Starting a new LPS tank

mfinn · May 13, 2012

I have a small ( 30" x 20" x 20") tank that has been up and running for about a year.
It has been empty of fish and any corals for about 3 months.
I have a ATI Sunpower 6 x 24 watt unit for lights, a SWC mini hot skimmer and a 30 gallon sump/refugium
Flow is with a 2 x Tunze 6055's on a 7095 controller and a Tunze 6045.
I like the motion of my softy tank, but want something different in this tank, so I'm think a frogspawn, hammer, torch dominated tank.
I tried a few different lps corals back in the early 90's, that didn't work out too well.

I know that these corals are suppose to be a easy ( beginner ) coral to keep, but what are some concerns, things I need to watch for?
I know they use sweeper tentacles to battle for reef space. Will they battle like species the same?

Any tips?

ReeferBee · May 13, 2012

LPS are generally pretty easy and have a lot of different colors and morphs. Most like a moderate amount of flow, some like less or more, and like low to moderate light for the most part. I keep my frogspawn, duncan and hammer coral pretty close to each other with no issues and I never really see their sweeper tentacles. Now my galaxea is a different story. It keeps its sweepers out most of the day and night and they are several inches long. Ive moved it several places to avoid it stinging something else. Another one that has done some damage to other corals are my Acan enchinata. I have lost a few mini colonies of LPS to enchinata. So it really just depends on the coral. I love LPS!

REEFKEEPER10 · May 13, 2012

Galaxy and elegance are the two to really watch out for. As far as flow galaxy will keep it tentacles in when in less flow IME. Make sure not to blast LPS with flow because it can damage them. If you can get a good back and forth motion you should be good.

mfinn · May 14, 2012

REEFKEEPER10 said:
Galaxy and elegance are the two to really watch out for.

a elegance is one I definately want. there are some really nice ones around now

revhtree · May 14, 2012

Oh cool can't wait to see this!

REEFKEEPER10 · May 14, 2012

Yeah I have seen deep purple with neon green tips and neon green with purple tips unfortunately I didn't have a $150 that they wanted for either one. Lol

creefer · May 14, 2012

I have always thought this would be a cool thing to do. Like reeferbe said, I too have had some loses due to an aggressive acan enchinata. I lost a really nice chalice to it.