Topic of the Week - October 10/22 - Mixed Coral Reef Tank

Charlie97L · 10-19-2006, 04:40 PM

I've been looking at a lot of tanks to get ideas for my new 90 setup... I've seen gorgeous softie tanks, amazing SPS reefs, and SPS/LPS, and LPS/softies.

I've researched the "chemical warfare" phenomenon, between softies and SPS, but the question occurs to me, is it possible to have a truly thriving mixed coral reef (softies, LPS, SPS), and not experience growth inhibition from the chemical defenses, or "pouty" behavior from your colonies?

If you're in either court, please share your thoughts, methods and experiences! I'm toying with the idea of attempting just this on my 90. I would love to hear from people who have had success. If I implement this, I plan to run carbon all the time in a fluidized reactor, changing every week, wet skimming, and a lot of flow, as my primary counter to the chemicals and toxins.

And when I say mixed, I mean as close to a 3rd of each coral family as I can get as far as stocking. We've all seen the SPS tank with the token Sarcophyton, or the softie reef with the ORA Blue Tort all alone. I'm not talking about those tanks. Truly mixed. GO!

pssst, mods, we need a new topic of the week! maybe this would work for ya.

sasquatch · 10-19-2006, 04:47 PM

Charlie, sounds like quite a plan, will you be building habitat areas or sheltered zones?? Steve

Charlie97L · 10-19-2006, 04:55 PM

I'm just starting to think about it... the only definite "plan" I have as of this moment is to have a few upper level sand beds for LPS and clams, to give me more real estate. A bowl of rock, so to speak, with sand in it.

Sheltered areas are a great idea though, and I'm definitely taking it into consideration... however, it would almost be "cheating" in my mind.

I definitely have these 3 concepts in my head. Softie movement, I love the swaying... SPS have the best colors, I think and LPS have the most interesting character... with the sweeper tentacles, and some being mobile, I find them fascinating, and the most proactive of the coral families.

BoomerD · 10-19-2006, 04:59 PM

I think it's quite possible, as long as you plan for each species. You'll probably have to run a lot of carbon, and aggressively to help remove the alleopathic chemicals, but otherwise, why not? Just give everything room to grow, and plan so that the LPS sweeper tentacles can't get to other corals...

billyr98 · 10-19-2006, 04:59 PM

sorry charlie.. been real busy with work.. sorry no topic of the week..
But I will make this topic of the week - Thanks!

boozeman · 10-19-2006, 05:14 PM

How about having two separate tanks..one soft and the other hard, and connected via a common sump?

Charlie97L · 10-19-2006, 05:28 PM

Well, that would definitely make it simple, and I know someone who has a setup like that... but really, with all that distance, I doubt that there would be much interaction chemically.

R.yumaDaddy? · 10-19-2006, 06:54 PM

I dont buy into the chemical warefare thing. At least to the point where it significantly affects livestock. The true battle lies in combining the right amount of light and flow for a full range of reef inverts. For example, have you ever tried keeping mushrooms next to sps? Its an uphill battle of to much light and flow for the shrooms vs to little light and flow for the sps.

Charlie97L · 10-19-2006, 06:59 PM

well... i think it depends on the situation, you do make a good point about light/flow.

when i first put SPS in my tank, my leathers didn't open for about 5 weeks.

i don't think it kills anything, they just don't grow as fast.

but yeah, you may be on to something there with the requirements.

BoomerD · 10-19-2006, 08:54 PM

I dunno. When the xenia in my tank started taking over an area, all I had to do, was move my cabbage coral to that area, and the xenia started dying off...QUICKLY! I did this several times, so it can't just be coincidence. While it didn't affect a large area, ALL xenia within about a foot of the cabbage would die within a couple of days.

mps9506 · 10-20-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoomerD

I dunno. When the xenia in my tank started taking over an area, all I had to do, was move my cabbage coral to that area, and the xenia started dying off...QUICKLY! I did this several times, so it can't just be coincidence. While it didn't affect a large area, ALL xenia within about a foot of the cabbage would die within a couple of days.

hmmm.... how would this affect, let's say anemones... aiptasia???

