softies too "mean"?

schoch79 · 07/07/2007, 01:04 PM

I have read about how aggressive soft corals are with their chemical warfare and how they could kill off other colonies of corals so I was considering doing lps's and a few sps. Will these get along for the most part. Can I still include a few softies? I really like the idea of how fast the soft corals grow but I don't want to have to worry about one not liking the toxins of the other or one outgrowing the other. Thanks for your help.

Dubbin1 · 07/07/2007, 01:07 PM

I think you may have the LPS and softies confused. IMO some LPS has some of the most potent stings. There are also some SPS out there that are killers.

schoch79 · 07/07/2007, 01:12 PM

I am aware of the stinger tentacles of the lps but from what I understood only a few types of lps really get bothersome with the tentacles. I think one of them is frogspawn or hammer, not sure. But things like the acans and brains and plates aren't like that are they? I was mostly concerned with when the softies overgrow each other and like if for example you have lots of mushrooms and try to add say xenia the toxins in the water from the shrooms could kill/irritate the xenia. Maybe I just misunderstand.

Dubbin1 · 07/07/2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schoch79
Maybe I just misunderstand.

I think that may be the case. For the most part shrooms are harmless. Yes they "can" sting other corals but I have yet to see it happen in any of my tanks. I have all kinds of shrooms touching LPS, SPS and other softies without any issues. They wont fill your tank with toxins either.

schoch79 · 07/07/2007, 01:39 PM

Ok cool at least that is reassuring to me. What about the lps then? Are some of them "easy" to get along with?

spinninmidwater · 07/07/2007, 02:08 PM

i have some mushroom and xenia both on the same side of the tank and luckily haven't noticed any chem warfare yet. but i understand your concern, schoch79, but i guess sometimes u'd just have to take your chances.

also from what i read, u can strategically place your corals to make peace. eg. place the "killer" coral downstream, if with toxin then near outflow to your sump with carbon. that may work too

Dubbin1 · 07/07/2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by schoch79
Ok cool at least that is reassuring to me. What about the lps then? Are some of them "easy" to get along with?

They can all get along just as long as you give them the space they need.

MTB · 07/07/2007, 04:05 PM

I have zoos, xenia, mushrooms and star polyps all touching one another with no ill effects. Mushrooms do kill SPS IME. LPS kills anything it's tentacles can reach. But if your running carbon and giving them space, you can keep all of them in the same tank.

07/07/2007, 01:04 PM	#1
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	softies too "mean"? I have read about how aggressive soft corals are with their chemical warfare and how they could kill off other colonies of corals so I was considering doing lps's and a few sps. Will these get along for the most part. Can I still include a few softies? I really like the idea of how fast the soft corals grow but I don't want to have to worry about one not liking the toxins of the other or one outgrowing the other. Thanks for your help.

07/07/2007, 01:12 PM	#3
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	I am aware of the stinger tentacles of the lps but from what I understood only a few types of lps really get bothersome with the tentacles. I think one of them is frogspawn or hammer, not sure. But things like the acans and brains and plates aren't like that are they? I was mostly concerned with when the softies overgrow each other and like if for example you have lots of mushrooms and try to add say xenia the toxins in the water from the shrooms could kill/irritate the xenia. Maybe I just misunderstand. __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

07/07/2007, 01:39 PM	#5
schoch79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: hegins,pa Posts: 1,071	Ok cool at least that is reassuring to me. What about the lps then? Are some of them "easy" to get along with? __________________ We'd better get back, 'cause it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly.

07/07/2007, 04:05 PM	#8
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	I have zoos, xenia, mushrooms and star polyps all touching one another with no ill effects. Mushrooms do kill SPS IME. LPS kills anything it's tentacles can reach. But if your running carbon and giving them space, you can keep all of them in the same tank. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

07/07/2007, 01:07 PM	#2
Dubbin1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 11,540	I think you may have the LPS and softies confused. IMO some LPS has some of the most potent stings. There are also some SPS out there that are killers.

07/07/2007, 02:08 PM	#6
spinninmidwater Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 138	i have some mushroom and xenia both on the same side of the tank and luckily haven't noticed any chem warfare yet. but i understand your concern, schoch79, but i guess sometimes u'd just have to take your chances. also from what i read, u can strategically place your corals to make peace. eg. place the "killer" coral downstream, if with toxin then near outflow to your sump with carbon. that may work too