mixed corals vs. lps only

[kcfehring]

I am planning a 75 gallon tank and I was just wondering if it is better to pick just one type of coral (sps, lps, soft, polyps, etc) and try to stick with only that variety in a tank or to mix it up with different types.

I was hoping to have a little of all the different types except sps. Is that feasible or do the corals do better which just different varieties of it's own type in the tank.

Thanks
Kim

 

[jjmcat]

I thnk you can do a variety of all types of corals depending on your lighting.I have all of the above in my reef.

 

[John Kelly]

Mix it up with different types, but definitely RESEARCH user experiences with each type of coral that you want to get. There are many many different kinds corals that have no problem being together in the same tank, but picking out appealing corals is similar to picking out appealing fishes. There are combinations and situations that work and others that don't. I find that researching the experiences of other hobbyists is far more helpful than reading the coral husbandry descriptions on vendor websites, which is often inaccurate.

 

[mile sq. reefer]

As previously stated there are many ways to populate your reef, but is important to research the types of corals you would like to keep. Keep in mind that mixed reefs do work but many of the soft coral species tend to produce some toxic compounds that can harmful to LPS and SPS and some LPS produce long sweeper tentacles which are also harmful. Toxicity can be avoided by religious water changes, heavy skimming and the use of carbon. LPS aggression solved through proximity.

In my system I keep SPS/LPS spaced with room for growth and aggression.

Good luck with your choice and happy reefing.