what is the difference with LPS,SPS and soft coral

[lokel]

A big noob question. What is LPS, SPS ? How can you tell the difference? Whats the difference between the 2 and softcoral?

Is there a good webpage that descirbes these different types of coral that I could read?

Thanks

[jojo22]

LPS and SPS are very broad and over used terms. They stand for Large polyp stony and small polyp stony corals. They have a hard skelatal structure where as softies like shrooms do not. Here is a link for you and anyone that wants to tell me that these terms are acceptable.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/cj/index.php

[Germanman]

good link a bit long though. the best way to clasify corals are the subclasses and classes but taxonomy isnt always something the layman would know....its worth the research though.