Whats the difference?

[theone]

Whats the difference between softies and LPS?

I've been reading out here and Bostonreefers.org and I have decided to do a softie and LPS tank. No SPS. Seems like a bit too much for my time.

My set up is a 50G 36x18x18 with a 1.5" sand bed,20lbs of dead rock,20 lbs of live rock from a very well know reefer in these parts, remora skimmer,cpr 13" HOB fuge, 250W MH SE 20K, and 12" from H2O. Thats it really. Wait I use IO Salt with distilled H2OAnd there are 3 PH's...2 Koralia #1 and a Hagen 402 pointed at the surface for exchange of gases. MJ1200 on skimmer, Rio 600 I think on the hob fuge. Now thats it...really, I think.Oh yeah there is a Jager 250w heater and the temp is steady at 79.

I put it in the wall in my living room with the other side in our office. Made the stand out of 2x4's and just need to do the finish work.

This will be my 2nd reef. I've been enjoying saltwater for 5 years now, with 15 years experiance with freshwater.

Its been cycling now for 1 week. The life that came with the rock (brittle stars, mini stars, shrooms, grene polyp,sponges,... etc) are all doing fine.

Should I feed anything in there???

I think I would like to do : blastos, acans, zoos, plate,frog,hammer, to start and I want a clam.

Its funny, when I moved, I realized that softies liked less than perfect conditions. As my tank got more and more neglected and the corals were doing better.

Is that somewhat true with LPS?

Well anyway I want to do this tank up right for what I can work with. No plans for a sump.

I would love any advice from anyone that cares.

 

[drummereef]

I find both softies and lps fairly easy to keep. I don't direct feed any of the corals and they are doing fine. Just light. I would say it's better to be safe then sorry when it comes to water params. I have 0 nitrate and phosphates and I keep my alk/calcium in balance with 2-part. Keep these things in mind and you'll do ok.

 

[theone]

thanks drummer. I hope to have some pics soon. I need a better camera.

Does anyone think its OK to cycle with cheato in the fuge?

 

[dendro982]

For me LPS are much easier (hardier), than softies and mushrooms, IMHE.

With LPS are 2 negative sides - mutual location because of sweeping tentacles, and manual feeding with removing uneaten food after that. This easier to do in shallow tank.

They tolerated nitrates 40 ppm, phosphates 0.5 ppm, low Mg ~1160, pH 7.8 to 8.6. The perfect parameters will be better, of course.

Blastos - I have Merletti, but it became boring - green-brown. The brighter welsii will be better. Just a thought.