The corals most reefers start with are grouped together for one reason: by broad community consensus, they accept a wide range of light and flow rather than demanding one exact setting. That makes them a sensible match for a young tank whose parameters are still settling. This page is a requirements reference — the light, flow and placement each one prefers — and nothing more.
SCOPE OF THIS GUIDE
ReefRig covers equipment and environmental requirements only. This page lists community-consensus light, flow and placement preferences — not survival rates, health outcomes, disease treatment or medication. Always research a species' full care and buy from a reputable source before adding it.
The ReefRig Placement Map
Three requirements decide where a coral goes in your tank, all drawn from the ReefRig PAR Ladder plus community-consensus flow and position:
- Light (PAR): softies and most beginner LPS sit in the 50–150 PAR range — the lower half of the ladder (softies at the low end, LPS 100–200). Higher isn't better here; too much light can wash out softies.
- Flow: most beginner corals want low to moderate flow — enough to keep detritus off, not so much that soft tissue can't extend.
- Placement: where it physically sits — sand, low rock, or up in the light — and how much room it needs from neighbors.
Requirements reference
These are community-consensus ranges, not ReefRig-measured values and not a guarantee of any outcome. Use them to place corals, then confirm each species' full needs before you buy.
| Coral | Light (PAR) | Water flow | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green star polyps (GSP) | 50–150 | Low–moderate | Rock or sidewall; spreads — isolate |
| Zoanthids / Palythoa | 50–150 | Moderate | Low–mid rock |
| Mushrooms (Discosoma / Rhodactis) | 30–100 | Low | Sand or low rock |
| Kenya tree / colt (softie) | 50–120 | Moderate | Mid rock |
| Pulsing Xenia | 50–120 | Moderate | Isolated island; spreads |
| Hammer / frogspawn / torch (LPS) | 75–150 | Low–moderate | Mid–low; space from neighbors |
| Duncan (LPS) | 50–150 | Low–moderate | Sand or low rock |
| Trumpet / candy cane (LPS) | 50–120 | Low–moderate | Sand or low rock |
Community-consensus environmental preferences, not survival or health claims. PAR ranges follow the ReefRig PAR Ladder; confirm each species' full care requirements before purchase.
How to read the map
- Softies first (GSP, zoanthids, mushrooms, Kenya tree, Xenia). These sit in the 30–120 PAR range and want low-to-moderate flow. Mushrooms in particular prefer the lowest light of the group — the sand bed or a shaded rock ledge.
- Beginner LPS next (hammer, frogspawn, torch, duncan, trumpet). Slightly more light (75–150 PAR) and gentle flow. Give Euphyllia (hammer, frogspawn, torch) room — their long sweeper tentacles can reach neighboring corals, so leave space between colonies. This is a placement rule, not a health note.
- Watch the spreaders. Green star polyps and Xenia grow over rock quickly. Placing them on an isolated rock or island keeps them from overrunning slower corals — again, a layout decision.
RULE OF THUMB
Beginner corals cluster in the softie/LPS PAR band of 50–150 with low-to-moderate flow — the lower half of the ReefRig PAR Ladder. If your light already suits softies and LPS, you don't need to change hardware to keep this group; you need to place each coral at the right light and flow.
Matching your tank to this group
If your setup targets the softie/LPS PAR band, you already have the light this group needs — see best reef LED for sizing that band (an AI Prime 16HD delivers a manufacturer-rated 100 PAR at 24 inches, squarely in range). For flow, aim for the softie/LPS turnover in the ReefRig Turnover Bands: 10–40× system volume, spread and gentle rather than a single jet.
And the timing rule from setup still holds: add corals only once the tank is stable — salinity, alkalinity and calcium steady week over week. See how to set up a reef tank for the full order, and size your whole system in the System Builder.
Light, flow and placement figures are broad community-consensus environmental preferences (aggregated from long-standing reef community sources), not ReefRig-measured data and not a guarantee of any survival or health outcome. ReefRig makes no livestock health, disease or medication claims. Research each species' full care requirements and source responsibly before purchase.