Some corals get mixed up all the time, either because they look alike or because they’re sold side by side. Here are the comparisons people ask about most, in plain English.
Montipora vs Acropora
Both are SPS (small polyp stony) corals from the same family, and both can grow into big, colourful colonies. The difference is how forgiving they are.
Montipora | Acropora | |
|---|---|---|
Difficulty | Moderate, the usual first SPS | Advanced |
Lighting | Moderate to high | High |
Stability needed | Steady alkalinity helps a lot | Very stable alkalinity, calcium and magnesium are essential |
Common pests | Montipora-eating nudibranchs | Acropora-eating flatworms and red bugs |
Which should you choose? If you’ve never kept SPS, start with Montipora. Plating types like Sunset or Tropic Thunder and branching digitata are forgiving and grow well. Move to Acropora once your tank has stayed stable for months.
Shop: Tropic Thunder Montipora, Pink Digitata Montipora, Garf Bonsai Acropora, Goldilocks Spathulata Acropora.
Lobophyllia vs Favia
Both are fleshy LPS corals sold in colourful “rainbow” and named forms, and both are often grouped as “brain corals”.
Lobophyllia | Favia | |
|---|---|---|
Look | Large, fleshy, puffy polyps, often in bold colour patterns | Smaller, rounded cells packed together like a honeycomb |
Temperament | Mildly aggressive | Aggressive: long sweeper tentacles at night |
Feeding | Responds very well to feeding | Responds well to feeding |
Which should you choose? Both are good choices once your tank is settled. Favia needs more space from neighbours because of its night-time sweepers. Lobophyllia is the bigger statement piece and usually costs more for good colour.
Shop: our Favia collection.
Torch vs Hammer vs Frogspawn
All three are Euphyllia-type corals with long, flowing tentacles.
Torch | Hammer | Frogspawn | |
|---|---|---|---|
Tentacle tips | Smooth and rounded | Hammer or anchor-shaped | Branched, bubbly |
Aggression | Most aggressive | Semi-aggressive | Semi-aggressive |
Difficulty | Intermediate | Intermediate | Intermediate |
Growth | Slow | Steady | Steady |
All three like moderate light, gentle to moderate indirect flow, and stable water. Hammers and frogspawn often live happily side by side. Torches tend to sting everything, including other torches.
Read more: hammer care guide and torch care guide.
Chalice vs Montipora (plating)
These two often get confused because both grow as flat plates across rock.
- Chalice is LPS. It has big, bright “eyes” (mouths), likes lower light, and can sting nearby corals, so give it space.
- Plating Montipora is SPS. It has tiny polyps, likes more light, and is fairly peaceful.
If it has big glowing eyes, it’s a chalice. Read our chalice care guide.
FAQs
What’s the easiest SPS coral? Montipora, especially digitata and plating types, along with Stylophora.
Are brain corals easy? Most of the fleshy LPS sold as brain corals, like Favia and Lobophyllia, are among the easier LPS once your tank is stable. Just give them space.