Placement / proximity of LPS

[mattsilvester]

Hi All,

I am just mebarking on my first "proper" reef tank. I've been keeping marines since 1997, and have tried my hand a few times at reefing - but this is my first "real" effort.

Something that I am a little unsure about. I read that LPS corals like hammers and brain corals have long and powerful stinging tenticles which can reach out to 6" or more.
- How serious should I take this?
- How close, generally, can LPS be put to other LPS and also to SPS?

Thanks.

[Reef Bass]

Hi All,
I read that LPS corals like hammers and brain corals have long and powerful stinging tenticles which can reach out to 6" or more.
- How serious should I take this?
- How close, generally, can LPS be put to other LPS and also to SPS?
Thanks.

You should take it very seriously. LPS is a large group of corals and not all have long sweeper tentacles. However, those that do (such as Favias, chalices, acan echinatas and even Euphyllia and Caulastrea) can inflict lots of damage on any other coral they touch. The long sweeper tentacles often come out at night so the cute little well behaved coral you see during the day can extend its reach dramatically after lights out.

LPS should be positioned out of sweeper range from other corals. Sometimes you can place Euphyllia closer to other Euphyllia, but be careful with other lps, and generally, what you see during the day in terms of tentacle extension is not at all representative of maximum tentacle reach.

[Sheol]

Keep them well away from your SPS corals on general principle. And give them room to grow, as well.
And yes, most sweepers & other forms of warfare generally are hidden until after lights out. Don't be fooled! They will need more space in general than "SPS" corals.

Matthew