goniastrea edwardsi) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Lesser knob coral
    Scientific name: Cyphastrea agassizi
  66. Small knob coral (Plesiastrea versipora) and Lesser star coral (Goniastrea edwardsi) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Lesser knob coral
    Scientific name: Cyphastrea chalcidicum
  67. Cyphastrea decadia Großpolypige Steinkoralle
    Common name: Lesser knob coral
    Scientific name: Cyphastrea decadia
  68. Small knob coral (Plesiastrea versipora) and Lesser star coral (Goniastrea edwardsi) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Lesser knob coral
    Scientific name: Cyphastrea serailia
  69. Common name: Jeweled Coral
    Scientific name: Dichotella gemmacea
  70. Hedgehog coral (Echinopora lamellosa) close-up undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Hedgehog coral
    Scientific name: Echinopora gemmacea
  71. Hedgehog coral (Echinopora lamellosa) close-up undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Hedgehog coral
    Scientific name: Echinopora horrida
  72. Hedgehog coral (Echinopora lamellosa) close-up undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Hedgehog coral
    Scientific name: Echinopora lamellosa
  73. Hedgehog coral (Echinopora lamellosa) close-up undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Hedgehog coral
    Scientific name: Echinopora mammiformis
  74. Diploastrea heliopora, commonly known as diploastrea brain coral or honeycomb coral. Coral polyp detail. Coral polyps background. Coral texture. Close-up of hard coral.
    Common name: Lettuce Coral
    Scientific name: Gardineroseris planulata
  75. Stony coral spine coral (Hydnophora microconos) and crispy crust coral (Merulina scheeri) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Spine coral
    Scientific name: Hydnophora exesa
  76. Of a yellow marine creature, Sabellastarte in the blue ocean
    Common name: Spine coral
    Scientific name: Hydnophora grandis
  77. Schooling yellowback anthias in a horn coral garden (Burma Banks, Mergui archipelago, Myanmar)
    Common name: Spine coral
    Scientific name: Hydnophora rigida
  78. Coral Leptoria phrygia in red sea
    Common name: Least valley coral
    Scientific name: Leptoria phrygia
  79. Massive foliose coral, Leptoseris foliosa, Raja Ampat Indonesia.
    Common name: Porcelain coral
    Scientific name: Leptoseris foliosa
  80. Chalice Coral (Echinophyllia sp.)
    Common name: Stone-leaf coral
    Scientific name: Lithophyllon undulatum
  81. Stony coral spine coral (Hydnophora microconos) and crispy crust coral (Merulina scheeri) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Crispy crust coral
    Scientific name: Merulina ampliata
  82. Underwater bladed fire coral, Millepora complanata landscape Reef scenery, coral fire los roques - venezuela
    Common name: bladed fire coral
    Scientific name: Millepora complanata
  83. Close up of lobed star coral, Orbicella annularis, Caribbean sea
    Common name: boulder star coral
    Scientific name: Montastraea annularis
  84. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora aequituberculata
  85. Red Slate Pencil Urchin and Needle-spined urchins, Hawaii, USA
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora capitata
  86. leaf plate montipora
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora capricornis
  87. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora circumvallata
  88. Montipora danae or confusa are encrusting types of Montipora.
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora confusa
  89. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora crassituberculata
  90. Montipora danae or confusa are encrusting types of Montipora.
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora danae
  91. Branched Montipora Coral (Montipora digitata)
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora digitata
  92. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora flabellata
  93. Montipora coral polyps photography
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora foliosa
  94. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora hispida
  95. Montipora Candy Cap Coral, - (Montipora capricornis)
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora monasteriata
  96. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora nodosa
  97. Hard coral pore coral (Montipora venosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora patula
  98. Montipora coral polyps photography
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora samarensis
  99. Ultra macro shot on Montipora polyps sps coral frag
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora spongodes
  100. Montipora Candy Cap Coral, - (Montipora capricornis)
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora spumosa
  101. Montipora coral polyps photography
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora stellata
  102. Microporous coral or pore coral, hump coral (Montipora tuberculosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora tuberculosa
  103. Montipora Coral mixed colors
    Common name: Pore coral
    Scientific name: Montipora verrucosa
  104. Common name: diffuse ivory coral
    Scientific name: Oculina diffusa
  105. Common name: Serpent coral
    Scientific name: Pachyseris gemmae
  106. Organic texture of Elephant skin hard coral (Pachyseris rugosa)
    Common name: Serpent coral
    Scientific name: Pachyseris rugosa
  107. Coral Abstract
    Common name: Serpent coral
    Scientific name: Pachyseris speciosa
  108. Common name: Sheppard's Coral
    Scientific name: Parasimplastrea sheppardi
  109. Pavona SPS Cactus Coral - (PAVONA DECUSSATUS)
    Common name: lettuce coral
    Scientific name: Pavona cactus
  110. Shoulderblade Coral (Pavona clavus), Staghorn Point, Tubbataha, Philippines
    Common name: Shoulderblade Coral
    Scientific name: Pavona clavus
  111. Pavona Coral SPS - Pavona decussatus
    Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona danai
  112. yellow band disease on leaf coral. Pavona decussata.
    Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona decussata
  113. Pavona Coral SPS - Pavona decussatus
    Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona duerdeni
  114. Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona explanulata
  115. leaf Coral in the coral reef
    Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona frondifera
  116. Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona maldivensis
  117. Common name: Leaf coral
    Scientific name: Pavona varians
  118. Pocillopora damicornis - Pink Colorful SPS coral in Red Sea, underwater scene
    Common name: Cauliflower coral
    Scientific name: Pocillopora damicornis
  119. Stony coral rasp coral, or cauliflower coral, knob-horned coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) undersea, Red Sea, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Nabq Bay
    Common name: Cauliflower coral
    Scientific name: Pocillopora elegans
  120. School of Magenta slender anthias in a coral reef (Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia in 2012)
    Common name: Cauliflower coral
    Scientific name: Pocillopora eydouxi