Stylophora Coral Care Guide

Stylophora is widely considered one of the best beginner SPS corals due to its exceptional hardiness and tolerance compared to more demanding small polyp stony species like Acropora. Stylophora adapts to a wide range of lighting intensities from 200-400 PAR and flow patterns, allowing new SPS keepers to succeed even while learning optimal placement strategies and system tuning.

The coral's natural occurrence in shallow, high-energy surge zones makes it particularly resilient to minor parameter fluctuations that would stress more sensitive SPS species from deeper, more stable reef environments. While Stylophora is forgiving for an SPS coral, stable calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels along with low nutrients are still required for long-term success, making it an ideal first SPS coral for intermediate aquarists with established reef systems ready to transition from LPS to SPS keeping.

Stylophora thrives under moderate to high lighting with optimal PAR values of 250-350, and established colonies can tolerate a range from 200-400 PAR once properly acclimated. New Stylophora frags and colonies should be placed at lower light levels around 200-250 PAR initially and gradually moved to higher positions over 2-3 weeks to prevent bleaching from sudden light intensity increases.

Under proper lighting, Stylophora displays vibrant coloration with characteristic bright white growth tips on actively growing branch ends, while insufficient light causes tissue darkening, polyp retraction, and loss of the white tips that indicate healthy growth. Placement in the upper half of the aquarium on exposed rockwork typically provides appropriate light levels for most lighting systems including LED, T5 fluorescent, and metal halide technologies.

Stylophora exhibits moderate growth rates of approximately 2-4 inches per year under optimal conditions with stable parameters, appropriate lighting of 250-350 PAR, and strong flow. Growth may start slowly during the initial acclimation period of 2-4 weeks after placement, but becomes more rapid and consistent once the coral establishes itself in the aquarium system.

Well-fed Stylophora colonies receiving supplemental feedings of amino acids or phytoplankton may show enhanced growth rates at the upper end of the typical range, with visible branch extension and the appearance of new white growth tips within weeks of optimal care. Single frags can develop into colonies spanning several inches within 6-12 months under ideal reef conditions, making Stylophora a rewarding choice for aquarists seeking relatively fast-growing SPS corals without the extreme demands of Acropora species.

Stylophora should be placed on exposed rockwork in the upper half of the reef aquarium where the colony receives strong, alternating water flow and moderate to high lighting of 250-350 PAR. Positioning Stylophora on an isolated rock or prominent ledge allows water flow to reach all sides of the colony, preventing detritus accumulation and ensuring even polyp extension across the entire structure.

Since Stylophora is a peaceful coral with no sweeper tentacles or aggressive sting, colonies can be placed relatively close to other peaceful SPS and LPS corals, though several inches of space should be maintained from aggressive species with long sweeper tentacles like Euphyllia that could damage Stylophora tissue. Mounting frags with the base cut square and vertical allows for natural upward and outward growth as the colony matures, and placement away from overhangs or shadowed areas ensures consistent light exposure to all branch tips for optimal growth and white tip development.

Stylophora and Pocillopora are closely related branching SPS corals in the family Pocilloporidae with similar appearance, but can be distinguished by branch structure and surface texture. Stylophora forms colonies with smooth, thick branches ending in distinctive blunt, rounded tips and exhibits a very even overall appearance with small polyps creating a uniform fuzzy texture when extended. Pocillopora, known as "Cauliflower Coral," displays more irregular branching with a rougher, bumpier surface texture featuring sunken corallites and lumpy growth formations that give it a less uniform appearance than Stylophora's smooth structure.

Both corals have similar care requirements needing high light and strong flow, though Pocillopora is known for releasing planula larvae that can settle elsewhere in the tank, while Stylophora primarily reproduces through fragmentation in aquarium settings, making Stylophora less likely to create unintended colonies throughout the reef.

Stylophora are primarily photosynthetic corals relying on zooxanthellae symbiotic algae for the majority of their nutritional needs and do not require direct feeding to survive in reef aquariums with proper lighting. However, Stylophora colonies can benefit from supplemental feedings of phytoplankton, amino acids, or finely powdered coral foods, which may enhance coloration, increase growth rates, and improve overall health, particularly for the small polyps that can capture tiny food particles from the water column.

Broadcast feeding liquid foods during periods of high water flow allows the small Stylophora polyps to capture particles, though the coral's primary nutrition comes from photosynthesis under appropriate lighting of 250-350 PAR. Many successful reef keepers maintain thriving Stylophora colonies without any direct feeding by ensuring low nutrient levels, stable parameters, and proper lighting, demonstrating that feeding is optional rather than required for this hardy SPS species.