Coral Care Guide: A Beginner’s Intro to Reef Tanks

Adding coral to your saltwater tank is one of the most exciting steps in reef keeping—but it also requires a bit more attention and care. At Big Fish Aquarium, we’ve helped hobbyists across Chicago, Elmwood Park, Oak Park, River Forest, and the surrounding suburbs build colorful, thriving reef systems for years.

Whether you’re just starting your first nano reef or expanding into SPS territory, this guide breaks down the essentials: coral types, water quality, lighting, flow, and troubleshooting.

What Kinds of Corals Are Best for Beginners?

  • Soft Corals

    Like mushrooms, leathers, and zoanthids. They’re hardy, fast-growing, and great for beginners.

    VIEW OUR SELECTION

  • LPS (Large Polyp Stony) Corals

    Like hammer, frogspawn, and torch corals. These offer great movement and color, but need more stable conditions.

    VIEW OUR COLLECTION

  • SPS (Small Polyp Stony) Corals

    Like acropora and montipora. Gorgeous and rewarding, but best for experienced reef keepers with stable, high-light systems.

    VIEW OUR COLLECTION

Coral Water Quality: Keep It Steady

With coral, consistency is everything. Here’s what we recommend for reef tanks in the Chicagoland area:

  • Target Range: 1.024 – 1.026

  • Target Range: 76 – 78°F

  • Target Range: 8.1 – 8.4

  • Target Range: 8 – 12 dKH

  • Target Range: 400 – 450 ppm

  • Target Range: 1250 – 1350 ppm

  • Target Range: 2 – 10 ppm

  • Target Range: Under 0.05 ppm

Bring a water sample to the shop—we offer in-store water testing for customers across Chicago, Forest Park, Skokie, Cicero, and more.

Lighting and Flow: What Corals Really Need

  • Lighting

    Corals use light for photosynthesis, and the right lighting is essential to their health.

    Soft and LPS corals need moderate light.

    SPS corals require intense, stable light with high PAR levels.

    Not sure which lights are right? We stock and install reef LED systems that work with tanks of all sizes.

  • FLOW

    Corals also need water movement to bring in nutrients and keep waste from settling.

    Softies: gentle, indirect flow

    LPS: moderate, alternating flow

    SPS: strong, turbulent flow

    We carry powerheads and wavemakers to help you create the right environment.

Coral Placement: Where Should They Go?

Each coral has a preferred “zone” in the tank:

  • Top zone: SPS (high light, high flow)

  • Middle zone: LPS

  • Lower zone/shaded: Soft corals

Start new coral frags low in the tank, then move them gradually up to their ideal spot. Always dip new corals before adding them to prevent introducing pests.

Do You Need to Feed Corals?

Some corals do fine with just light and clean water. But many—especially LPS and softies—thrive with occasional target feeding.

We carry a wide range of coral foods like:

  • Reef Roids

  • Phytoplankton

  • Mysis shrimp

Ask us what’s best for your setup. We’ve helped reef keepers across Oak Park, Berwyn, Evanston, and Logan Square customize feeding plans that work.

Coral Troubleshooting: Common Issues

  • BLEACHING

    What’s Going On: Too much light or unstable water parameters.


    What to Do: Lower your light intensity and check salinity, pH, and temperature.

    VIEW LIGHTING OPTIONS

  • TISSUE LOSS

    What’s Going On: Often caused by stress, pests, or poor water quality.


    What to Do: Dip the coral, inspect for parasites, and stabilize tank conditions.

    SHOP CORAL DIPS

  • NO POLYP EXTENSION

    What’s Going On: Poor placement, low flow, or lack of light.


    What to Do: Move coral to a better spot and increase water movement or light exposure.

    SCHEDULE A CHECKUP

Find Healthy Corals at Big Fish Aquarium

We keep a wide selection of live coral in-store, including beginner-friendly softies and showpiece SPS. Our corals are locally sourced and aquacultured when possible.

Serving reef hobbyists across:

  • Chicago (West Side, North Side, Logan Square, and nearby)

  • Elmwood Park

  • Oak Park

  • River Forest

  • Forest Park

  • Cicero

  • Berwyn

  • Skokie

  • Evanston

  • And within 30 miles of ZIP 60707

We’re open 7 days a week and ready to help you build the reef tank you’ve been dreaming of.

Questions About Coral Care?

Whether you’re learning the basics or dealing with something unexpected, Big Fish Aquarium is here to help. Visit us in Elmwood Park or contact us today to chat with a team member.

Bring a water sample to the shop—we offer in-store water testing for customers across Chicago, Forest Park, Skokie, Cicero, and more.