newb is confused, HELP!

mr. bojangsjang

New member
OK from what I have read you have to leave space between corals so they don't sting each other or release toxins, correct? Then how come all the tanks I see on RC they corals are like practically right on top of each other and they're thriving :confused: How come in a mixed reef you need to run carbon but not in softy tanks or SPS tanks?
 
i run carbon in all my tanks, to polish the water, you need to leave space for them to grow, as they will grow, and if they contact, likely one will kill the other. when they get close, you frag or battle will ensue.
 
if you are placing frags, you should try to give them room to grow. usually you see corals that have grown in people's pictures. fwiw, i run carbon in my tank. i think a good amount of people do too.
 
ohh ok. When they touch there will be problems? I am just confused b/c people say don't let your corals touch but in the TOTM corals in this pic are touching.
corals.jpg

I don't get it ???
 
For someone that is new it is better to err on the side of caution.

Down the road one learns what can and cannot touch and what space to give certain animals.
 
I've always had d same q. certainly not softies and sps's but in a thriving tank all bets are off. I do run carbon too.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8490348#post8490348 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr. bojangsjang
ohh ok. When they touch there will be problems? I am just confused b/c people say don't let your corals touch but in the TOTM corals in this pic are touching.
corals.jpg

I don't get it ???
another thing is flow, if you have your corals that close to begin with you will need ridiculous flow, something others tend to work up to as their corals grow. while i have bought a few wild colonies i get much more pleasure watching a tiny frag multiply in size in a seemingly short period of time. and while they may look to all be touching with no problems, i guarentee you that there are numerous little battles going on there, and unless corals are completely heatly and content in their environment the added stress from a battle can lead to color loss, tissue recession or even death.
 
So basically in order to allow your corals to touch you need tons of flow and good lighting and parameters (and other things to be considered thriving).

Some one said down the road you learn which corals can touch and how much space a certain coral needs, is there any list of what corals need little space?
 
dunno but i'm sure some of the reefers here may have their opinions. Most acros can but it again depends on your setup and age as well as system maintenace and all other parameters. IMO wat it comes down to is u fall then get up and so forth. In a good setup with good lights and good flow all bets are off almost anything goees except the basic no no's
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8492169#post8492169 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mr. bojangsjang
So basically in order to allow your corals to touch you need tons of flow and good lighting and parameters (and other things to be considered thriving).

Some one said down the road you learn which corals can touch and how much space a certain coral needs, is there any list of what corals need little space?
no, i was saying if you packed a new tank with corals all right next to each other taking up all the space you would need the heavy flow, otherwise some corals wouldnt' get any; as the tank grows its flow needs increase.

pretty much any sps needs its space, others such as hydnophoras need lots of space, they get sweeper tentacles that can easily kill anything nearby.
 
that is a question which would require a book to answer, you should check out borneman's 'aquarium corals' book, it has detailed descriptions of a most of the corals you will encounter, along with care guidelines. if i could only have one book about saltwater that would be it.
 
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