What would you get rid of in a mixed reef to go more SPS dominant?

OneReef

Reef Guru
I have lots of SPS, but I want to go more SPS dominant and wonder what existing corals that I have could be hindering SPS growth/coloration due to chemical warfare. I have no mushrooms or leathers.

I have a good bit of Zoanthids/Palys. Candy Canes, a Scoly, Hammer, Torch, Lobo Brains, Chalice, Acans, Duncans, and a couple of clams.

Are any of the above corals hindering SPS optimization? What would you remove for the most success with an almost all SPS tank?

Also, what about hermits? Do they irritate SPS by climbing on and around them? Would going all snails help, and taking out the crabs?
 
You don't have to get rid of anything. I have some of all but mostly sps. You just have to keep growth in mind and avoid things like mushrooms, gsp that can spread no matter what you do. Leathers can be trimmed, frogspawns can be broken away etc.
 
all those are fine. I just stay away from mushrooms. star polyps, xenia and invasive corals that like to take over. zoanthid can intrude over sps base as well but I just live with that.
 
all those are fine. I just stay away from mushrooms. star polyps, xenia and invasive corals that like to take over. zoanthid can intrude over sps base as well but I just live with that.

Removing the rocks that the shrooms were on was the only way I could get rid of them. Kalk paste, scraping, etc never worked. They're really a pain when they get into all the nooks and crannies.
 
Yes, when I set up my new 150g awhile back, I said NO to GSP, mushrooms, xenia, kenya tree, leathers, clove polyps, etc. Anything invasive will not enter my tank. Not on purpose anyways.... :0)
 
Shine a flashlight into the tank at night and get a sense of how long the sweepers are on your LPS. Keep SPS far enough away from being stung.
 
certain types of "chalice" corals (such as Oxypora) are highly toxic and can effect other corals in a closed system (but GAC and frequent water exchanges can resolve most issues IME).
 
I found that the high light and low nutrients and high flow I was working towards to maximize the SPS, hindered other things.

Its really not suprising when you think why most SPS dominate tanks, tend to be just that....all SPS. I think that is more or less the end point we come to when we become SPS snobs.
 
Its really not suprising when you think why most SPS dominate tanks, tend to be just that....all SPS. I think that is more or less the end point we come to when we become SPS snobs.


Yep.


Yes, when I set up my new 150g awhile back, I said NO to GSP, mushrooms, xenia, kenya tree, leathers, clove polyps, etc. Anything invasive will not enter my tank. Not on purpose anyways.... :0)

Uh huh!
 
It would be more of a space thing for me. As you start filling the tank with SPS remove some of those softies that are taking up valuable real estate. But you shouldn't run into anyone competition issues with what you have unless they are too close together.
 
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