If you have ever seen a coral reef in person or in pictures, you know how stunning and mesmerizing they are. The vibrant colors, the intricate shapes, and the diverse life forms that inhabit them are a sight to behold. But did you know that corals are not just pretty decorations? Living animals need proper nutrition and feeding to thrive and grow.
What are the best coral foods for SPS and LPS corals in 2023?
Choosing the best coral foods for your SPS and LPS corals can be challenging, as many products on the market claim to offer the best nutrition for your corals. However, not all coral foods are created equal. Some may contain fillers, preservatives, or artificial colors that can harm corals or pollute water. Others may have inappropriate particle sizes, feeding methods, or nutritional values that do not suit your corals’ needs. The best coral food is the one that your corals will readily eat and does not pollute your water.
Our Top Choices
To help you choose the best coral foods for your SPS and LPS corals in 2023, we have reviewed and compared the top 4 choices based on the following criteria:
- Nutritional value: The coral food should provide balanced and complete nutrition for your corals, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. It should also contain natural color-enhancing pigments such as astaxanthin or carotenoids that can boost your corals’ coloration.
- Particle size: The coral food should have a suitable particle size for your corals’ polyp size and feeding behavior. SPS corals prefer smaller particles (less than 200 microns) that they can capture with their tentacles or sweepers. LPS corals prefer larger particles (more than 200 microns) that they can ingest with their mouths.
- Feeding method: The coral food should have a convenient and effective feeding method for your corals’ feeding preferences. There are three main feeding methods for corals: target feeding, broadcast feeding, and spot feeding. Target feeding involves delivering the food directly to each coral polyp using a syringe or a pipette. Broadcast feeding involves dispersing the food into the water column and letting it flow to the corals. Spot feeding involves placing the food in a specific spot near the corals and letting them reach out for it.
- Color enhancement: The coral food should positively affect your corals’ coloration by providing natural pigments or stimulating zooxanthellae production. Some coral foods contain astaxanthin or carotenoids that can enhance your corals’ reds, oranges, yellows, and greens. Other coral foods contain amino acids or fatty acids that can enhance your corals’ blues and purples.
- Water quality: The coral food should have a minimal impact on your water quality by being easily digestible and biodegradable. It should not contain any fillers, preservatives, or artificial colors that can cause nutrient pollution or algae growth in your reef tank. It should also not cloud your water or clog your filters.
- Price: The coral food should have a reasonable price that reflects its quality and quantity. It should not be too expensive or too cheap compared to other similar products on the market. It should also have a long shelf life and easy storage.
Based on these criteria, here are our top 4 choices of best coral foods for SPS and LPS corals in 2023:
PolypLab Reef Roids
Likes
- High-protein and high-lipid nutrition for corals
- Natural color-enhancing pigments
- Small particle size suitable for SPS corals
- Convenient and effective feeding methods
- Minimal impact on water quality
- Positive reviews from users
Dislikes
- May cause phosphate spikes if overfed
- May not suit LPS corals with larger polyps
- May be expensive compared to other products
PolypLab Reef Roids is one of the more popular and trusted coral foods on the market. It is a blend of naturally occurring marine zooplankton that provides high-protein (60%) and high-lipid (20%) nutrition for your corals. It also contains natural astaxanthin that can enhance your corals’ coloration.
PolypLab Reef Roids has a small particle size (150-200 microns) that is ideal for SPS corals and other filter feeders. Depending on your preference, it can be used for target, broadcast, or spot feeding. It is easily digestible and biodegradable and does not cloud your water or clog your filters.
PolypLab Reef Roids has received many positive reviews from reef hobbyists who have noticed faster growth, brighter colors, and improved health of their corals after using this product. Many users also report that their fish love this food and become more active and colorful.
PolypLab Reef Roids is available in different sizes and prices, ranging from 30g to 120g. It has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature. Feeding your corals once or twice a week with this product is recommended.
Our Rating
Recommendation: PolypLab Reef Roids is a great choice for SPS coral lovers who want to provide their corals with a balanced and complete nutrition that also boosts their coloration. It is easy to use and has a proven track record of success. However, it may not be the best option for LPS coral lovers who prefer larger particles or more variety in their coral foods.
Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Grow and Color
Likes
- Balanced and complete nutrition for LPS corals
- Natural color-enhancing pigments
- Large particle size suitable for LPS corals
- Convenient and effective feeding methods
- Minimal impact on water quality
- Positive reviews from users
Dislikes
- May cause phosphate spikes if overfed
- May not suit SPS corals with smaller polyps
- Can’t broadcast feed
Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Grow and Color is a specially formulated coral food for LPS corals and other large polyp filter feeders. It is a blend of marine proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and natural color enhancers that provide balanced and complete nutrition for your corals.
Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Grow and Color has a large particle size (800 microns) that is ideal for LPS corals with big mouths. It can be used for target feeding or spot feeding depending on your preference. It is easily digestible and biodegradable and does not cloud your water or clog your filters.
Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Grow and Color has received many positive reviews from reef hobbyists who have noticed faster growth, brighter colors, and improved health of their LPS corals after using this product. Many users also report that their fish love this food and become more active and colorful.
Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Grow and Color is available in different sizes and prices, ranging from 100ml to 250ml. It has a long shelf life and can be stored in the refrigerator. Feeding your corals once or twice a week with this product is recommended.
Our Rating
Recommendation: Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Grow and Color is a great choice for LPS coral lovers who want to provide their corals with a balanced and complete nutrition that also boosts their coloration. It is easy to use and has a proven track record of success. However, it may not be the best option for SPS coral lovers who prefer smaller particles or more variety in their coral foods.
Two Little Fishies Marine Snow
Likes
- Rich and diverse nutrition for corals
- Variable particle size suitable for both SPS and LPS corals
- Convenient and effective feeding methods
- Minimal impact on water quality
- Positive reviews from users
Dislikes
- May not contain enough protein or lipids for some corals
- May not enhance coloration as much as other products
- May be messy to use
Two Little Fishies Marine Snow is a unique coral food that mimics the natural marine snow that falls in the ocean. Marine snow is composed of organic matter derived from dead or dying plankton, fecal matter, detritus, and other sources. It provides rich and diverse nutrition for corals and other filter feeders.
Two Little Fishies Marine Snow has a variable particle size (from 0.2 to 5 mm) that is suitable for both SPS and LPS corals. It can be used for broadcast or spot feeding depending on your preference. It is easily digestible and biodegradable and does not cloud your water or clog your filters.
Two Little Fishies Marine Snow has received many positive reviews from reef hobbyists who have noticed improved health and coloration of their corals after using this product. Many users also report that their fish love this food and become more active and colorful.
Two Little Fishies Marine Snow is available in different sizes and prices, ranging from 250 ml to 1 liter. It has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature. Feeding your corals once or twice a week with this product is recommended.
Our Rating
Recommendation: Two Little Fishies Marine Snow is a good choice for coral lovers who want to provide their corals with a natural and varied nutrition that mimics their wild diet. It is easy to use and has a proven track record of success. However, it may not be the best option for coral lovers who prefer protein- or lipid-rich foods or color-enhancing products.
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+
Likes
- Complete nutrition for corals
- Natural color-enhancing pigments
- Small particle size suitable for SPS corals
- Convenient and effective feeding methods
- Minimal impact on water quality
- Positive reviews from users
Dislikes
- May cause phosphate spikes if overfed
- May not suit LPS corals with larger polyps
- May be expensive compared to other products
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ is a new and improved version of the original Red Sea Reef Energy A and B products. It is a two-part formula that provides complete nutrition for corals, including carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and natural color enhancers.
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ has a small particle size (less than 1 micron) that is ideal for SPS corals and other filter feeders. Depending on your preference, it can be used for target, broadcast, or spot feeding. It is easily digestible and biodegradable and does not cloud your water or clog your filters.
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ has received many positive reviews from reef hobbyists who have noticed faster growth, brighter colors, and improved health of their corals after using this product. Many users also report that their fish love this food and become more active and colorful.
Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ is available in different sizes and prices, ranging from 100 ml to 5 liters. It has a long shelf life and can be stored in the refrigerator. Feeding your corals once or twice a day with this product is recommended.
Our Rating
Recommendation: Red Sea Reef Energy AB+ is a great choice for SPS coral lovers who want to provide their corals with complete nutrition that also boosts their coloration. It is easy to use and has a proven track record of success. However, it may not be the best option for LPS coral lovers who prefer larger particles or more variety in their coral foods.
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand how to feed your corals the best foods for their health and growth. Feeding corals is essential for their survival and rewarding for you as a reef hobbyist. You will be amazed by the results you can achieve by providing your corals with a balanced and complete nutrition that also boosts their coloration.
FAQ
Q: How to feed corals?
There are two ways to feed corals: indirectly and directly. Indirect feeding means providing light, fish, and microfauna that produce waste products and organic compounds that corals can absorb. Direct feeding means offering coral foods with different particle sizes that match the coral polyps’ preferences.
What to feed corals?
Corals can feed on a variety of foods, depending on their size and type. Some common coral foods are phytoplankton, krill, shrimp, squid, clams, copepods, rotifers, and marine plankton. These foods can be purchased from pet stores or online.
How often to feed corals?
Corals should be fed two to three times a week, with one to two days between each feeding. This will allow them to digest the food and avoid excess waste accumulation in the tank. Feeding frequency may vary depending on the type and size of the coral, as well as the water quality and lighting conditions.
How do corals feed?
Corals feed in one or more of three different ways: zooxanthellae algae, direct feeding, and indirect feeding. Zooxanthellae algae are symbiotic organisms that live on the coral surface and provide food through photosynthesis. Direct feeding means capturing food particles with tentacles or mouth. Indirect feeding means absorbing dissolved organic compounds from the water.
