Welcome to the mix tank club

Mudbeaver · 07/31/2013, 07:47 AM

Last night i had an argument, a polite one lol with a good friend about my project and what would be harder to manage. A mixed tank and what kind of mixed tank. i obviously am doing a mix tank system, but to what extent remains to be seen, the budget will determine that of course that was one topic, the complexity was another, the viability was another, the crazyness came a few time also lol. and we finally had a few beers, lol and said good bye.

So for you what is and constitute your mix tank and give us your details about it a FTS would be nice, i'll post mine when its ready lol. After you answer which cathegory you fit in let us know what was your main chalenge about your choice, and how you dealt with it; thanks. It may help me and others in are futur endenvors.

My own project will be a Reef tank with Macro Algae and mostly LPS and carefully chosen Sps. And connected refugium by gravity with a collection of Macro Algae and seahorses on one side and Scorpion and Angler fish in the other and anything that can survive them lol.

terrypercula · 07/31/2013, 08:16 AM

My tank is mixed but LPS dominant so sorties and LPS do well but SPS doesn't grow an thrive to the extent it could.

Mudbeaver · 07/31/2013, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrypercula

My tank is mixed but LPS dominant so sorties and LPS do well but SPS doesn't grow an thrive to the extent it could.

Do you have an idea why or are you searching for it, This coul be the place where we get and answer, stcik around. Can we have a FTS and a description of your system someone could iD a possible issue within the system...never know, could help you out in the end.

jarrod13 · 07/31/2013, 09:08 AM

I have a mixed 90 gallon tank, which includes macro algae, soft corals, anemones, and sponges. Fish wise I have two scorpionfish, a S. diabolus and a Rhinopias, two dwarf lionfish, a yellow fuzzy and a zebra, one large male square back anthias, and one azure damsel. I haven't had any real challenges so far, because I run my tank differently than the majority of the hobby. If you have any other questions just ask.

On a side note about your future stocking plans, I wouldn't keep a angler with any other fish, it will most likely try to eat the other and could possibly kill both fish. They really are best left in a species tank. That being said... I have a baby pictus living in my fuge who will get his own tank eventually when he grows up a bit.

Here are some pics of the tank and fish, it's an old fts, I need to take a new one

dallasg · 07/31/2013, 09:30 AM

i keep a mixed reef, SPS, LPS, Clams and Soft corals, i have managed to keep my NO3 at 4-5ppm and PO4 at 0.01 or so, great colours and no algae.
i know soft corals like a little nutrients and my clams, but so so far getting good growth and colouring in the SPS

Timfish · 07/31/2013, 11:37 AM

I've always been happy with so called mixed systems. I always find it perplexing that people argue "SPS" have different requirements than "LPS" or softies. Looking at Veron's "Corals of the World" just within the Acropora genus there are species living in mutually exclusive habitats then you have the ever popular Pocillopora damicornis which is found in mangrove swamps. Nature is far to diverse to pigeon hole corals into two or three or four categories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uf5IyXvajg

terrypercula · 07/31/2013, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudbeaver

Do you have an idea why or are you searching for it, This coul be the place where we get and answer, stcik around. Can we have a FTS and a description of your system someone could iD a possible issue within the system...never know, could help you out in the end.

Well I have a few birdsnests doing great, montipora digitata growing like a weed and monti caps doing well but acropora is alive, showing great color and slight growth but not nearly as much as anything else. Honestly I don't think anything is wrong per say just acro is maybe a slower grower.

terrypercula · 07/31/2013, 11:49 AM

I didn't mean to say anything is wrong in the tank though looking back it did sound like that a little ha

Mudbeaver · 07/31/2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrypercula

Well I have a few birdsnests doing great, montipora digitata growing like a weed and monti caps doing well but acropora is alive, showing great color and slight growth but not nearly as much as anything else. Honestly I don't think anything is wrong per say just acro is maybe a slower grower.

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrypercula

I didn't mean to say anything is wrong in the tank though looking back it did sound like that a little ha

LOl i know sometime are words go further than are intent lol read this article about sps and growth speed, how they grow slow at first and then explode very revealing you'll see.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/11/aafeature/view

Mudbeaver · 07/31/2013, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod13

I have a mixed 90 gallon tank, which includes macro algae, soft corals, anemones, and sponges. Fish wise I have two scorpionfish, a S. diabolus and a Rhinopias, two dwarf lionfish, a yellow fuzzy and a zebra, one large male square back anthias, and one azure damsel. I haven't had any real challenges so far, because I run my tank differently than the majority of the hobby. If you have any other questions just ask.

On a side note about your future stocking plans, I wouldn't keep a angler with any other fish, it will most likely try to eat the other and could possibly kill both fish. They really are best left in a species tank. That being said... I have a baby pictus living in my fuge who will get his own tank eventually when he grows up a bit.

Here are some pics of the tank and fish, it's an old fts, I need to take a new one

Very nice mate, like your fish, by the way i'm not putting any other fish with the angler the fuge will be split in half one side the seahorses, the angler will be on the other lol. Everything seperate with the same tank. since the seahorse have very few friends as well both biotopes will have very selected tank mates in the macro algae environment.

