SPS and LPS in 65 gallon tank/Protein Skimmer

[heels92]

Here is a conversation that Frankie and I have had on PM.

Quote:
Originally Posted by heels92
Any idea how any of these would do in a 65gallon tank like mine?

SW - Doughnut Coral - Medium
CF - Australian Delicate Staghorn - Aquacultured ORA
CF - Green Stylophora - Aquacultured, ORA
CF - Blue Acropora millepora - Aquacultured ORA

CF-Drs. Foster & Smith Certified Beginner SPS Frag Pack - Aquacultured CCGC 30 Day

CF-Drs. Foster & Smith Certified Assorted SPS Frag 5 Pack - Aquacultured CCGC 30 Day

CF - Hodag's Montipora Coral - Aquacultured CCGC 30 Day

Answer by Frankie:
your going to have a chemical issue with all the soft corals you have. If you want to go sps i recommend getting the softies out. Your lighting is good for sps but you need to upgrade your skimmer.

and then

Quote:
Originally Posted by heels92
What kinda chemical issues? So one needs to decide, either soft corals, sps or lps?

Thanks again.

Darrell

Answer:

Yes. Soft corals put off a chemical that will irritate and kill sps. Most people that mix with little effect have huge skimmers and massive flow turn over in there tanks. Even lps can kill sps.
__________________
Frankie.

Ok any thoughts on this conversation and what is considered a huge skimmer. I have an average proclear aquatics 75 http://www.pro-clear.com/images/skimmers/mps75.gif

Thanks for any input
Darrell

[BarbMazz]

The name of the chemical warfare Frankie is telling you about is allelopathy. I suggest you do some research about it; it's a complicated subject, though! Check it out on Wetwebmedia, Aquarium, Pond, Marine and Freshwater Fish, reef tanks, and Aquatics Information Just enter the term in the search box and you'll get all kinds of hits.

Different corals react in different ways to their tank mates. I'm researching this right now, and it's a difficult subject. Some corals are not as aggressive, some are medium, and some are very aggressive. Pay attention to notes about sweeper tentacles on the different types, too, as they play apart in the whole defense/warfare scheme.

In addition to a huge skimmer (sorry, I can't recommend one for you), you may need to run some chemical filtration to help out your tank inhabitants so they don't suffer, like carbon, etc.

[BigAl07]

IMO Huge would equal 3x+ to your tank volume.

Chemical Warfare is only "some-what" understood and some of our understanding comes from mere "visual" interpretation. I honestly believe there is a LOT more "allelopathy" in our micro systems than we even know. The reason I say this is that these organisms are in a do or die environment in the wild. They have to be able to protect themselves in SOME way against all the other corals. When you take into account the MASSIVNESS of the ocean and how the current/tides are always bringing new water and diluting the toxins imagine how concentrated it really must be to have any affect at all. Now add that to our "closed loop" (no not the type of filtration system) tanks and think how that could just keep being built up. I've even seen corals of similar and even exact same make-up "Nuke" each other. I had some "Nuclear Green Hairy Mushrooms" that nuked each other and they were from the same colony. They just happened to be confined in an area too close and they "Nuked" themselves.

I always have carbon on hand for those times when I have a "feeling" something is "off" and I run carbon in every tank at least 1 full week out of 4. It's almost like my "Aspirin" for the Reef.

[mps9506]

You are getting some good info here.
Certain leathers can release chemicals that inhibit the growth and calcification of SPS corals. This does not mean they cannot be kept in the same tank, but some thought to water flow and placement needs to be done.
Any time one has a mixed reef I feel carbon is a good option to run.


Regarding skimmers, not only is size important but so is quality (that's what she said. zing...)
The proclear aquatics skimmers are what I would call a middle of the road skimmer, not bad, but not good by any means either. If you upgrade to an ASM or Euroreef type needlewheel skimmer you would immediately see the difference in performance.

[AQTCJAK]

The skimmer of my choice would be:

Term2

And carbon for sure

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Jak,whats the price tag on the terminator?

[Frankie]

I would appreciate anyone in pm with me not to post it on the public site. Thats why there pm's
Yes barb that is great information! I was trying to keep it simple though so i didn't elaborate on it that much.
The skimmer he is running is not very good at all. I am trying to get him to upgrade since i saw it. Now that he has a yellow tang in there i think this is very important. The nutrients and bio load in the system he is running that skimmer cannot handle. I did not bring up carbon because his sump is small and has no way to use it. he would need to invest in a phos reactor and i rather keep him focused on buying a new skimmer

[BarbMazz]

Originally Posted by Frankie

I would appreciate anyone in pm with me not to post it on the public site. Thats why there pm's
Yes barb that is great information! I was trying to keep it simple though so i didn't elaborate on it that much.
The skimmer he is running is not very good at all. I am trying to get him to upgrade since i saw it. Now that he has a yellow tang in there i think this is very important. The nutrients and bio load in the system he is running that skimmer cannot handle. I did not bring up carbon because his sump is small and has no way to use it. he would need to invest in a phos reactor and i rather keep him focused on buying a new skimmer

Ah, I understand now, Frankie.. thanks for clarifying. From what was posted, it didn't seem as though he already HAD all those corals in the tank.

And, yes, I would agree that a much better skimmer is in order first off!

[heels92]

Thanks for all the advice...

I am running carbon in my sump though. Right now I have it in a media bag and have ordered a reactor today. Should have it in the next couple of days.

D