10-19-2006, 04:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Topic of the Week - October 10/22 - Mixed Coral Reef Tank I've been looking at a lot of tanks to get ideas for my new 90 setup... I've seen gorgeous softie tanks, amazing SPS reefs, and SPS/LPS, and LPS/softies. I've researched the "chemical warfare" phenomenon, between softies and SPS, but the question occurs to me, is it possible to have a truly thriving mixed coral reef (softies, LPS, SPS), and not experience growth inhibition from the chemical defenses, or "pouty" behavior from your colonies? If you're in either court, please share your thoughts, methods and experiences! I'm toying with the idea of attempting just this on my 90. I would love to hear from people who have had success. If I implement this, I plan to run carbon all the time in a fluidized reactor, changing every week, wet skimming, and a lot of flow, as my primary counter to the chemicals and toxins. And when I say mixed, I mean as close to a 3rd of each coral family as I can get as far as stocking. We've all seen the SPS tank with the token Sarcophyton, or the softie reef with the ORA Blue Tort all alone. I'm not talking about those tanks. Truly mixed. GO! pssst, mods, we need a new topic of the week! maybe this would work for ya. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

10-19-2006, 04:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,508 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	*Re: Can one have a truly mixed* coral reef tank?** Charlie, sounds like quite a plan, will you be building habitat areas or sheltered zones?? Steve __________________ DIY stuff for my tank stand, 100g tank,rock lift, overflow, foam walls, closed loop,lighting reflectors, 50gal sump, bubbletrap and sock holder, ato bracket,kalk bucket and reservoir, 40gal fuge, fuge lighting, remotish dsb raceway, turf algae raceway, dual pumped recirc skimmer, more to follow. Barb ripped my sig

10-19-2006, 04:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	*Re: Can one have a truly mixed* coral reef tank?** I'm just starting to think about it... the only definite "plan" I have as of this moment is to have a few upper level sand beds for LPS and clams, to give me more real estate. A bowl of rock, so to speak, with sand in it. Sheltered areas are a great idea though, and I'm definitely taking it into consideration... however, it would almost be "cheating" in my mind. I definitely have these 3 concepts in my head. Softie movement, I love the swaying... SPS have the best colors, I think and LPS have the most interesting character... with the sweeper tentacles, and some being mobile, I find them fascinating, and the most proactive of the coral families. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

10-19-2006, 04:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,234 View Gallery Karma Komment	*Re: Can one have a truly mixed* coral reef tank?** I think it's quite possible, as long as you plan for each species. You'll probably have to run a lot of carbon, and aggressively to help remove the alleopathic chemicals, but otherwise, why not? Just give everything room to grow, and plan so that the LPS sweeper tentacles can't get to other corals... __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

10-19-2006, 04:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
billyr98 Reefing Addict Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 5,399 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	*Re: Can one have a truly mixed* coral reef tank?** sorry charlie.. been real busy with work.. sorry no topic of the week.. But I will make this topic of the week - Thanks! __________________ Billyr98 -=NJRC Treasurer=- My 450g Reef Tank ~~~ Its HERE!!!

10-19-2006, 05:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week - October 10/22 - Mixed Coral Reef Tank Well, that would definitely make it simple, and I know someone who has a setup like that... but really, with all that distance, I doubt that there would be much interaction chemically. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

10-19-2006, 06:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
R.yumaDaddy? Torch coral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 513 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week - October 10/22 - Mixed Coral Reef Tank I dont buy into the chemical warefare thing. At least to the point where it significantly affects livestock. The true battle lies in combining the right amount of light and flow for a full range of reef inverts. For example, have you ever tried keeping mushrooms next to sps? Its an uphill battle of to much light and flow for the shrooms vs to little light and flow for the sps. __________________ The early bird gets the worm, but what about the early worm?

10-19-2006, 06:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
Charlie97L Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Bethesda, MD Posts: 1,288 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week - October 10/22 - Mixed Coral Reef Tank well... i think it depends on the situation, you do make a good point about light/flow. when i first put SPS in my tank, my leathers didn't open for about 5 weeks. i don't think it kills anything, they just don't grow as fast. but yeah, you may be on to something there with the requirements. __________________ 40 Breeder, 20H Frag Aquactinics T5s, CPR Fuge, Deltec AP600, AC Jr, WavySea

10-19-2006, 08:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,234 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Topic of the Week - October 10/22 - Mixed Coral Reef Tank I dunno. When the xenia in my tank started taking over an area, all I had to do, was move my cabbage coral to that area, and the xenia started dying off...QUICKLY! I did this several times, so it can't just be coincidence. While it didn't affect a large area, ALL xenia within about a foot of the cabbage would die within a couple of days. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

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