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Torch, hammer and frogspawn corals are some of the most popular LPS corals in reef tanks, and for good reason. Their long, flowing tentacles move in the current and bring a reef to life. All three belong to the Euphyllia group, so they share very similar care needs. This guide covers lighting, flow, placement, feeding and the common problems to watch for.
Quick facts
| Coral type | LPS (large polyp stony) |
| Care level | Easy to moderate |
| Lighting | Moderate, roughly 75 to 150 PAR |
| Flow | Low to moderate and indirect |
| Placement | Lower to middle rockwork or sand bed, with 10 to 15cm of space around it |
| Temperament | Aggressive: long sweeper tentacles sting nearby corals |
| Feeding | Optional, but small meaty foods once or twice a week help growth |
Torch, hammer or frogspawn: what is the difference?
Torch coral
Torch corals have long, tube-shaped tentacles with rounded tips, often in a contrasting colour. They grow in a branching form, with each head on its own stalk. Popular varieties include fluoro green, Dragon Soul, Joker and Holy Grail torches. Browse our torch corals.
Hammer coral
Hammer corals have tentacles with flattened, T-shaped or anchor-shaped tips that look like tiny hammers. They come in two forms: wall hammers, which grow as one continuous ridge, and branching hammers, which grow separate heads on stalks and are easier to frag. Shop our hammer corals.
Frogspawn coral
Frogspawn tentacles end in clusters of small bulbs, a bit like a cluster of frogspawn. Like hammers, they come in wall and branching forms. You may also see "frammers", which are hybrids that look like a mix of frogspawn and hammer. See the full Euphyllia collection.
Water parameters
Euphyllia build a stony skeleton, so they need stable calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. Stability matters more than hitting an exact number.
- Temperature: 24 to 26°C
- Salinity: 1.025 to 1.026 SG (about 35ppt)
- Alkalinity: 7 to 9 dKH, kept steady
- Calcium: 400 to 450ppm
- Magnesium: 1,250 to 1,350ppm
- Nitrate: 2 to 10ppm
- Phosphate: 0.03 to 0.1ppm
Sudden swings in alkalinity are one of the most common reasons Euphyllia stay closed or start to lose tissue. Our guide to alkalinity in a reef tank explains how to keep it stable, and what to test in a reef aquarium covers how often to check. Don't strip nutrients to zero either, as Euphyllia do best with some nitrate and phosphate in the water.
Lighting
Torch, hammer and frogspawn corals prefer moderate light. Around 75 to 150 PAR suits most varieties. Too much light can make them shrink and stay retracted, while too little leads to browning and slow growth. Start a new coral low in the tank and move it up gradually over a few weeks if it needs more light. A PAR meter takes the guesswork out of placement, and our reef lighting guide covers choosing the right reef light.
Flow
Aim for gentle to moderate flow that changes direction, so the tentacles sway without being blasted flat. Strong direct flow can tear the soft tissue and stop the polyps opening fully. If the tentacles look pinned to one side, move the coral or turn the pump down. Our VorTech flow settings for LPS and mixed reefs are a good starting point.
Placement and spacing
- Give them room. Euphyllia put out sweeper tentacles at night that can reach 15cm or more and will sting nearby corals. Leave at least 10 to 15cm of space around each colony.
- Grouping Euphyllia together. Torch, hammer and frogspawn corals usually tolerate each other better than other corals, but this isn't guaranteed. Torches in particular can sting hammers and frogspawn, so give them some space.
- Allow for growth. A one-head frag can turn into a large colony within a year or two, so plan the space around it.
- Secure the base. Fix frags firmly with Seachem Reef Glue or Reef Zlements Gel Frag Glue, or wedge larger colonies into the rockwork or sand so they can't topple.
Feeding
Euphyllia get most of their energy from light, but target feeding once or twice a week supports faster growth and better colour. Turn the pumps off for a few minutes and use a coral feeder to release small meaty foods such as mysis or LPS pellets over the polyps. Hammer and frogspawn corals usually feed more readily than torches. Try Vitalis LPS Pellets or browse our coral foods.
Common problems
Not opening
A new coral can stay closed for a few days while it settles. If it stays closed for longer, check alkalinity, salinity and temperature for recent changes, look for fish or shrimp picking at it, and check whether flow or light is too strong.
Brown jelly disease
Brown jelly is a fast-spreading, brown, mucus-like film that kills tissue, often after stress or damage. Remove the affected head as quickly as possible, siphon off the jelly, and dip the rest of the colony. Our reef aquarium disease guide covers this in more detail.
Pests
Euphyllia-eating flatworms and nudibranchs can hide on new colonies. Dip every new coral in a coral dip such as Coral Rx Pro or Seachem Reef Dip before adding it to your tank. Follow our step-by-step coral dipping guide.
Tissue recession
Tissue pulling back from the skeleton is usually caused by unstable parameters, very low nutrients or stinging from a neighbouring coral. Test your water, check the spacing around it and correct one thing at a time.
Fragging Euphyllia
Branching torch, hammer and frogspawn corals are easy to frag: cut through the skeleton below a head with bone cutters or a coral saw, then glue the new head onto a frag plug. Wall forms are harder to frag and need a saw, so leave them to experienced reefers. Our coral fragging guide walks through the process.
Frequently asked questions
Are torch corals good for beginners?
Torch, hammer and frogspawn corals are among the easier LPS corals, as long as your tank has been running for a few months and alkalinity is stable. See our 12 easiest corals for beginners for other good first corals.
Will clownfish host a torch or hammer coral?
Often, yes. Clownfish frequently host Euphyllia when there's no anemone. Most colonies cope, but a very persistent clownfish can stop a coral opening fully. If that happens, give the clownfish something else to host. Read more in our clownfish and anemone care guide.
Can I keep torch, hammer and frogspawn corals together?
Usually, yes. Euphyllia tolerate each other better than most corals, but torches can still sting other Euphyllia, so give each colony some space.
How fast do Euphyllia grow?
In a stable tank with moderate light and occasional feeding, a branching colony can add new heads every few months.
Shop torch, hammer and frogspawn corals
Our Euphyllia are handpicked and rested before they're sent out. Browse torch corals, hammer corals and the full Euphyllia collection, including WYSIWYG colonies where you get the exact coral pictured. For more on LPS care, read Hard Corals Explained.
