LPS in SPS type tank

[Lights Are Bright]

Hi,
I have an SPS type tank set up. BB, high flow, lots of light. I took out some powerheads and I just have a mag 9.5 return and a seio 620 in a 29 gallon.
I want to get a brain or maybe some blastos and i was wondering if they would be ok in this kind of tank?

Thanks

 

[Don Berry]

In my experience many LPS don't do well in the same conditions that SPS like; low nutrients, high lighting, and high flow. I would say that blastos can be one of the more difficult LPS to keep under those conditions. Do you have any shaded areas.

 

[phoenix]

Blastos will definitely need shaded areas and you will need to really acclimate slowly if putting into the high lighting areas. Many LPS are going to need low to moderate flow and moderate lighting.

 

[normanviking]

I have a 24inch tall tank and 400 watt 10k bulbs and my blasto's are 1/3 of the way from the bottom. They seem to be doing awesome and splitting there. My question is, is this normal or are they supposed to be lower with that much light? Thanks for the info, Dan

 

[phoenix]

If your blastos are doing that well I would leave them alone. The right lighting and flow would be indicated by the health and thriving of the coral.

 

[oddballs]

favias or favites would be a much smarter choice for those conditions .blastos from what i know seem to do a lot better under low lighting and low flow hence them not being a upper reef area coral.

 

[Lights Are Bright]

Would brains be ok? I have a few shaded areas in the middle where the flow is minimal

 

[phoenix]

Brains should also be fine

 

[Meisen]

I have a few merleti in my tank...has 2 X 250 hqis (20K ABs) over a 120 brick. They seem to do fine in the lower half of the tank, mounted vertically.

 

[xdusty6920]

blastos are always questionable. but most lps can be kept with sps. but in order to do so, you have to be willing to change your tank up a small amount to accomodate them as well. i keep both buy having my whole tank medium flow with a few high flow areas, dont be obsesive about nutrient free water. keep things clean and do your water changes, but if your absolutely stripping your water of everything, the lps wont do well long term.
ive found that medium flow with a few high flow areas, mh's, and clean water ( but not absolutely nutrient free) offers the most oppurtunity for keeping different types of corals happy.

 

[MiddletonMark]

IMO, the smaller the tank the more difficult finding places with proper light/flow for LPS.

I have a 58 Acro-dominated tank, and while I have a couple Euphyllia, bubble, acan, chalice .... it's tricky finding light for them, and stuff like my open brain needed to live in another tank. [where it thrives now ]

You probably can create/aquascape a good spot or two for a couple things, but if you have the flow that makes Acropora happy it's hard to have the mellower flow for LPS 6" away, or so my experience has been.

 

[normanviking]

I have wondered about this, when you say dirty water. What exactly do you mean, higher then 0 nitrates or what exactly is considered dirty? Thanks, Dan

 

[clkwrk]

I have acans both lords and subs,a tank raise favia, 5 wellis colonies,2 merlite colonies, micromussa, echnos,oxyoporas,chalices and more all in my 180 sps/lps tank with 138x otherwise know as 3x6100's and 2x6200's

 

[clkwrk]

Dirty water IMO is lots of floaties and elevated nitrates/phospahtes/DO

 

[stevedola]

It depends on which brains your are interested in...open brains ie welsophyllia (sp), trachyphyllia, lobos and other fleshy/large head LPS brains INE dont do well in high flow environments. They like the sand bed and low flow/moderate light to stretch out and be themselves. Favias and other moon brains would be acceptable in your style tank but they can be tempermental too.

I personally like enchinos and other chalice type corals. they seem to grow and hold good color with varied tank conditions. I wouldnt blast them with both light and flow but it would be easier (imo) to find more suitable spots in a tank like yours. Acans would also be a good choice because they are very resilent and have been know to adapt to many different light/flow conditions.