Complete Guide: Rock and Placement of SPS, LPS, and Soft Corals
Valerio ChiaradonnaOur customers often ask how to set up a solid rock structure in a marine aquarium and position SPS, LPS, and soft corals for a thriving reef. This detailed guide, written for you who shop at animal-instinct.it, takes you step by step to a professional aquarium, taking into account lighting, flow, and compatibility requirements.
Materials Needed for Rock Building
Get 0.5-2 kg of aquacultured porous live rock from our online shop: it promotes bacterial colonies and natural filtration. Use reef-safe hydraulic cement like Lampocem, aquarium epoxy glue, gloves, and modeling tools. For DIY synthetic rock, prepare white Portland cement, fine aragonite sand, crushed expanded polystyrene, and a PVC or wooden mold.
Step-by-Step Construction
Clean the tank and arrange the rocks in a stable position, using the larger bases underneath and the terraces above to support the corals. Test stability with the water and pumps turned on before adding the corals.
Light and Flow Requirements for Corals
SPS: PAR 250-400+, bright blue/UV LED light, turbulent flow (wave pumps 50-100x volume/hour). LPS: PAR 150-250, medium light, moderate flow. Soft: PAR <150, soft light, gentle flow. Structure: high peaks (SPS), medium shelves (LPS), shady bottoms (soft).
SPS Positioning
Screw SPS frags high up, directly under high-penetration LEDs: rapid calcified growth requires maximum exposure. Space 2-3 cm apart to avoid shading; flow from multiple directions simulates a natural reef. Acclimatize for 1-2 weeks, gradually increasing the light.
LPS and Molli Positioning
Central LPS: space for sweeper tentacles (5-10 cm close together), feed target feeder 2-3 times a week. Soft bottoms on sand or low rocks: grows fast, tolerates low flow but avoids chemical warfare from aggressive LPS.
Maintenance and Advice from Animal Instinct
Monitor NO3 <10ppm, PO4 <0.03, Ca 420-450, Alk 7-9 dKH with test kits from the website. Use dosing pumps to stabilize parameters (check out our guide). If you have any questions, visit our store in Rome or contact us: we ship on Tuesdays with premium packaging for healthy live corals! Start with inexpensive frags from our catalog to test your setup.
With this guide, your reef will become a vibrant and colorful masterpiece, where SPS dominate the brightly lit tops, LPS liven up the center, and soft corals embellish the bottom. Order rocks, corals, and equipment today: our experience since 2003 guarantees quality and support. Contact us for personalized advice; your perfect marine aquarium awaits!
👉 From Animal Instinct You'll find the most suitable foods for every type of cichlid, accessories for setting up the perfect rock aquarium, and lots of practical advice to make your African cichlids the real stars of your home.
📍 Where to find us
Animal Instinct Rome
For more details and to purchase products:
Via di Monte Verde, 2, 00152
Telephone: 06 87691 933
Mobile: 338 838 1624
Discover all our available items on our website www.animal-instinct.it