Are mixed reefs really hard to keep?

[CHSUB]

Example here is a torch coral getting blasted in a mixed reef with GSP and other leathers



In the same tank an acropora Formosa one of the more demanding of all corals…

And let’s not forget mangroves!

 

[exnisstech]

That is why I said this….

With regards to nutrients, softies in my tank need manual removal weekly with undetectable nutrients…

Ya I've seen your tanks and read your thoughts on nutrient testing at the hobby level. While I don't follow your methods I can't argue with the results you get. Just shows how success can be obtained using many different methods I suppose and part of what makes the hobby so interesting.

 

[X-37B]

Oh I'm not saying it can't be done but it doesn't work well in my SPS tank. I'm probably running more light and flow than I really need. I use the excuse to set up a new tank if I want to try something else lol.

Yea my hammer is under the sweep around 140 par. Flow is about perfect for it. Anywhere out front and it would be too much flow.

 

[X-37B]

Example here is a torch coral getting blasted in a mixed reef with GSP and other leathers



In the same tank an acropora Formosa one of the more demanding of all corals…

And let’s not forget mangroves!

Mangroves are super cool! Nice job.

 

[X-37B]

Example here is a torch coral getting blasted in a mixed reef with GSP and other leathers



In the same tank an acropora Formosa one of the more demanding of all corals…

And let’s not forget mangroves!

Never tried mangroves.
Do you think I could grow them in my ext overflow? Easy to keep an eye on roots. I can easily hang a light over them.
How are they for nutrient control?

 

[CHSUB]

Never tried mangroves.
Do you think I could grow them in my ext overflow? Easy to keep an eye on roots. I can easily hang a light over them.
How are they for nutrient control?

Think they could do well with a light. Would need to keep them upright some how. With nutrient control they are very good and vastly underrated. Some guys did a test comparing to algae and claimed by comparing weight mangroves do not remove nutrients well. However, experts at Mote Aquarium told me mangroves use lots of energy dealing with salt so growth alone is not a good indicator of nutrients used.

I sell mangroves also if interested. 5 propagules for 20$ plus shipping.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Leather corals Ime do best when provided with the same conditions as more sensitive SPS corals.

I agree with you that the typical photosynthetic corals we keep can all do well together. I just have a much wider range of what I think is acceptable. lol

 

[X-37B]

Think they could do well with a light. Would need to keep them upright some how. With nutrient control they are very good and vastly underrated. Some guys did a test comparing to algae and claimed by comparing weight mangroves do not remove nutrients well. However, experts at Mote Aquarium told me mangroves use lots of energy dealing with salt so growth alone is not a good indicator of nutrients used.

I sell mangroves also if interested. 5 propagules for 20$ plus shipping.

Thanks.
Let me do some research on them.
I would need to attatch it to something that sits in the overflow. Maybe a piece of fitted rock?

 

[ReefED!]

I voted “somewhere in between” because mixed reefs can mean different things. Keeping many types of coral together except Acros? Relatively easy. Keeping Acros with LPS and trying to provide the right flow, lighting, and nutrients to all? Challenging.

This is where it gets hard for me - lighting and flow

My LPS are not as happy as they could be because I have the lights cranked up to make the acros happy.

And I often find my LPS getting blasted with too much flow in some weird spot somewhere as a side effect of trying to crank up the flow for my acros.

 

[vlangel]

I haven't been real successful with sensitive sps like acros but I have a few easier ones that don't mind the high nutrients in my tank, monticap, scroll coral and war coral. I also have a few easier LPS like trumpets and hammer. Softies are what seem to flourish in my tank, leathers and zoas/palys. And of course some macroalgae. So I guess my reef is mixed. I answered in between.

 

[jasonvan]

Easier than you think. Just dont overload yourself with too many different lps

 

[JonoH]

While my build thread I call 'SPS dominant' - its definately more of a mixed reef.
I found it hard to keep torches and hammer coral at the start, and other's like Zoa's would take a while to acclimate to the higher light.
Now what the SPS has grown out, its much easier! I have torches in almost complete shade from tabling acro colonies that are loving it, can only assume its due to the filtered light they get.
Leathers, GSP and Zoa's all acclimate to the higher light.

 

[ReefNutsThailand]

Interesting! I might not be able to answer because I just try to have more knowledge about mixed reef tank, anyone can suggest how is the ratio of SPS and LPS or softies that would be the good for keeping them?

 

[Nordy]

I love mixed reefs, I think there is so much to take into account. I’ll use chalice corals as an example. There are plenty of Chalice corals that want that 100 par or less, and just enough flow to keep off the detritus. First pic, disregard Rufus, the Anthias that is like a lost puppy that needs to be everywhere I am. So the whatever it’s called purple chalice on the right has a little protection from rockscape on the right that keeps the MP4 from blowing off the flesh. The one on the left I would surmise is about the same par, but the leading edge on the right side of that chalice doesn’t like the flow, even though it has protection also from the direct current of same MP4 that is cycling different programs no higher than 15 percent power attached to the glass on the right 25” away, and at that power it is set in shorter bursts, not constant.
I have another chalice on a branch up in the mountains near sps land that I don’t think I could kill with a reefing mistake, lights, flow, nutrient or trace elements that are outta whack, like my iron value being 28,200 times more than it should from my last ICP. I have one chalice in my system that’s been moved a dozen times.(Buy stock in Seachem , I use there reef epoxy like crazy), and it wants almost a dead spot in flow, and a shaded/nondirect shimmer of light. I can park it in the back corner or find an overhang that shields it from my LED’s. Lights and flow can be overdone with any coral, I’ve blasted an Acro when this system was ready for one, and it became a skeleton in about 48 hours. Probably like going into a walk in freezer and standing right in front of the fan. And those extra bright lights that blind you when driving on a two-way road in your car at night from an oncoming new car with LED tech that obliterated your retinas, well, it certainly doesn’t take a 1100 watt metal halide to burn a coral that can gradually work up to high par values. I believe in flow. 2 wavemakers in my sump, flexible pvc tubing going from canister filters that are pushing strong flow through media into my sump as well. I use 6 gyres, two MP4’s and two return nozzles. My reef is prized with my intentions, over the top for many. I would say you can really dial in your corals needs with placement and aquascape design.

 

[ReefTankENG]

In between. I’ve only ever had mixed. So hard to compare