recommended softies mixed reef?

[Fishmommy]

I am starting up a 135 and really like the looks of some of the leathers. Not into shrooms really. I am aware that Kenya trees, cloves, and Xenias take over the tank and want to avoid anything like that.

So, what would you recommend for a mixed reef that won't take over or outgrow a 48x24 tank? What would you put on your wish list if you were just starting out? Can you even mix softies with LPS and SPS?
I am a total noob so be gentle :worried2:

 

[smtank]

Sympodium.
Photosynthetic Gorgonians.
Cabbage leathers.
Pipe organ.
Cloves, Clavularia, but stay away from a coral called blue cloves.

Yes you can mix soft corals with stony corals. It's more difficult to balance the needs of both, but in a larger tank it will be fine.

 

[HumbleFish]

You can isolate green star polyps to an "island rock" somewhere in the tank and they shouldn't spread beyond that (just make sure there's sand all around your island rock).

But xenia, mushrooms, tree corals, anthelia and other polyp corals tend to break off, and spread everywhere. Avoid them.

 

[CoralBeauty13]

I saw a soft coral tank at the LFS that was set with every type of leather coral you could find. The most beautiful and hardy tank ever. If I didn't have what I have now, I def would go that route.

 

[Meanmike]

Colt coral and toadstools are my favorite. I'd recommend keeping the colt on its own rock as I'm not sure how to keep it from spreading. Wish I knew how to relocate mine.