How do you mix SPS and LPS corals in your tank without causing problems between them?

[coburn56daniels5]

I would love to hear about this from experienced reef keepers and what you think about keeping both together?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Over the last 20+ years I have keep all kinds of corals together. Corals are just like people. Some times they get along just fine as neighbors. Some times they fight like cats & dogs. Until you see them next to each other, there is very little knowing how they will react.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Do you mean in regards to lighting and flow? Or placement? Or coral warfare? Sorry can you clarify what info you are asking for?

 

[coburn56daniels5]

Hi there, I have a 92 reef. It's been up for about 2 years now.

My 1st corals were mostly LPS due to light and cost (Zoos, Shrooms, fuzzy shrooms, colt, xenia, ect)

Over the past year of so i've been converting over to SPS but i still have a lot of shrooms and fuzzy shrooms. Most of my zoos have died off.

I am just wondering if having both species in the tank is having any negative affect on the other species, as in the existence of LPS in the tank is causing my SPS to grow poorly and/or become diseased and/or vice versa...

One thing i have noticed is that the more SPS I put in the tank, the poorer my LPS appear to be doing....

Anyone have any info on this.

Hello im this question called my attention and ignore my new account. Old account got missing since i lost phone but never the less i have over 15 years of experience and this my job to supply and advice on anything related to this topic.

When mixing SPS (Small Polyp Stony) and LPS (Large Polyp Stony) corals in a reef tank, the key is to create an environment where both can thrive without interfering with each other. Here are a few strategies you can use:

1. Placement: SPS corals generally need more light and stronger water flow than LPS corals. So, it's important to position them accordingly. SPS should be placed higher in the tank where light is more intense and flow is stronger, while LPS can be placed lower or in shaded areas where the light is less direct, and the flow is gentler.
2. Space: Give each coral plenty of space to grow. SPS corals are often more aggressive with their stinging tentacles, and if they come into contact with LPS, it can cause tissue damage or death. Ensure there’s enough distance between the corals, especially between SPS and LPS, to avoid any issues.
3. Water Parameters: Both SPS and LPS corals need stable and consistent water parameters, but they can have slightly different needs. SPS prefer higher calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels, while LPS can tolerate a bit more fluctuation. So, aim for a balance, keeping parameters stable across the tank but not pushing them to extremes that could stress out either type of coral.
4. Feeding: LPS corals tend to benefit from more direct feeding (e.g., small chunks of meaty foods), while SPS are primarily filter feeders and get nutrients from the water column. Be mindful of feeding to avoid excess nutrients that could fuel algae growth, which might harm both types of corals.
5. Water Flow: SPS corals thrive in strong, turbulent flow, while LPS prefer more moderate flow. Position powerheads and pumps to create areas of both strong and moderate flow, creating zones where each coral type can find the ideal conditions.
6. Monitor Growth: Over time, as corals grow, they may start to encroach on each other's space. Keep an eye on them and trim or frag any corals that are starting to invade the other’s territory.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Having a mixed tank is not easy, you have to keep the upper part of the tank as high flow and high light, and the lower part of the tank as low flow low light, and then you need to find a balance with nutrients. Mushrooms and zoa's are the hardest to acclimate to an sps tank IME.

There is trial and error and it takes a lot more time to build out a full mixed tank compared to just sticking with one type.

 

[Science/G]

It's tricky.... I've settled on some easy SPS, like smooth skin acros, anacropora and Montipora to go along with my LPS corals for a nice mix of branching "sticks" and fleshy LPS and chalices. I also have some encrusting SPS like psammocora and stylocoeniella as well. Moderate lighting and flow with Nitrates in the teens, phosphates .02 to .08. I get good color and moderate growth in all my corals.

 

[steveschuerger]

I’ve always had easier sps like montis and Stylophora with lps . I’ve not had any real luck in longer term survival of even “beginner” acros

 

[Dburr1014]

*SPACE*

 

[Ron Reefman]

Hi there, I have a 92 reef. It's been up for about 2 years now.

My 1st corals were mostly LPS due to light and cost (Zoos, Shrooms, fuzzy shrooms, colt, xenia, ect)

Just to be clear here, Zoos, Shrooms, fuzzy shrooms, colt, xenia, etc., are not LPS corals; they are soft corals and have no skeleton. LPS is Large Polyp Stony, which means they have a skeleton, like hammer corals.

 

[VintageReefer]

Placing the corals in the tank will have no affect if spaced. The issue would likely come from changes you made from the tank to accommodate sps, such as increasing lighting or flow, or reducing nutrients, than the softies and lps ended up not liking.

So. What changes did you make?