Palting · 07/31/2013, 04:23 PM

3 year old SPS dominant mixed reef. SPS did much better than LPS and softies for the longest time, until I figured out that I was underfeeding. Now that I feed the coral once a week, the LPS and especially the softies are rebounding.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...d.jpg~original

This would fall under "other", a FOWLR. I made this for fish that are not reef-safe.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original

Mudbeaver · 07/31/2013, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palting

3 year old SPS dominant mixed reef. SPS did much better than LPS and softies for the longest time, until I figured out that I was underfeeding. Now that I feed the coral once a week, the LPS and especially the softies are rebounding.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...d.jpg~original

This would fall under "other", a FOWLR. I made this for fish that are not reef-safe.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original

Thanks for sharing, how big are your tanks

squishifishi · 07/31/2013, 09:25 PM

mine is so small, but still. ive got mostly softies, some lps, sps, and cheato algae. well, i only have one sps, but that makes up about 8% of my corals, so its still worth counting. Its a pocci, plus there aremini ones everywhere from when it spawned. for lps i have an aussie lithophyllon, chalice, galaxea andits 'bud droppings' im growing into frags to sell.
you guys can check it out! its a 2.5, the thread's called pictures at last!(i wish you could change thread titles

)

scolley · 07/31/2013, 09:45 PM

Where's the "Mixed SPS and LPS only" option? There's a LOT of that in this community.

Palting · 07/31/2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudbeaver

Thanks for sharing, how big are your tanks

The reef's 150, FOWLR IS 110.

HumbleFish · 07/31/2013, 10:43 PM

My 150 gal is mixed; mostly softies/LPS. But some Monti Caps were thrown in so there's also an SPS presence.

Dexters Reef · 07/31/2013, 11:41 PM

75g mixed sps/lps/softie reef. very low maintence for me, maybe 30-45 minutes a week?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-tR7KP_6fM

Mudbeaver · 08/01/2013, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scolley

Where's the "Mixed SPS and LPS only" option? There's a LOT of that in this community.

That's why i didn't put it in really if you read the OP the reason of the thread is clear. Actually i'm hopping to see more diversity as we progress, macroalgea with sps, with mushrooms, etc. thats why this thread is made for. sps lps is common the others not to much,however you can put it with the sps ,lps soft no problem, most people do, its close enough. Sorry about that.

Mudbeaver · 08/01/2013, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexters Reef

75g mixed sps/lps/softie reef. very low maintence for me, maybe 30-45 minutes a week?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-tR7KP_6fM

Thanks i like it a lot putting it into my vid collection i like to watch vid to inspire me sometime when i want ti visualise my future tank and where i want to place things in it , cool .

Mudbeaver · 08/01/2013, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

My 150 gal is mixed; mostly softies/LPS. But some Monti Caps were thrown in so there's also an SPS presence.

WHoooo you got som serious goin on here lol cool i like it

Mudbeaver · 08/01/2013, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timfish

I've always been happy with so called mixed systems. I always find it perplexing that people argue "SPS" have different requirements than "LPS" or softies. Looking at Veron's "Corals of the World" just within the Acropora genus there are species living in mutually exclusive habitats then you have the ever popular Pocillopora damicornis which is found in mangrove swamps. Nature is far to diverse to pigeon hole corals into two or three or four categories.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uf5IyXvajg

You've got a serious tank there mate , i've added to my trendy tank list a personal fav of mine. thanks for sharing. really enjoyed that, thanks.

Mudbeaver · 08/01/2013, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallasg

i keep a mixed reef, SPS, LPS, Clams and Soft corals, i have managed to keep my NO3 at 4-5ppm and PO4 at 0.01 or so, great colours and no algae.
i know soft corals like a little nutrients and my clams, but so so far getting good growth and colouring in the SPS

So do you spot feed your clams or tank feed them?

HumbleFish · 08/01/2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexters Reef

75g mixed sps/lps/softie reef. very low maintence for me, maybe 30-45 minutes a week?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-tR7KP_6fM

Very nice colors!

dallasg · 08/01/2013, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mudbeaver

So do you spot feed your clams or tank feed them?

i broadcast feed all the time, mix a bit of TLF phyto and zoo and pour in

Mudbeaver · 08/01/2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dallasg

i broadcast feed all the time, mix a bit of TLF phyto and zoo and pour in

Over a power head? The best way to spread fast and easy , yep do that too when i have too.

View Poll Results: Which cathegory do you fit in
Mixed sps and Lps, soft	65	75.58%
Mixed Lps,soft, Macro-Algae	9	10.47%
Mixed Sps,Macro-algae,	3	3.49%
Mixed soft,Macro-algae	1	1.16%
Other?	8	9.30%
Voters: 86. You may not vote on this poll

07/31/2013, 07:47 AM	#1
Mudbeaver Registered Member. Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Gatineau , Canada Posts: 1,379	Welcome to the mix tank club Last night i had an argument, a polite one lol with a good friend about my project and what would be harder to manage. A mixed tank and what kind of mixed tank. i obviously am doing a mix tank system, but to what extent remains to be seen, the budget will determine that of course that was one topic, the complexity was another, the viability was another, the crazyness came a few time also lol. and we finally had a few beers, lol and said good bye. So for you what is and constitute your mix tank and give us your details about it a FTS would be nice, i'll post mine when its ready lol. After you answer which cathegory you fit in let us know what was your main chalenge about your choice, and how you dealt with it; thanks. It may help me and others in are futur endenvors. My own project will be a Reef tank with Macro Algae and mostly LPS and carefully chosen Sps. And connected refugium by gravity with a collection of Macro Algae and seahorses on one side and Scorpion and Angler fish in the other and anything that can survive them lol. Last edited by Mudbeaver; 07/31/2013 at 07:56 AM.

