Reviewed 2026-05-01 · reference
Reef flow and lighting cheatsheet
Use this as a quick translation layer between coral goal and equipment target before opening individual calculators.
Coral goal bands
The goal sets both light and flow. Mixed reefs need zones because not every coral wants the same energy.
- Soft coral: lower PAR, gentle to moderate indirect flow.
- LPS: moderate PAR and flow, avoid direct jets on fleshy tissue.
- Mixed reef: moderate-high spread with calm pockets.
- SPS: high PAR, strong varied flow, and stable chemistry.
Placement matters
The same GPH can help or harm depending on pump position and coral placement.
- Aim for intersecting turbulence instead of one fixed blast.
- Use rockwork to create high and low energy zones.
- Leave room for growth to change light and flow paths.
Use this with
Source trail
ReefCrafter keeps the formulas inspectable. These references are starting points, then the planner applies its own compatibility rules to the build in front of you.