Moving from softies to mixed reef, questions

[jschultzbass]

I started out with a FOWLR, then moved to some softies and LPS, and now am moving towards SPS in a mixed reef. I was doing some reading and found a couple threads that state leathers can inhibit SPS growth. I wanted a mixed reef but would it be better to get rid of the leathers and tree corals? How about the LPS? I have a torch and hammer that I really like. What are your experiences keeping the different types of coral together? As you can see, I'm confused. There is a thread in the Advanced Topics forum titled "the secret to colorful,healthy corals....obvious to some,elusive to many" that alluded to softies with SPS is unheard of. Am I missing something? Thanks for your replies!

[NeilFox]

It is quite possible to have a mixed aquarium. I read the same post you are talking about. I couldn't get my head around some of it. I noticed that alot of the advanced topics have a tendency to end up not giving a difinitive answer and end up taking a totally different path from the OP.

I actually looked at the Worlds Most Beautiful Tanks post and saw plenty of mixed tanks and some huge leathers in heavily SPS dominated tanks. Even a few tanks that had a large number of NPS (Non Photosynthetic) species mixed with SPS.

The problem most people would have would be meeting the environmental requirments for different species rather than species compatability. I would imagine that alot of the world class TOTM aquarists spend alot of time target feeding a few species to keep the nutrients down for the LPS and softies, certainly for the NPS. I wouldn't just get rid of corals because they may be incompatible unless you need more space. Try to find out what species share common requirements to the SPS you plan to keep. Torch and Hammer corals really don't need to be fed much if at all.

If you make a list of what you have and a list of what you intend to keep some of the members here can steer you in the right direction. Also include your current water parameters and lighting.

I hope this is helpful.

Regards

Neil

[dabandit]

You can keep them toghether just give them space and run carbon for piece of mind. Carbon will help with the biological warfare. The bigger issue I've found is alot of softies dont like the crazy flow that sps do.

[Squidmotron]

I read that too, was subsequently scared, and then discovered I had no problems keeping "difficult" SPS and getting growth.

I was careful to try and keep them a bit separated and be mindful of potential issues, but people do it all the time.

[NeilFox]

That was a good call about the carbon and flow dabandit. FWIW, I made up a little flow meter for my tank. It's just a really long chopstick with a piece of plastic ribbon attached to it. I'm just setting up a 120 and it has been handy for helping me place corals and finding dead spots. I don't have any SPS right now but I plan to in a few months. I am trying to set up segregated areas that afford some flexibility regarding flow and lighting. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you Jschultzbass.

Really nice post so far!

[jschultzbass]

Yes, thank you for the posts! I currently have the following:
Softies:
Tree Coral
Cauliflower Colt
Toadstool mushroom leather
Yellow Fiji Leather

LPS:
Hammer
Torch

SPS:
Birdsnest
Stylophora
Branching Acro
Scrolling Montipora

All the SPS are growing and have good color. I use the 6 bulb ATI fixture with a reefbrite LED strip. All SPS are in the middle/top of tank.

Parameters:
pH 8.0 - 8.15
Temp: 78.0
Nitrate: 0.0
Phosphate: Undetectable (using GFO)
Calcium: 450
Alkalinity: 8.5
Mag: 1350

I dose Kalk in my top off right now which keeps things constant.

[Palting]

I have had a mixed reef, SPS dominated but with a good representation of softies and LPS as well as some NPS. Had it for 3 years now. Softies and SPS represent the two opposite extremes in needs, with LPS somewhere in the middle. The key is finding a happy medium where their requirements overlap. Finding and maintaining this happy medium is the challenge in sustaining a mixed reef for a long period.

Chemical warfare among coral is exaggerated. I have several species of Sinularia, softies that reportedly secrete toxins that will melt SPS. Keeping a good overall flow with judicious use of GAC and appropriate coral placement will solve that problem.

There are three main factors to consider: Lighting, flow, and nutrient levels. All other factors like ideal water parameters are pretty much universal among the tropical coral types. Finding the correct lighting and flow for the appropriate coral type is relatively easy. It's all about placement in the tank. Place your equipment and set up the rockscape so that you have a range of areas that have high flow/high light to low flow/low light, and place your coral accordingly. Finding the nutrient level where everyone is happy is THE challenge, IMO. Not only is finding that level difficult, the tank itself keeps changing. In the first year of my tank, nutrient levels were relatively higher, so the softies and LPS thrived, SPS were so-so. As the tank matured, the biofiltration and the refugium matured as well, and nutrient levels start to drop. The tank is about to have it's third birthday, and the SPS have been growing like gangbusters and the softies now only so-so. Over the last 6 weeks I have been dumping all kinds of food into the tank, have decreased my water changes, and even considered taking the skimmer off line. So far, the softies seem to be coming on strong again, with no visible decrease in SPS growth. We'll see.

HTH!!

[jschultzbass]

Thanks a lot Palting! Very good discussion.

[NeilFox]

Originally Posted by Palting

I have had a mixed reef, SPS dominated but with a good representation of softies and LPS as well as some NPS. Had it for 3 years now. Softies and SPS represent the two opposite extremes in needs, with LPS somewhere in the middle. The key is finding a happy medium where their requirements overlap. Finding and maintaining this happy medium is the challenge in sustaining a mixed reef for a long period.

Chemical warfare among coral is exaggerated. I have several species of Sinularia, softies that reportedly secrete toxins that will melt SPS. Keeping a good overall flow with judicious use of GAC and appropriate coral placement will solve that problem.

There are three main factors to consider: Lighting, flow, and nutrient levels. All other factors like ideal water parameters are pretty much universal among the tropical coral types. Finding the correct lighting and flow for the appropriate coral type is relatively easy. It's all about placement in the tank. Place your equipment and set up the rockscape so that you have a range of areas that have high flow/high light to low flow/low light, and place your coral accordingly. Finding the nutrient level where everyone is happy is THE challenge, IMO. Not only is finding that level difficult, the tank itself keeps changing. In the first year of my tank, nutrient levels were relatively higher, so the softies and LPS thrived, SPS were so-so. As the tank matured, the biofiltration and the refugium matured as well, and nutrient levels start to drop. The tank is about to have it's third birthday, and the SPS have been growing like gangbusters and the softies now only so-so. Over the last 6 weeks I have been dumping all kinds of food into the tank, have decreased my water changes, and even considered taking the skimmer off line. So far, the softies seem to be coming on strong again, with no visible decrease in SPS growth. We'll see.

HTH!!

Thanks for posting that Palting. I have been out of reefing for a number of years and just recently set up a new tank. I like your description of the evolving tank. Looks like everything has it's time and place.

Jschultzbass, looks like a nice coral selection and your parameters seem to be right on. I'm sure you could make it work. You should take some pics as your going along.