Mixed aquariums

[AlwaysHatingNathan]

So a buddy of mine brought up a point that one reason some my corals are not healing properly or happy is that I’m trying to keep to much of variety of corals. I have few different kind of shrooms, some blastos, Duncan’s, zoas, hammers and frogspawne and few acros and branching monti. He claims that one reason my corals are not healing from my heater failure that I fixed over month ago is that I’m trying so make two many corals happy that don’t have same requirements. I was just wondering anyone have luck doing really diverse mixed tank? Pics me nice or destination of what corals y’all have.

 

[Flippers4pups]

So a buddy of mine brought up a point that one reason some my corals are not healing properly or happy is that I’m trying to keep to much of variety of corals. I have few different kind of shrooms, some blastos, Duncan’s, zoas, hammers and frogspawne and few acros and branching monti. He claims that one reason my corals are not healing from my heater failure that I fixed over month ago is that I’m trying so make two many corals happy that don’t have same requirements. I was just wondering anyone have luck doing really diverse mixed tank? Pics me nice or destination of what corals y’all have.

Mixed tanks are doable, though I never have had much luck with zoas. Palythoas I can grow though.

 

[resortez]

From my experience, a mix of corals shouldn’t be an issue. I do keep a strict schedule on the tank though. Water changes are performed religiously every 2 weeks & all detritus trapping media is rinsed, trace elements are dosed every week. I run a refugium with skimmer, UV & carbon. But the biggest help comes from my CUC, a strong & hard working bunch, from crabs, hermits, snails, urchins, sea stars, shrimps, cucumbers & a lobster. I’m housing leathers, shrooms, montis, nems, a variety of z’s & p’s, euphyllia & chalices. I suggest you run all numbers & see if any readings are off that can point to the problem but off the bat without knowing numbers, I’m going to guess alk. Take in mind that the more coral you house, the faster certain parameters will be depleted. Hope it helps.

 

[fishguy242]

hi what size tank ? any pics?

 

[AlwaysHatingNathan]

hi what size tank ? any pics?

56 gallon and no good pics as of this minute but will take some later when get chance but for warning corals are not looking best but at least one my acros has gained its color back ha

 

[W1ngz]

Your friend has an interesting theory, but fact is on a wild reef different corals all grow together, in areas of varying light and flow. The water parameters themselves don't change much if at all from the top of a reef down to the sand.

 

[Nano sapiens]

Experience over the decades of reef keeping has shown that allelopathy in a reef tank is not as big a concern as one might initially think. While there are certain corals that can negatively effect others (soft corals such as Leather Corals come to mind) even when not in direct contact, the vast majority get along in a reef aquarium once they become accustomed to each other. Physical contact is much more of an issue IME.

This little 12g 'mixed reef' nano has been continuously running for nearly 12 years and has always had a full complement of the various types of corals/false corals. About 1/2 of the corals have been existing together for ~6 years or more. Because of the small water volume and the fact that I use no mechanical or chemical filtration, I decided early on to limit the soft coral population and gorgonians. Mushrooms, Zoas, LPS and SPS are all well represented:

 

[AlwaysHatingNathan]

Experience over the decades of reef keeping has shown that allelopathy in a reef tank is not as big a concern as one might initially think. While there are certain corals that can negatively effect others (soft corals such as Leather Corals come to mind) even when not in direct contact, the vast majority get along in a reef aquarium once they become accustomed to each other. Physical contact is much more of an issue IME.

This little 12g 'mixed reef' nano has been continuously running for nearly 12 years and has always had a full complement of the various types of corals/false corals. About 1/2 of the corals have been existing together for ~6 years or more. Because of the small water volume and the fact that I use no mechanical or chemical filtration, I decided early on to limit the soft coral population and gorgonians. Mushrooms, Zoas, LPS and SPS are all well represented:

Beautiful tank I love it. My friend was more concerned about nutrient levels, because spa traditionally don’t like high nutrients but he said blastos and lps high higher nutrients

 

[AlwaysHatingNathan]

Your friend has an interesting theory, but fact is on a wild reef different corals all grow together, in areas of varying light and flow. The water parameters themselves don't change much if at all from the top of a reef down to the sand.

This is true, he was just claiming that like lps like higher nutrients in water than sps.

 

[Uncle99]

True about mixing, has its challenges

 

[AlwaysHatingNathan]

True about mixing, has its challenges

Looking nice, what kind lighting you running?

 

[Uncle99]

65g 48” long, running two 165w Chinese black boxes (Visparspectra)
These lights have been great, never changed light in three years now.

 

[W1ngz]

I know we all have challenges, but when I see tank shots like this I can't help but wonder what challenges you could possibly be having... lol

True about mixing, has its challenges

 

[NanoDJS]

Not all mixed reefs are the same I run heavy SPS system with the full gamut of coral in a 16-inch tall tank . It's a challenge for sure but that's what I like keeping chalices and highlight acropora with lower light Monty's mushrooms z&ps and lots of favia/ musa type corals is super fun ! I have found that po4 around 1.0 with no.3 between 5 to 10 and all my corals love it and have great growth and coloration it's about balance