Plush polyp pool: Have you ever had a softie tank?

[Peace River]

Plush polyp pool: Have you ever had a softie tank?

Softie tanks can be beautiful too! With all the marketing focus on SPS and LPS highlighting the latest acro, torch, or other “must-have” coral, it seems that soft corals don’t get the same level of love. Sometimes softie tanks are viewed as starter tanks and a step on the way to an SPS or mixed reef tank. I have a feeling that there are a lot more softie tanks out there that may not get emphasized or talked about. Please tell us about your experience with keeping a softie tank. Do you have one or have you had one in the past? Do you have any tips or stories to share?

Photo by @MJC

 

[vetteguy53081]

One of my favorites I had:

 

[Gumbies R Us]

One of my favorites I had:

Amazing looking tank!!

 

[John Bolden]

Now that I see Vetts tank I NEED one .

 

[Garf]

Well, it had one SPS;
Quite a while ago.

 

[blecki]

I think it's more accurate to say I keep 'some sps in my mixed reef tank'. What's the threshold for it being a softie tank? 90%? 95%? 100%?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I think it's more accurate to say I keep 'some sps in my mixed reef tank'. What's the threshold for it being a softie tank? 90%? 95%? 100%?

I would imagine LPS and photosythetic NON-SPS species. As soon as you add SPS, its a mixed reef tank

 

[design.maddie]

My first 3 tanks were all softies. I was way too scared to even try anything else. I gave up the practical parts of the hobby and went deeper into the theory aspects. (I didn't have the money to run a tank lol) When I came back I wanted a SPS tank. I told myself it would be a mixed reef, but I knew deep down I wanted the test of having SPS. I did, and it was amazing learning process. I feel so much more confident compared to the year and years back. I currently have a mixed LPS/SPS/Zoas. I think I would have a STUNNING softie tank if I gave it another go. My space is too limited though. 1 tank only.


tidbit extra, I like the idea of a softie tank because I would have a REAL reason to run carbon 24/7 and I find that reason cool.

 

[rhitee93]

It's interesting timing that you asked this. I'm starting my first tank in about 20 years, and have a while to go before I'll even have water in glass let alone critters in the tank. As I have been planning things out I realized that my only interest in the SPS corals are the fact that they are "Supposed" to be the pinnacle of the hobby.

Everything that makes me think "Oh, look at that" is the motion associated with the softies and LPS. It feels like I am heading in that direction. My only real hesitation is that I would love to have a clam someday, but the droseras prefer lower light than some of the others, so even that may not be incompatible with a softie oriented tank.

 

[aquakj]

I actually converting my tank into a softie tank however I have a few big pieces of LPS that I dont plan on getting rid of, but I would say my tank will be about 90% softies

 

[1979fishgeek]

I’ve started with softies tanks back in late 80s and early 90s then also done softie tanks in the past with seahorses and Frogfish but I have a mixed reef at the moment with some softies in.

But I’d love to make it soft coral dominated with leather type corals and gorgonians but it’s actually really hard to find the different varieties of soft corals I knew from and owned years ago.

It’s feels like it’s all the same type of Kenya tree, toadstool, cabbage and Sinularia. Maybe it’s just the popularity’s with sps and lps or perhaps it the ease of fragging them then simply glueing them to a plug where as leather corals tend to need time to attach themselves that have made them more difficult to find? I can’t believe they simply fell out of favour?

Luckily we do have a amazing range of zoa and shrooms to choose from, but I want to grow some huge, fluffy, broccoli cauliflower tree like softies and unusual willowy photosynthetic gorgonians. I love the movement softies bring and how imposing they can look.

This year the plan is to create a huge soft coral dominated mix display.

 

[crabinmyshoemouth]

Currently have a tank trying to emulate Mike C’s soft coral tank which is the picture used in this post . That tank really changed my perspective on reefing and I’ve fallen for seeking out those hard to find softies . Personally I think a well planned out softie tank with large colorful colonies can rival even the best sps tanks .

 

[i cant think]

I love softie tanks!
My current RSWC reef is heavily Softies!
I got a recent FTS of it somewhere but I can’t find it unfortunately so I’ll get one tomorrow
For now, here is a slightly older one.

And a few up close photo!

 

[Grsfish]

I used to have more of a mixed reef and I’ve gone to mainly softies. I really like seeing all the movement in my tank

 

[albano]

I think it's more accurate to say I keep 'some sps in my mixed reef tank'. What's the threshold for it being a softie tank? 90%? 95%? 100%?

I’m with you… a few sps, hard corals & LPS that refuse to stop growing!

 

[hart24601]

After years (decade…) of having acro based tanks I finally switched my main DT to softy only, no stony corals and it been the most rewarding switch I have made.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Call me crazy but while I love the colors of the SPS I hate the static nature of it. The sway of softies is just hypnotizing.

135G Long, long ago.

Beginning of the 180

Before it was dismantled.

This my last 180G before I had to move...for a good reason Some of the stuff has been kept in a "temporary" setup that became not so temporary.

269 is next - currently in testing stages, applying final touches.

 

[fish farmer]

My current tank was softie dominant a couple years ago, but have been moving toward an even mix of LPS and softies, possibly will try sps again once I make room. Currently removing discoma mushrooms before they become the dominant species.

Thanksgiving 2021.

 

[vlangel]

Ha ha, I just read a post this morning that said my tank is a true mixed reef since it has softies, LPS, SPS, sponges, feather duster worms and macroalgae. Of those, softies make up the highest percentage. It is my favorite tank that I have had in my 25+ years of reefing.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I love all these tanks. My main tank is softies and anemones. Basically all softies and two H. malus, lots of maxi minis, some rock nems, and quite a few aiptasia currently. I also keep clams in this system.
I love softies and always have. I grew sps, lps and gorgs, but I love softies for the main system.