07/31/2013, 09:30 AM	#5
dallasg Reefing from South Africa Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Posts: 210	i keep a mixed reef, SPS, LPS, Clams and Soft corals, i have managed to keep my NO3 at 4-5ppm and PO4 at 0.01 or so, great colours and no algae. i know soft corals like a little nutrients and my clams, but so so far getting good growth and colouring in the SPS __________________ -Dallas- Reefing in Southern Africa!

07/31/2013, 11:37 AM	#6
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I've always been happy with so called mixed systems. I always find it perplexing that people argue "SPS" have different requirements than "LPS" or softies. Looking at Veron's "Corals of the World" just within the Acropora genus there are species living in mutually exclusive habitats then you have the ever popular Pocillopora damicornis which is found in mangrove swamps. Nature is far to diverse to pigeon hole corals into two or three or four categories. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uf5IyXvajg __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

07/31/2013, 04:23 PM	#11
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	3 year old SPS dominant mixed reef. SPS did much better than LPS and softies for the longest time, until I figured out that I was underfeeding. Now that I feed the coral once a week, the LPS and especially the softies are rebounding. http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...d.jpg~original This would fall under "other", a FOWLR. I made this for fish that are not reef-safe. http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...1.jpg~original __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

07/31/2013, 08:16 AM	#2
terrypercula Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 4,354	My tank is mixed but LPS dominant so sorties and LPS do well but SPS doesn't grow an thrive to the extent it could.

07/31/2013, 09:08 AM	#4
jarrod13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: jacksonville florida Posts: 1,441	I have a mixed 90 gallon tank, which includes macro algae, soft corals, anemones, and sponges. Fish wise I have two scorpionfish, a S. diabolus and a Rhinopias, two dwarf lionfish, a yellow fuzzy and a zebra, one large male square back anthias, and one azure damsel. I haven't had any real challenges so far, because I run my tank differently than the majority of the hobby. If you have any other questions just ask. On a side note about your future stocking plans, I wouldn't keep a angler with any other fish, it will most likely try to eat the other and could possibly kill both fish. They really are best left in a species tank. That being said... I have a baby pictus living in my fuge who will get his own tank eventually when he grows up a bit. Here are some pics of the tank and fish, it's an old fts, I need to take a new one

07/31/2013, 11:49 AM	#8
terrypercula Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Buffalo,NY Posts: 4,354	I didn't mean to say anything is wrong in the tank though looking back it did sound like that a little ha

07/31/2013, 09:25 PM	#13
squishifishi Hopelesly Addicted Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 972	mine is so small, but still. ive got mostly softies, some lps, sps, and cheato algae. well, i only have one sps, but that makes up about 8% of my corals, so its still worth counting. Its a pocci, plus there aremini ones everywhere from when it spawned. for lps i have an aussie lithophyllon, chalice, galaxea andits 'bud droppings' im growing into frags to sell. you guys can check it out! its a 2.5, the thread's called pictures at last!(i wish you could change thread titles) __________________ ><(((((°>squishifishi! if I say anything stupid...blame autocorrect ;) I love my pico! Come see for yourself, check it out! just search for "pictures at last" in the nano forums:) Current Tank Info: 2.5g pico reef: 5-15hob filter, 10w led light,Stock;neon goby,Pom Pom crab,hermits, astrea, margarita, nassarius, micro brittles, shrooms,palys, xenia, galaxea, zoas,ricordea, litho,chalice,leather,pocci,.WISH LIST:sexy shrimp

07/31/2013, 09:45 PM	#14
scolley ARKSC Founding Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: CT Posts: 2,823	Where's the "Mixed SPS and LPS only" option? There's a LOT of that in this community. __________________ - Steve Longing for "fact based" reef keeping - with hearsay, non sequiturs, dogma and other types of bad “information” removed from our discussions.

07/31/2013, 10:43 PM	#16
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	My 150 gal is mixed; mostly softies/LPS. But some Monti Caps were thrown in so there's also an SPS presence.

07/31/2013, 11:41 PM	#17
Dexters Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 730	75g mixed sps/lps/softie reef. very low maintence for me, maybe 30-45 minutes a week? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-tR7KP_6fM __________________ 75G RR, Trigger Systems Ruby 30S sump, 2x250 MH and 4x54W T5HO, Octopus Diablo XS160, 4" DSB, 2 x MP40wES, 85 lbs LR, 2 x BRS Dosing Pumps, Finnex 300w titanium heater, Surf2 Algae Turf Scrubber