Mixed reef long term???

[jbittner]

I have recently taken a liking to SPS corals, but I don't want to get rid of my softies and LPS. I wondered if I could get some opinions/pics from people who have had success/failure with these 'mixed' garden reef. My reef is eight years old and has always done really well.

Tank overview
55 gal
216 T5 light
flow through refugium
2 Seio 820
600 gph on spray bar return
60 lbs of LR
new Barebottom (in process)
2 umbrellla corals (3 yrs)
2 crocea clams (3 months)
2 colonies of yuma mushrooms (3 yrs)
2 colonies of rhodactis mushrooms (7yrs)
1 sun polyps (3 months)
1 unidentified Soft Coral
1 green nepthia (yes it's green nepthia)(3 yrs)
1 sinularia sp soft coral(4 yrs)
1 closed brain(2 months)
1 Monti digitata(1 year)
1 Monti cap(1 year)
5 new SPS colonies
Coral Beauty
Midas
False clown
Cleaner shrimp

 

[Amphiprion]

Hmm, I have had a mixed reef for nearly 10 years. The sps were added a bit later. I have also had an anemone in the same tank since it was set up. I think that could be considered long term (though certainly not as long term as others).

 

[jbittner]

Thanks----wonderful news

 

[jbittner]

I just worry about chemical warfare

 

[stereomandan]

I've had a mixed reef setup for about 3 years now, also running on VHO and actinics(Had three 95W VHO and one 96W PC on a 38g), so it can be done just fine with T5's.

Things you will need to keep in mind. You need a dedicated area for the SPS. They won't do as well if you plunk them down near a bunch of LPS.

Keep them up higher in the tank, and place them carefully because they will grow out in all directions, so eventually they will be very close to the glass. Some spots on mine got to the point where I couldn't get the cleaning magnet between the coral and the glass. Then it's a pain to clean.

Also, your water flow may need to be bumped up because lots of SPS like high random water current.

I think a mixed tank is the most beautiful type.

Dan

 

[jbittner]

More flow??? I am already running about 40x

Thanks. they have a dedicated spot for just sps annd they are away from everything else. They are close to the back glass so they will have to grow alot.

 

[stereomandan]

Didn't know your flow. Looks great.

Enjoy.

Dan

 

[cagri]

I have had this mixed reef for 1.5 years and so far so good, it has SPS,LPS and softies along with ritteri and green carpet anenomes....