Yikes. Frogspawn and Leather?

[Fountainhead]

So I'm new to LPS and just got a nice frogspawn. Now I read here that you shouldn't keep LPS in the same tank with softies, and more specifically toadstools. (Why don't the online coral vendors note this in their descriptions?)

So I have a huge quartet of Toadstool Leathers at the other end of the tank. They're a good 2 feet from the frogspawn. Is the frogspawn doomed? Will it help to run carbon in the sump and change it weekly? Will the frogspawn eventually die, or just not thrive?

What a bummer. I don't want to be restricted to softies, but I'd hate to give up that huge toadstool leather.

 

[besl]

I have a mixed reef with softies, lps and sps including frogspawn, leathers, toadstool, etc, etc. Most say to run carbon to remove the toxins given off by the softies - I usually do, but have gone a few months with no carbon and I have had no problem - JME.

 

[Fountainhead]

Thanks for that. What about when the toadstool sheds? Ever had any of that land on a frogspawn? Any adverse effect?

 

[saltycreefer]

you should be ok. just make sure you keep fresh carbon in the sump. best to use a small amount and change it weekly. also running a protein skimmer helps

 

[72olds455]

Tagging along

 

[Sk8r]

The toadstools, as I understand, are not as ****y as say, sinularia or some of the fluffy branching softies. They're more like mushrooms which the frog tolerates pretty well. WHat you can expect is not slaughter, rather a slight failure to thrive, the frog not being as expanded as you might like and not growing as readily. Carbon has the effect of taking out a few trace minerals, as I understand it, so you might consider a supplement like Kent's Coral Vite once a week, just as a backup: if I were running carbon, I would do that, myself. Don't worry about it. If your main aim is a tank to enjoy it should do fine. If you were growing to frag [a lot] I'd say separate quarters.
Also, if your tank has a definite flow that takes things one direction and out, put the leathers last in the water flow: lps don't spit into the water: they aggress with sweeper tentacles, so if you see the tentacles blow toward the softies, fine, it's well set to get fresh water on itself, and will send good water toward the softies, no harm done to either. If the other direction, it will be getting more softie-spit than it might like. HTH.

 

[seattlerob]

Yep, I agree w/besl & salty. I have torch & frogspawn in same 45g tank with toadstool & other leathers. I keep them apart, of course, and use a bit of carbon in my HOB skimmer. All seem to be doing just fine.

hth,
rob

 

[besl]

I have seen the toxic mucous land on a piece of sps - if I see it I blow it off with a turkey baster - I have seen no ill affects though to the corals. I am generally more concerned with the sweeper tentacles touching another coral, or coral-coral contact (e.g. a piece of coral falling on another piece or corals growing into each other). I have had a few corals get stung this way - they have recovered, but this is something you absolutely want to avoid whenever possible.

 

[Fountainhead]

Whew. OK, thanks guys/gals. I definitely feel better now.

 

[divecj5]

Great explanation Sk8r. I am getting ready to get a frogspawn myself and it's good to know these things before placing it and other corals I will get in the future. Thanks for the info.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8170397#post8170397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
The toadstools, as I understand, are not as ****y as say, sinularia or some of the fluffy branching softies. They're more like mushrooms which the frog tolerates pretty well. WHat you can expect is not slaughter, rather a slight failure to thrive, the frog not being as expanded as you might like and not growing as readily. Carbon has the effect of taking out a few trace minerals, as I understand it, so you might consider a supplement like Kent's Coral Vite once a week, just as a backup: if I were running carbon, I would do that, myself. Don't worry about it. If your main aim is a tank to enjoy it should do fine. If you were growing to frag [a lot] I'd say separate quarters.
Also, if your tank has a definite flow that takes things one direction and out, put the leathers last in the water flow: lps don't spit into the water: they aggress with sweeper tentacles, so if you see the tentacles blow toward the softies, fine, it's well set to get fresh water on itself, and will send good water toward the softies, no harm done to either. If the other direction, it will be getting more softie-spit than it might like. HTH.

 

[chocolates mom]

Right now in my tank I have a Toadstool, a mushroom and a couple of zoos. I would like to add a hammer. If I put it at least 6 inches from my other guys do you think they will be ok? Also re the carbon. I have Biowheel 400 filter and change the carbon in that about every 3 or 4 weeks, would that be ok?

 

[db_triggerfish]

besl,saltycreefer,Sk8r,seattlerob, THANKS for the advice I am planning a new Reef Tank. Information like this if used right now or query at a latter date is great.

 

[Sk8r]

A hammer's sweepers can be about 2x the length of its average tentacles under full day expansion. 6 inches will mostly do it. And, a note for those keeping euphyllia [hammer and frogspawn] these two types of corals can snuggle up together and mix tentacles with each other with no harm, and their tentacle extension is roughly the same, frog a little shorter. Torch is in the same family, but reports vary about the success of adding that to the mix: it has its name partly because it's hot.

 

[CraigG]

MY toadstool isn't that big but has been near my frogspawn for quite some time. No issues at all. Frogspawn has doubled in size and toadstool has probably tripled. No issues whatsoever. I will keep an eye on them though, never knew they would pester each other like that.

 

[landragon]

In a tank I maintain, the 1' diameter frogspawn centerpiece, grew into and won against the toadstool. The TS's head is now shaped like an ear, where it's growth is stunted along the "burn line". Polyp extension is poor nearest to the FS as well. But nothing seems to stop that FS! Fragging it every three weeks to maintain the 1' space that can safely accomodate it.

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

I have a huge wall hammer, 2 nice frogspawns, 2 big sinularia, scolymia, anemones, and zoas. the only thing I have noticed not doing as well since the introduction of all the softies are the zoas.

I do run carbon all the time in a can filter and I change it every 2 months. I rinse it every 2 weeks, but only change completely every 2 months. Here is a pic

 

[chocolates mom]

Blakenship what is the pinkish coral on the bottom left hand side?

 

[NanoKat]

I've had a toadstool and a frogspawn in my 15g nano for about a year now. I've had no noticeable problems between the 2. Each one is mounted on a small rock, so I move them around occassionally when I feel like rearranging. The biggest problem I did have was after I first got the frogspawn and it quadrupled in size within a couple of weeks (it was enjoying my feeding it...the previous owner never did) and then it sent out sweepers and nuked some xenias on the next rock over. I realized that I can't have the flow directing its tentacles into any softies...lesson learned there!

I would not hesitate to tell anyone to get a frogspawn...mine is great and loves when I feed it Spectrum pellets! I think it has like 4 heads now (from the 1 when I got it).

Good luck!

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

It is a gonipora or flower pot coral. Suppose to be real hard to keep alive??? I haven't had any problems yet(knock on wood).

It like low flow, I think it looks sweet in the sand bed!!!!

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

blankenship, why do you have a dead clam shell up at the top for?