diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a8f9c7536d2d3eb692f2c2ae16e3acc4fec3b624..413016b54c5618bac98a0302d4c16e7092bd5618 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ Ethereal Mapgen mod for Minetest (works on all except v6)
  - Replaced ethereal:green_dirt with default:dirt_with_grass for mortrees compatibility
  - Mesa biomes are now topped with dirt with dry grass (redwood saplings grow on dry grass)
  - Added bonemeal support for moretree's saplings
+ - Added settings.conf file example so that settings remain after mod update
 
 ### 1.21
 
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 074394d471cb612ea77e256d1beafe9d6b9eadb5..a228e62019c0e6c8af8bb8b070b50b2dc5271808 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -43,6 +43,18 @@ ethereal.savannah  = 1 -- Dry yellow grass with acacia tree's
 ethereal.fiery     = 1 -- Red grass with lava craters
 ethereal.sandclay  = 1 -- Sand areas with clay underneath
 ethereal.swamp     = 1 -- Swamp areas with vines on tree's, mushrooms, lilly's and clay sand
+ethereal.sealife   = 1 -- Enable coral and seaweed
+ethereal.reefs     = 1 -- Enable new coral reefs in default
+
+local path = minetest.get_modpath("ethereal")
+
+-- Load new settings if found
+local input = io.open(path.."/settings.conf", "r")
+if input then
+	dofile(path .. "/settings.conf")
+	input:close()
+	input = nil
+end
 
 -- Intllib
 local S
@@ -56,8 +68,6 @@ ethereal.intllib = S
 -- Falling node function
 ethereal.check_falling = minetest.check_for_falling or nodeupdate
 
-local path = minetest.get_modpath("ethereal")
-
 dofile(path .. "/plantlife.lua")
 dofile(path .. "/mushroom.lua")
 dofile(path .. "/onion.lua")
diff --git a/mapgen.lua b/mapgen.lua
index 7842911fc0ba8ccbd7ed9b5267ff298fd388c2aa..c0eb4c089a339c9a4916dc536d460354e898ab43 100644
--- a/mapgen.lua
+++ b/mapgen.lua
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ minetest.register_on_generated(function(minp, maxp)
 end)
 
 -- coral reef (0.4.15 only)
-if minetest.registered_nodes["default:coral_orange"] then
+if ethereal.reefs == 1 and minetest.registered_nodes["default:coral_orange"] then
 
 -- override corals so crystal shovel can pick them up intact
 minetest.override_item("default:coral_skeleton", {groups = {crumbly = 3}})
diff --git a/sealife.lua b/sealife.lua
index 58f856bb28b943c2459b59a6a429de9f1d22a795..08d2f0c4e5013f43fc7338939f11a15c3d2584d9 100644
--- a/sealife.lua
+++ b/sealife.lua
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ minetest.register_node("ethereal:sandy", {
 })
 
 -- randomly generate coral or seaweed and have seaweed grow up to 14 high
+if ethereal.sealife == 1 then
 minetest.register_abm({
 	label = "Grow coral/seaweed",
 	nodenames = {"ethereal:sandy"},
@@ -185,3 +186,4 @@ minetest.register_abm({
 
 	end,
 })
+end
diff --git a/settings.conf_example b/settings.conf_example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..935e958bd09f266f2c1d0d31c35345f485a4f7e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/settings.conf_example
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+
+--[[
+	Ethereal Settings can be changed here and kept even after the mod
+	has been updated
+--]]
+
+ethereal.leaftype = 0 -- 0 for 2D plantlike, 1 for 3D allfaces
+ethereal.leafwalk = false -- true for walkable leaves, false to fall through
+ethereal.cavedirt = true -- caves chop through dirt when true
+ethereal.torchdrop = true -- torches drop when touching water
+ethereal.papyruswalk = true -- papyrus can be walked on
+ethereal.lilywalk = true -- waterlilies can be walked on
+ethereal.xcraft = true -- allow cheat crafts for cobble->gravel->dirt->sand, ice->snow, dry dirt->desert sand
+
+-- Set following to 1 to enable biome or 0 to disable
+ethereal.glacier   = 1 -- Ice glaciers with snow
+ethereal.bamboo    = 1 -- Bamboo with sprouts
+ethereal.mesa      = 1 -- Mesa red and orange clay with giant redwood
+ethereal.alpine    = 1 -- Snowy grass
+ethereal.healing   = 1 -- Snowy peaks with healing trees
+ethereal.snowy     = 1 -- Cold grass with pine trees and snow spots
+ethereal.frost     = 1 -- Blue dirt with blue/pink frost trees
+ethereal.grassy    = 1 -- Green grass with flowers and trees
+ethereal.caves     = 1 -- Desert stone ares with huge caverns underneath
+ethereal.grayness  = 1 -- Grey grass with willow trees
+ethereal.grassytwo = 1 -- Sparse trees with old trees and flowers
+ethereal.prairie   = 1 -- Flowery grass with many plants and flowers
+ethereal.jumble    = 1 -- Green grass with trees and jungle grass
+ethereal.junglee   = 1 -- Jungle grass with tall jungle trees
+ethereal.desert    = 1 -- Desert sand with cactus
+ethereal.grove     = 1 -- Banana groves and ferns
+ethereal.mushroom  = 1 -- Purple grass with giant mushrooms
+ethereal.sandstone = 1 -- Sandstone with smaller cactus
+ethereal.quicksand = 1 -- Quicksand banks
+ethereal.plains    = 1 -- Dry dirt with scorched trees
+ethereal.savannah  = 1 -- Dry yellow grass with acacia tree's
+ethereal.fiery     = 1 -- Red grass with lava craters
+ethereal.sandclay  = 1 -- Sand areas with clay underneath
+ethereal.swamp     = 1 -- Swamp areas with vines on tree's, mushrooms, lilly's and clay sand
+ethereal.sealife   = 1 -- Enable coral and seaweed
+ethereal.reefs     = 1 -- Enable new coral reefs in default