Mixed LPS/SPS tanks

[aquaph8]

I've always had a hard time finding a balance between keeping my Sps and Lps corals happy at the same time. I would love to see some pics of people who are successful at keeping both at the same time.

 

[Amphiprion]

The key is in the zoning and placement of the tank, the nature of the flow used, etc. You can use rock structures and other corals to your advantage when placing corals that prefer broader, more diffused flow. Notice I didn't say less, because they appreciate plenty of water movement. What follows is an even older pic of my old 75. The LPS in there are my"old timers" which have been with me (and still are, for the most part) for a long time, happily coexisting with corals that appreciate higher velocity flow:

Not the best pic, since it is difficult to see the corals. You'll see the red open brain in the far left and the large bubble below. The open brain is fully intact today, whereas the bubble receded badly during the crash, but is still alive and thriving on top of the old skeleton.

Edit: FWIW, the current tank I have them in is a 40BR with quite a bit of water motion.

 

[aquaph8]

Thanks for the pic Amphiprion. Keep em coming there has to be more mixed reefs out there. The problem I have is that it seems the cleaner my tank is the better the sps do. As soon as I start getting the sps to look good the lps seem to suffer. Tank gets a little dirty and the lps is happy and the sps start to suffer. And back and forth I go.

 

[The Velvet Sea]

I've had some success, but as far as SPS, I was only keeping montipora which in my experience are easy to please. I did rescue an A. millepora frag from a friend and it was doing well in my reef also, but then my tank crashed after 3 weeks without power following Hurricane Ike.

 

[geris]

This is just the center of my 75g mixed tank, the tank is 5 years old and it has mostly been lps and zoas with a pair of monti caps, but recently we've been adding other montis and acros, even a birds nest that's not in the picture. Everything is doing fine, i think the key has been placement and flow. There's a gigantic elegance coral near a purple rim monti cap to the left of the tank, and although they fought a little at first, neither have stopped growing.

 

[Amphiprion]

Thanks for the pic Amphiprion. Keep em coming there has to be more mixed reefs out there. The problem I have is that it seems the cleaner my tank is the better the sps do. As soon as I start getting the sps to look good the lps seem to suffer. Tank gets a little dirty and the lps is happy and the sps start to suffer. And back and forth I go.

Interesting. That pic was when I was using some carbon dosing (or maybe right after I stopped--not really sure). I never really had issues with them, but I did feed them pretty heavily with large pieces of silverside, etc. about every other day.

 

[aquaph8]

Geris, beautiful tank.
Keep em coming everyone!!!!!!

 

[SDguy]

 

[Robert Patterso]

^^^^ That is just sick, Verry nice!

 

[SALTWATERSIG]

 

[motownmego]

wow crazy pics
i just got rid of most of my leathers because they got so big and started to creep up on the sps, but these pics show it can be done!

 

[gar732]

Hey SDguy, any chance you can post a FTS. Very insirational.

Here's mine, still trying to figure out where to put stuff so the sandbed looks kinda like a frag rack. I just upgraded from a 55gal. Not as nice as the others on here but its a start.

 

[nickxx4360]

OMG!! There is a hudge sea creature in the middle of your tank!! :eek2:

 

[aquaph8]

Beautiful tanks everyone
SDguy you set the bar for everyone very nice

 

[SDguy]

Thank you for the kind words! I SUCK at FTS with my PnS and no tripod

Here are some updated shots though, from just last night:

 

[aquaph8]

i hate to go after that but since i started this here you go.

sorry I suck at sps and picture taking. Im getting a little better at both everyday though

 

[SDguy]

I see some great realestate for SPS in that shot

 

[aquaph8]

Im trying a few and learning a lot.
Keep the pics coming everyone.

 

[aquaph8]

gimmy some more