my lps told me its not a good idea mixing softies in the same tank as sps. what are everyones thoughts on the matter:wavehand:
I have a big green sinulara in my mixed reef right in the middle, close to sps. I haven't had any problems since its my only leather. I run carbon which probly helps too.
Yes, carbon will help. Just not in love with soft corals even ignoring the chemical warfare issue.
I'm not sure telling somebody that mixing lps and sps is a bad idea just because you don't like lps is a valid point.
Did you ask your LFS why it was a bad idea? They probably had something in mind when they said that.
There are certainly enough people keeping mixed reefs successfully to know it's possible.
Terpenoid Compounds
Soft corals generally compete with the hard corals by conducting chemical warfare; they release terpenoid or sarcophine compounds into the water to injure or impede the growth of neighboring corals. Like their name implies, these compounds are similar to turpentine in chemical structure and in most instances, are just as toxic. These chemicals also prevent other unwanted organisms from settling on or near the corals that produce them. [e] By releasing these compounds, the soft coral injures neighboring stony corals and can thus grow above them, eventually blocking out the light that they are both dependent upon and thereby killing the underlying hard coral. The process of influencing the growth and development of other organisms through use of chemical compounds is called 'allelopathy.'
I assume you mean LFS not LPS. I agree with them and do not have soft corals in any tank.
I also disagree with this. I think you can very much keep a mixed reef. I have one without problem. I think you do need to plan out placement and that would be the most important part. I have zoas, plays, mushrooms, torch, frogspawn, hammers, cynarina, arcos, birdsnest all in one little biocube. No one bothers anyone. Just plan out a structure they can all grow on with out disruption. Also give room so minimal triming would be needed and as SPS grows out, be sure they wont block light from reaching other corals.