Mixing LPS and SPS corals

[Kittikity]

I'm mostly interested in LPS and soft corals.. But there are also a couple SPS corals that I like.. Is it possible to have both? My lighting will be 4 t-5's, two daylight and two actinic.. Possibly two lunar lights also.. What would I have to do? Could I possibly just put the SPS at the top of the live rock, closest to the lights? Or do I absolutely need a MH light? I do not want MH at all..

 

[Anonymous]

Depends upon the SPS, but it is possible, although the SPS will probably be limited to the brightest parts of the tank (usually really close to the top).. but then again, it depends upon which SPS youw ant.

 

[Kittikity]

I don't know which SPS I will want to get.. Nothing that is really difficult, of course.. I haven't really researched them a lot to see what kinds are out there.. Just seen the occasional pic that piqued my interest.. I only want a couple.. My tank is 20gal and currently waiting for funding to get the project going.. I'll get the lights first, then the sand (not live), live rock, and of course salt mix and RO water..

I just mainly wanted to know if it's possible to have SPS with t5 lights, I guess, and how to implement it before I go looking for what I'd "like"..

 

[Len]

I've seen it done many times, but the sps are usually restricted to the top half or third of the tank. 4 24" T5s over a 20 gallon provide a healthy amount of light.

 

[Anonymous]

montipora digitata is a good easy sps to start with-i'd try the green variety first

 

[Kittikity]

Oh, green's my favorite color.. That will probably work out very well.. = ) Thank you..

 

[Kittikity]

Ok, another quick question.. What about sponges? What do you all think of them? Would they be considered soft corals?

 

[Kittikity]

Oops, nevermind.. Sponges are in the inverts sections.. = )

 

[Anonymous]

SPS and LPS go fine together as long as you know the needs and limitations of each. I keep both in my tank and did in previous tanks. In addition to the M. Digitata try the Montipora capracornis. They grow really great under lower lighting. I had some in a previous tank about 15 inches under VHO and the grew really well, especally the orange.

 

[Anonymous]

Softies are harder to mix with SPS and LPS. You can have success short term but some species put a ridiculous amount of chemicals in the tank so water changes and carbon a must.

LPS are fine just beware some species can be ridiculously aggressive (Galaxea and Hydnophora come to mind) so make sure you plan for growth / sweeper tentacles.

Some other good sps type corals I'd reccomend to start with in addtion to montipora would be Pocillopora damicornis and Acropora yongei - both beautiful and fairly forgiving.

 

[jay24k]

SPS and LPS will work fine together. Most LPS are on the bottom of the tank and your SPS is from the 25% mark and up. Just becareful because LPS will nuke a SPS faster then a fat woman rolling over a skinny man.

 

[Kittikity]

Ok, several possibilities for SPS then.. Will make a list and go researching.. As for the carbon, how to I use that? I will have a refugium, do I just put it in there? Sprinkle it on the bottom? Put it in a fabric bag?

 

[Len]

You put activated carbon in mesh bags where lots of water passes through it (preferably forced through the media). Replace it every two to four weeks.

 

[jay24k]

What Len stated works great. Personally, I rarely use carbon unless I feel the need but I don't think it will hurt by any means.