Are these type reef tanks really harder to maintain?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

You may have heard it said before that a MIXED Reef Tank was harder to maintain due to the mix of corals needing different flow, different light, feeding etc..

So is a mixed reef tank harder to keep more happy and healthy?

If true why is it harder in your opinion?

If false why do you say so?

Beautiful mixed reef video via @Reefer350Khash

 

[SKYHIGGh]

Mixed reef is harder long term. At first it seems all is well but once you pick a type of coral you love over time you tend to fill the tank up with that particular species and the rest just end up basically trying to survive.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have three mixed reef tanks.
not so much that is difficult, but you have to watch what you put in to tank and where you put it. Many softies have stingers that can cause serious tissue damage. Softies also release various toxins which are harmful to stony/SPS coral.
Use of carbon and skimmer are important in this manner, and lastly water flow requirements differ for SPS vs. Softies In addition to lighting requirements where some softies cant tolerate bright lighting.

 

[Larry L]

I find mixed reefs are harder to do in smaller/shallower tanks, mainly due to corals having different lighting requirements. In a bigger tank it's easier to have different zones where the lighting varies (either brighter from top to dimmer on bottom, or from middle to sides). Same for flow requirements.

 

[WillH]

I think it is harder min mix reef to control lighting and flow that will make both species thrive. I think you can make both survive, but thrive is the difficulty

 

[BuBBly FiSh]

You may have heard it said before that a MIXED Reef Tank was harder to maintain due to the mix of corals needing different flow, different light, feeding etc..

So is a mixed reef tank harder to keep more happy and healthy?

If true why is it harder in your opinion?

If false why do you say so?

Beautiful mixed reef video via @Reefer350Khash

The reason a mixed reef is no longer difficult is because they now have what is known as the Hybrid method. It is a fixture with T5 lights for the outer edges of your tank with room for your led lights AI , KESSIL , ECO TECH in the center. Also with a mixed reef tank you are kinda forced to spend more time and attention to your corals needs. Example Par, Placement, water parameters. We have so much more information and resources available compared to ten years ago making it easier to have a successful mixed reef tank. Example are Reef2Reef, Bulk Reef Supply and there videos and research on flow, lighting, par, equipment, controllers, refugium's, hybrid method, fish and coral foods, nutrient control.

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I think mixed reef is mainly harder because getting optimum flow and light for each coral is more challenging. I find I take a long time to commit to gluing a new coral to the rockwork because I need to balance light and flow needs for all of the coral, and want the placement to look appealing too. For a couple coral it's not bad, but when I buy 10 new frags, I tend to let them sit on a frag rack for months before I decide where to put them all.

 

[Belgian Anthias]

What is the definition of a mixed reef aquarium? Is mixing LPS and SPS a mixed reef? Or mixing SPS with filter-feeders?
SPS + LPS + Fishes?
If we are not able to define a mixed reef, what is the definition of a reef aquarium which is considered not to be a mixed reef?

 

[ca1ore]

I've never found a mixed reef to be materially harder than a type specific reef. Mixing SPS, LPS and zoas is certainly not harder. Perhaps if one tried a significant amount of softies with stony corals problems might arise. I only have a few softies in my tank, along with SPS and LPS (zoas are lunch).

 

[BradB]

Depends what you are mixing, and what you mean by harder.

Suppose I had an empty tank except for Homewrecker. It would be easy to maintain at first, as optimal flow, light and nutrient levels is the same for everything. But as it grew, some would have to go in places with more light and flow, and other's less. And we've all had colonies or entire types of Acropora suddenly go belly up - with one type of coral that wipes out the tank.

And then harder could mean harder to create an interesting display, not just harder to keep alive. A whole tank, especially a large tank, of one type of coral, is boring.

 

[BradB]

I've also found that it is hard to predict what does well. I can set up a tank with the intent of keep LPS, high light, low nutrient, medium flow. Add LPS might do badly and an odd cheap Acropora that got thrown in does well. Now I can keep adding Acros, and I have a mixed reef doing well that could turn into an SPS tank, or I could keeping adding LPS and spend money watching them die until something changes. Planning ahead is hard.

 

[Jon Fishman]

It’s easy.... I put it all in my tank..... it either survives or it doesn’t........

I move stuff if it gets crowded etc, but for the most part, it’s like the Brady Bunch..... and if Bobby decides to kick Cindy in the face, then so be it.

 

[BeejReef]

I'd think so. Certainly if the "mix" includes acropora.
You might be able to make the case that a mixed reef of softies and a few euphylia and acans would be easier than sps-only, but as soon as your mixed-reef covers the full spectrum, it almost has to, by definition, be harder.

 

[mta_morrow]

Very mixed......so far so good!
LPS, leathers, zoas, clam, gorgonia, easier SPS (no acros), and nems (magnifica, LTA, 2 rbta,, 3 rock flowers. And lots of fish.

 

[Ferrell]

Couldn’t possibly know. I’m heavy softies and LPS and slowly adding sps. I will have to say sps and chalices have been my biggest challenge to date. It has been an interesting journey non the less

 

[SeaDweller]

The reason a mixed reef is no longer difficult is because they now have what is known as the Hybrid method. It is a fixture with T5 lights for the outer edges of your tank with room for your led lights AI , KESSIL , ECO TECH in the center. Also with a mixed reef tank you are kinda forced to spend more time and attention to your corals needs. Example Par, Placement, water parameters. We have so much more information and resources available compared to ten years ago making it easier to have a successful mixed reef tank. Example are Reef2Reef, Bulk Reef Supply and there videos and research on flow, lighting, par, equipment, controllers, refugium's, hybrid method, fish and coral foods, nutrient control.

Why would a hybrid light fixture lend to more success for a mixed reef?

 

[Mical]

It depends on the extent of your mixed reef. I have LPS, GSP,Kenya tree and SPS and all are doing fine. My flow is more towards SPS but my params are on the high end of LPS (I average PH about 8.19) I run kessils levels for SPS and all seem to like it. I also don't run socks and dose 2 part.

Previously I had leathers and they get irritated at moderate to high flow and they can produce toxins that "stunt" LPS & SPS. Kenya tree seems to be the exception IMO.

 

[champyeti]

I have only ever kept a mixed reef but it probably depends on what you have and where you place it.

For example all of my RFAs are at the bottom of the tank. They love it down there. My LPS and SPS are then on the higher rocks where they get more light and flow. They all seem happy. If I tried to force them to be at the same height the RFAs would get too much light or the acros wouldn't get enough. I think how you compose and position your mixed reef dictates your success and ease.

 

[robbyg]

I assume by the Ops post that he is comparing a coral only reef tank with SPS, LPS to one that also has numerous Fish. Since Nutrient export issues are the hardest to get a grip on it's without a doubt harder once you add a lots of fish into the tank. Its not so bad if you have the self control to just put in a few fish but most people go way past that.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I assume by the Ops post that he is comparing a coral only reef tank with SPS, LPS to one that also has numerous Fish. Since Nutrient export issues are the hardest to get a grip on it's without a doubt harder once you add a lots of fish into the tank. Its not so bad if you have the self control to just put in a few fish but most people go way past that.

I have 3 fish!