Biotopes?

[kevin95695]

Sorry, but I posted a similar thread in the main RC noob forum and it just slid down the list. Hoping someone local can guide me on this:

Keep in mind I'm coming at this from a FW perspective...

Are there such things as biotopes in reefkeeping? Is it lame to put a gorgonian from caribbean together with a softie from indo-pacific? Or a specimen from Fiji together with Indian Ocean?

Thanks for any guidance.

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Yes there are biotopes in the general reef environment; it is just most of us (speaking for myself) ignore this. Actually in our tanks there are differing environments that can support animals from differing biotopes (high light/low light, high flow/lower flow ...). I for one am prone to create a "coral garden" containing corals and fish from differing biotopes. It is just amazing how much the animals we keep can adjust to the environment into which they are put. Even with that said, there are limits to the compatibility and adaptability of reef organisms. Part of this hobby is learning what those are and the tradeoffs when we put more than a single animal in one of our glass cages.
However, many in the club do strive to recreate a specific biotope (fringe reef, red sea reef, deep water reef, ...) and select their animals accordingly.

-- EDIT --

I should add that putting it in FW terms that one would never mix a soft acid water tetra with a hard alkaline water swordtail.

[dots]

I think Justin74 has set his up in that direction.........Great answer BTW.

I think that the main benifit.....ie: with high light/high flow types versus low light/low flow types is the overall success you will achieve. Hence an all SPS tank without LPS or softies

Its quite possible to assume also that perhaps different corals from different regions may have an adverse effect on one another, but this is rarly if ever considered by most people who are setting up reef tanks.

Mainly there are a bunch of "rules" that people learn as they go along.......which fish can and can't go together....like mixing an oscar with tetra and expecting the tetra to live, some dwarf angels are known to eat the polyps of SPS, and no schools of nemos, etc.....

[Justin74]

Great topic :)No way is the right way, Im just a firm believer in attempting to emulate a biotope. First and foremost for realism, certain corals just arent typically found growing together or within the general vicinity of. Im far from being very knowledgeable on this subject as it's elusive as can be when someone like myself, has never even seen a natural wild reef except flipping through pages or on TV. Some corals are found throughout both oceans but to me a florida ricordea and most gorgonians are major depictions of what oceans they are from and to me stick out like a sore thumb when surrounded by all indo corals, but thats me.Secondly my reason is the belief that there will be more of a potential for harmony/balance and potential for symbiotic relationships with animals/critters that are known to be together. To me it just lowers odds of having problems and let's me emphasize my attentions on the basic needs of the critter without adding barriers or precautions because I insist on keeping animals that are known combatants or predators of one another, or even worse dealing with unknown variables etc.

Just by keeping a reeftank were pretty much all "coral garden" makers though. Take me for example, ya I may keep most stuff that can be found in the same square mile of ocean, but key word is "square mile" not all crammed together within a 3ft tank :/

The real idea behind suggesting a biotope and keeping a successful one would be: go swim in the reef, take a look around; now with the knowledge of the dimensions of your tank go find the prettiest section of a wild reef and notate ALL of the animals/corals/fish found within those said dimensions of your tank, and keep it in your tank. Youll find the various specie withing 2-6ft area is pretty limited to maybe 1-5 specie of coral and a fish or two, and maybe a couple of different invertabrates. Not the 3-5 specie of acros, and 6-8 specie of montiporas, and colonies of zooanthids and shrooms, an anenome, hermits,emeralds, cleaners, peppermints, wrasse, tangs and clowns we all consider common staples to a reef tank. So, Im only realistic up to a point, but unrealistic by trying to keep them all together within a box that's a few feet long. Know what I mean? But I think any step that you make that mimicks the wild will only be a step in your favor ultimately.


-Justin

[KMP]

great question kevin. i've never thought of or read a similar topic. interesting. so now instead of having a peaceful or aggressive tank - there's biotype tanks to consider. man, a guy could easily have 5 or more tanks :-)

[dots]

I consider, FOWLR, Softie/LPS, SPS, and mixed "different" tanks....they all have different minimum equipment requirements for proper success.

[kevin95695]

Thanks! All great info!

I think for starters I'll go for a softie/LPS 'coral garden' and perhaps progress to replicating a reef at some point in the future.

I just finished reading a couple of books over the weekend and one guy stated that hards and softs should only be put in the same tank if it was a large tank and the hards were 'upstream' from the softs due to the toxins. Sound right?

Thanks again.

[Justin74]

I've heard that before, but I honestly dont buy into the whole upstream and downstream thing. Thats like saying if I decide to fart in the car with the windows rolled up and said "dont worry the ac fan is blowing it away from us" think you'll feel confident in that answer? Were talking about a glass cage in constant recirculation, not a panaramic window connected by a vortex to paralell worlds. But thats my opinion.

-Justin

[kevin95695]

HA! I'll make sure to explain that principal to my wife and kids next time I'm forced to float an air biscuit on a road trip...

I'm puzzled though: Technically aren't LPS 'hard' corals? Wouldn't a mixed soft w/LPS tank be doomed under this rule?

ps - The books were "The Simple Guide to Mini-Reef Aquariums" by Jeffrey Kurtz, and "Marine Reef Aquarium Handbook" by Dr. Robert J. Goldstein (he's the one suggesting an upstream/downstream arrangement).

[Justin74]

Nothings doomed per se, just faced with a potentially bigger obsticle. Thats a good question, and I cant honestly say I know the answer. People are able to avoid these troubles with carbon and consistant water changes for the most part though.

-Justin