to what extent do we think allelopathy plays in our tanks?

[becon776]

Just curious ...used to have a spa dominated tank they thrived... lps seem to have suffered now it vice versa... no matter what I seemingly do.

 

[RandyO]

More than you know.

 

[jdoenumber2]

Very interesting topic. I don't know how factual what i believe is. Corals release toxins which affect everything around them. Used to out compete for food and territory. Some release more then others, some are more susceptible then others from damage.

 

[tmz]

The allelopathic compounds can accumulate . Granulated activated carbon(gac) and purigen can help a bit depending on whether the allelopathic organic compounds which are usually long chains have an affinity for the carbon and/or the resin. Ozone can break the carbon links in the chains and enhance the effectiveness of the gac.

 

[SkiFletch]

To think that Alleopathy plays no role in our tank is akin to sticking your head in the sand or claiming the sun is green. To what extent it plays is a question I'm by no means smart enough to answer. Further I imagine it's really tank and coral specific. So almost like treating people medically, each tank is probably it's own system with it's own alleopathic mixture. Tom's right, there are things we can do, but we can't "fix" it all

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

allelopathy?

allelopathy?

most of the people reading this thread have probably never heard of it.

It's worth researching since it's got to be a huge factor in closed systems.

 

[tmz]

One lesson I learned early is that if you have a sick leather( collapsed, tuning blackish) get it out. One bad sacrophyton or sinularia can ruin a system quickly.

 

[Dave VG]

It is a very interesting topic indeed. I have thought about it before especially when buying and placing some corals.

 

[Dave VG]

Is there a list of toxic corals and there toxicity level somewhere?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Is there a list of toxic corals and there toxicity level somewhere?

there is.

Or at least there used to be. I don't know of any new published studies- most are at least a couple of years old. If I can locate them I'll post a link.

 

[Dave VG]

Thanks Gary. All I had time for was a very short search yesterday and found some stuff but didn't have the time to really read that much of it. One thing I did find is that Gonioporas seem to one of the very toxic corals and that poisons produced by some corals can not be filtered out not even with carbon. And this morning I found this while digging around pretty interesting read to say the least.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2002/cw.htm

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

re: allelopathy SPS vs. LPS

re: allelopathy SPS vs. LPS

that first link...
are you referring to the discussion of heavy metals in reef aquaria?

One thing that came out of those old discussions was the toxic metal levels in artificial saltmixes. Long story short, Ron ended up recommending reefkeepers use a certain brand of saltmix (Crystal Seas) which met with widespread disasterous consequences in reef aquariums of many experienced reefkeepers including Playfair, myself, Greg Hiller etc.
Do NOT use that saltmix in a reef aquarium with sensitive corals!

The toxicity of Goniopora is fairly well known. So is the toxicity of many "chalice" type corals (Oxypora, Echinopora etc.)

I believe some of the Fungiids are high on toxicity (Randy correct me if I'm wrong).

Taking this to another level, what really interests me nowadays is the stunting of fish and to what extent (if any) allelopathy might play in it.

 

[Dave VG]

that first link...
are you referring to the discussion of heavy metals in reef aquaria?.

Yes and I removed that link thanks for the heads up and as I read further it is off topic. I did not know that about Goniopora and chalices and others may not know this either so I will leave that one. Very interested in the chalice toxicity too as I have a few of them.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

here's one article I was referring to:

here's one article I was referring to:

this is a really good read!

The Role of Allelopathic Chemicals in the Spatial Patterning of Benthic Communities

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Entomology/courses/en570/papers_1998/lindberg.htm

Allelopathy not only plays a huge role in our aquariums but in the ocean as well!

 

[becon776]

Nice read!