LPS Coral Pellets from Vitalis

LPS Coral Pellets is a food specifically formulated for large polyped hard corals (LPS) by Vitalis.

LPS Coral Pellets is composed of fish and fish derivatives, vegetal derivatives, shellfish, crustaceans, oils, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is similar to the company’s SPS Coral Food in terms of the macronutrients, but the SPS Coral Food iss been micronized to better reach the small polyps of the corals, where as here we have a compact pellet shape, to be administered directly to the coral.

The pellets have a diameter of 1.5 mm, and they are perfect for larger LPS corals. Vitalis‘s official website recommends it for Goniopora, Fungia, Favia, Plerogyra, Euphyllia, Catalaphyllia, Lobophyllia, Galaxea, and I’d also add Trachyphyllia, Blastomussa, and practically all the other LPS, with a few exceptions. For example, my Acanthastrea has trouble with the pellets, while my Lobophyllia eats several at time.

The feed contains 49% protein, 17.2% inorganic matter, and 9.8% fats. A slightly different balance from the SPS Coral Food; it has less protein and more inorganic matter, and a slightly lower fat content.

 

How to administer LPS Coral Pellets

You have to get your hands wet to successfully use this product. My process is to turn off the move pumps, put some pellets in the curved-nosed pliers, and hold them right above the corals. I can’t see any other way.

Skipping the process can leave you with two problems. The shrimp may steal the pellects directly from the coral (and believe me, they totally can), or the water current could move the food away from the polyps. But after several seconds, when the coral has taken the food with strength, the movement of the water is no longer a problem. But the shrimp still are.

The jar is  50 grams (1.8 oz) and costs 12 euro ($13 USD).

We really liked it and our LPS corals reacted very well, spectacularly spreading wide the day after the feeding.

[Translated by Agnese Poggi]