Main uses: Hard corals, soft corals, corallimorphs and non-photosynthetic corals can all be cultured. In fact, nearly all corals can be farmed following some very basic techniques. Although a very small number of coral species are used for ecotourism and reef enhancement, most cultured Pacific corals are used specifically for the export aquarium market.

Species: In the past, aquaculture efforts focused on staghorn corals (Acropora sp.), but today, many other species are also being cultured for the aquarium trade. The aquarium trade differentiates corals as follows: SPS = small polyp scleratinian (species of Acropora, Pocillopora, Montipora, Hydnophora), LPS or large polyp scleratinian (species of Plerogyra, Euphyllia, Favia, Lobophyllia), soft corals (Sarcophyton, Sinularia), polyps and corallimorphs (Zoanthus, Rhodactis) and NPS or nonphotosynthetic (species of Tubastrea, Dendronephtya).