Coral basics

[manowar669]

I'm looking for a basic FAQ type of thing about corals. I see lots of abbreviations (LPS, SPS, etc), and I don't know what they are. Also basic requirements and characteristics. I'm sure corals can be simplified by "types". I guess what I'm looking for is something like:

Zoas-short for zooanthids..look like small anemones. Require strong actinic lighting and direct feeding. Water must be dosed with calcium. Benefits from strong current. Sample pic
http://www.zoanthids.net/zoanthids_images/head2.jpg

SPS-???
LPS-???
Softies-????
and so on.


Anyway, I'd appreciate a point in the right direction. I've been keeping fish for 20 years, both salt and fresh, and I'm pretty well versed in the fish and arthropods and molluscs. I'm looking to (finally) get started with some frags.

[fsn77]

Here's a couple links to common acronyms... The first one even has links in the coral acronym section that provide more information about those very general coral categories (softies, LPS, SPS).

http://www.reefpedia.com/index.php/Common_Reef_Acronyms

http://www.reefcentral.com/modules.php?s=&name=Encyclopedia&op=terms&eid=2&ltr=all

[5xevy]

I think it would be cool to have a sticky on that. A lot of online retailers have descriptions like this on their sites, but it would be nice to have it compacted all in one place.





Zoas-short for zooanthids..look like small anemones. Require strong actinic lighting and direct feeding. Water must be dosed with calcium. Benefits from strong current. Sample pic


Did you find this somewhere? I'm just curious as to where because I tend to disagree with a couple of things in it.

[Grins]

I'm hoping it was just fluff for an example because yeah...I disagree with some if not most of it as well.

[Grins]

By the way....where did you find the photo of the zoas? They are gorgeous.

[manowar669]

I think it would be cool to have a sticky on that. A lot of online retailers have descriptions like this on their sites, but it would be nice to have it compacted all in one place.




Did you find this somewhere? I'm just curious as to where because I tend to disagree with a couple of things in it.


Yeah, I just made it up. I don't know much about the corals, that's why I'm asking for some info.

Grins--I just typed "zooanthid" in google images, picked one, and linked it.