Starting to get into SPS... but I have a major problem

[xtm]

Hello,

I have a thriving tank with mostly soft corals but I'm slowly getting into SPS. This is obviously a potential problem due to allelopathy. My current livestock are:

Various Zoanthids
Palythoa/Button Polyps
Xenia
Green Star Polyps

I also have perhaps the 3 definite "no-no's" on an SPS setup:

Toadstool
Mushrooms
Leather

Is it possible to keep SPS along with these softies in a 150G? The total water volume will be around 200G, heavily skimmed with an ASM G3. I only have a Hippo Tang and a Yellow Tang.

Are SPS tanks supposed to be strictly SPS tank only? I would like to keep some of the softies as much as possible, but can you tell me which softies can stay and which ones should go?

Thanks!

 

[twon8]

imo if you run carbon you'll be fine.

 

[Wiskey]

Or UV, a properly sized UV with a proper flow rate will break down alopathic chemicals.

I use an Emperor Aquatics 40W UV with a flow through rate of about 350 GPH on my 125G tank.

Whiskey

 

[danielboun]

So far no problem in my 40 gal. I have a large finger leather and toadstools and the sps are thriving. X ing my fingers

 

[Freed]

I have everything you mentioned up above and no issues for about 18 or so years. Allelopathy is a bit overrated if you ask me.

 

[Shawnts106]

Allelopathy is a bit overrated if you ask me.

Your telling me! I completly agree....

If you look on any reef youll notice that there are softcorals like Ricordia, xenia, and Nepthea leather Sarc. leathers etc... very near to SPS coras like Acros, pocillipora etc....

Not to say that Allelopathy doesnt exsist... if you put a big ol' sinularia leather 1 inch away from a nice acro colony thats a big ol' no no In most cases...


I wouldnt worry too incredibly much about it.

good luck.

 

[slojmn]

Shawnts106,
The only thing with the open reef and the proximity of softies and sps is the movement of water...you really cannot compare the movement of water on the reef in the wild to a closed system. When I have been snorkeling around reefs in the wild the amount of thrust from the water coming and going over the reef is awesome. I really was careful in many areas to not get to close to the reef for fear of being driven into it. So those chemicals are often driven away with the tides and water movement. In a closed system there can be some warfare but if you have flow set up properly and take other precautions, just in case, all should be well. I keep a single yellow fiji leather in my sps dominated 70g tank, I have had it for 5 years and just love its beautiful color and soft look compared to the sps look, it is no problem what so ever. I also keep Ricordea and some zooanthids, but not many. So in all my years I have mixed softies with lps and sps with no issues. Maybe the war between softies and stonies is over rated .

 

[Serioussnaps]

now you have yourself an excuse to get another tank!!!!!!!!!

 

[Shawnts106]

The only thing with the open reef and the proximity of softies and sps is the movement of water...you really cannot compare the movement of water on the reef in the wild to a closed system.

Of course, I was mearly useing that as a horibly bad analogy... lol.

Yes that is correct, thanks for pointing it out.