Hard Coral Vs Soft Coral

[naso.tang]

can any tell wat is the diff between them? Is hard coral easy to keep??

[blue.tang]

can any expert reefer share your knowledge. i believed all new reefer would like to know

[woonming]

Maybe it would be better if we know the kind of set up and equipments u are using ..

But there is some basic factors which would be . lights , temperture and water spec...

SPS which is under hard corals would require much more intensity than comparing with softies like mushrooms , zoos and etc...

[SharkBait]

Hard corals are also referred to as stony corals and are often broken down into two groups by their polyp type: small polyp stony (SPS) corals and large polyp stony (LPS) corals. Hard corals need excellent water conditions, adequate lighting, and space within the reef aquarium. Hard corals are similar to Anemones in that both animals deliver a sting to ward off predators, or maintain their space on the reef. Most hard corals obtain nutrients from the symbiotic algae contained within their bodies.

[GATECRASHER]

is a closed brain considered as a hard coral?

[Achilles Tang]

Soft corals do not have a stony calcium carbonate skeleton base.... they are soft in structure and they glue themselves onto rocky structures. They do not require a lot of calcium and sunlight generally.

Hard corals on the other hand, build skeletons and therefore require a lot of calcium to do so. These are 'reef builders', in the sense that they actually form the bulk of the reef structure as they grow upwards and outwards... and their dead skeletons form the reef structure upon which other marine creatures built themselves on.

Gatecrasher... yes... a brain coral has a stony skeleton and is therefore a hard coral.

[yus75]

Soft corals do not have a stony calcium carbonate skeleton base.... they are soft in structure and they glue themselves onto rocky structures. They do not require a lot of calcium and sunlight generally.

Hard corals on the other hand, build skeletons and therefore require a lot of calcium to do so. These are 'reef builders', in the sense that they actually form the bulk of the reef structure as they grow upwards and outwards... and their dead skeletons form the reef structure upon which other marine creatures built themselves on.

Gatecrasher... yes... a brain coral has a stony skeleton and is therefore a hard coral.

where to get a quality LR......??

[nleong]

bottomline is, one has skeleton and one doesn't.

I think such info is readily available from the net.

check out this link for some extra reading on reefkeeping.

http://www.reefcorner.com/reef%20keeping_101.htm

[blue.tang]

Soft corals do not have a stony calcium carbonate skeleton base.... they are soft in structure and they glue themselves onto rocky structures. They do not require a lot of calcium and sunlight generally.

Hard corals on the other hand, build skeletons and therefore require a lot of calcium to do so. These are 'reef builders', in the sense that they actually form the bulk of the reef structure as they grow upwards and outwards... and their dead skeletons form the reef structure upon which other marine creatures built themselves on.

Gatecrasher... yes... a brain coral has a stony skeleton and is therefore a hard coral.

so which is more difficult to look after?? why? does it need any specific temp or lighting for hard coral?

would like to know so that will decide to get hard coral or not

[SharkBait]

Hard corals are relatively more difficult to care for than softies.They usually require moderate to high lighting and will not tolerate high temperatures.

[MarlinD]

Something I heard about hard vs soft corals. Hard corals can never be kept with butterfly fish bcos the bfish will eat them. However the soft corals are ok, but not mushrooms.

Any opinion any one?

[Giritharan]

Mostly Soft Corals need very very good lighitng example ATI t5 and so... i have only soft corals so i use about 15 watts lights X 2..

Best Regards,

Giritharan

[doom]

Hard corals are relatively more difficult to care for than softies.They usually require moderate to high lighting and will not tolerate high temperatures.

high temperature.....i'm facing now.

that why my coral all.........

less than half year - "hard coral also become sof coral".

[SpiderOne]

Mostly Soft Corals need very very good lighitng example ATI t5 and so... i have only soft corals so i use about 15 watts lights X 2..

Best Regards,

Giritharan

U are contradicting yourself badly man.. 15watts is pretty much lowest end of the lowest end. And soft corals are one of the least light demanding corals.