The Complete Guide to LPS Corals: Torches, Hammers, and Frogspawn

Why LPS Are Where Most Reefers Find Their Groove

Large polyp stony corals — LPS — are the sweet spot of the hobby for most people. They move, they feed, they colour up beautifully, and they're more forgiving than SPS when parameters drift slightly.

The Euphyllia family — torches, hammers, frogspawn — has taken over the UK reef scene. Designer torches going for hundreds of quid, hammer gardens everywhere... and they deserve the hype.

The Euphyllia Family: Know Your Species

These three get confused constantly, so here's the breakdown.

Torch Coral

Long flowing tentacles with rounded, bulbous tips
Tips are usually a contrasting colour — gold, green, white, or dragon soul varieties
The most aggressive of the three. Sweeper tentacles can reach surprisingly far at night

Hammer Coral

T-shaped or anchor-shaped polyp tips — that's where "ancora" (anchor) comes from
Comes in wall and branching forms
Moderate aggression, gorgeous movement in the right flow

Frogspawn

Tips split into clusters resembling frog eggs
Often a bit more forgiving than torch coral
Handles slightly lower light than the others

Important note: Branching hammer is sometimes incorrectly called "divisa" online — Euphyllia divisa is actually frogspawn. Hammer coral is Euphyllia ancora regardless of growth form. The branching vs wall distinction is a growth morph, not a species difference.

What Euphyllia Actually Need

Flow: Gentle and indirect. They should billow and sway naturally — not get hammered sideways. If they're staying retracted, the flow is probably too direct.

Light: 75–150 PAR is the sweet spot. They'll tolerate higher with gradual acclimation but there's no need to blast them.

Water parameters: Less fussy than SPS, but they still appreciate stability. Aim for 8–9 dKH alkalinity, calcium around 420–440 ppm, and keep nitrates under control.

Feeding: LPS actively grab food — mysis shrimp, Reef Roids, even finely chopped prawn. Feed 2–3 times a week with a pipette or turkey baster.

Euphyllia Compatibility Warning

Torch coral is aggressive with other Euphyllia species via sweeper tentacles. These extend way further than the polyps at night — 15cm or more sometimes.

The safe rule: keep torches separate from hammers and frogspawn. Hammers and frogspawn can often coexist, but torches need their own space.

Other Brilliant LPS Worth Keeping

Acans: Insane colour morphs, hardy, grow well in lower light
Brain corals (Lobophyllia, Trachyphyllia): Hardy as anything, and a big colony looks incredible
Duncan coral: Possibly the most beginner-friendly LPS. Feeds visibly, extends during the day, grows steadily
Goniopora: Beautiful but historically tricky. Getting better with captive-bred specimens

Getting Your First LPS

LPS ship much better than SPS — they're tougher and bounce back from transit stress faster. Buying from UK-based sellers on Reefsy cuts down transit time massively.

Look for sellers showing extended polyps in their photos. A retracted LPS in a seller's photo is a red flag.