LPS (large-polyp stony) coral occupies the middle ground between SPS and softies. Skeletal like SPS, fleshier and more parameter-tolerant than SPS, more visually dramatic than soft coral. The hobby workhorses are euphyllia (hammer, torch, frogspawn), goniopora (flowerpot), acanthastrea, lobophyllia, trachyphyllia (open-brain), catalaphyllia (elegance), plerogyra (bubble), and caulastrea (candy cane).
LPS is the right starting point for most reef-keepers after a soft-coral foundation. Parameters matter less aggressively than SPS - a 0.5 dKH swing won't kill an LPS, and they tolerate occasional phosphate spikes. Light needs are moderate (100-200 PAR), flow is gentler (10-20x turnover, no direct laminar), and feeding is genuinely beneficial - target-feeding 2-3x per week with mysis, frozen brine, oyster eggs, or reef roids accelerates growth dramatically.
The downside of LPS: most species are skeletally aggressive. Hammers and torches extend sweeper tentacles up to 6 inches at night that can kill neighboring corals. Acanthastrea and lobophyllia generally play nice. Goniopora is the diva of LPS - many specimens decline over 6-18 months despite ideal husbandry, an issue still poorly understood by the hobby.
Hammer coral (Euphyllia parancora) is forgiving of parameter swings, colors up under modest light, and propagates by simple branch division. Trachyphyllia (open brain) is also extremely beginner-friendly.
Not strictly required, but feeding accelerates growth dramatically. Target-feed 2-3x per week with mysis, frozen brine, oyster eggs, or coral-specific foods (Reef Roids, Polyp Lab Reef Roids, oyster feast).
Goniopora is notoriously difficult despite appearing easy. Causes include: insufficient flow (they need direct moderate flow), poor lighting spectrum (need heavy 420-460nm royal blue), and inadequate feeding. Some specimens decline despite perfect husbandry - suspect collection stress or species-specific decline patterns.