Anyone keeping leathers with SPS?

Mikey Donuts · 07/07/2008, 02:30 PM

I'm looking to consolidate my tanks and I have a Tyree toadstool (about 3" cap) that I want to add to my big reef. I know about the possible chemical issues, but it's a small leather in a 210 gallon system. As long as I run carbon or ozone I should be OK right? Anyone have experience keeping these corals together?

Thanks!

wfuavenger · 07/07/2008, 02:45 PM

I have a finger leather and an ORA green polyp toadstool, I just put them far away from my sps and near the Zoas. I am trying to get rid of the finger leather as we speak.

I run carbon and change it out at least 1x per month.

Mikey Donuts · 07/07/2008, 03:01 PM

Any negative impact on the SPS?

wfuavenger · 07/07/2008, 03:28 PM

None that I can tell....in my 90 I have 25 or so species of sps, and 30 or so lps/softies....not a problem yet (knock on wood).

Justin74 · 07/07/2008, 04:05 PM

Terpines, the chemical your talking about released by leathers is more of a natural growth inhibitor of sps. So it's not something you can really see, although in your particular case seeing how this may be the first your adding in the system will be easier to gauge the potential negative results as opposed to someone who had leathers in there tank before they started keeping sps.
Besides slower growth, coloration sometimes is inevitably effected and usually the first thing that people fear and/or have noted to others when adding the two besides the various sps's mortality and tolerance levels.

Almost all that have kept a mixed tank swear by using good filtration and most importantly ya, like you mentioned , carbon.

Me, I started with softies and lps. But after a couple years finally split them up into two seperate systems(leathers &sps that is). And couldnt've been more happy. After about the first 3 months it seemed like the sps noticed their neighbors missing and just really went to town with some phenominal growth, IME anyway.

-Justin

gem · 07/07/2008, 06:11 PM

Thanks for bringing this up Mike. Something I didn't think of. Not that I have SPS at the moment....but kind of planned on it when I upgrade. Makes me think I may be adding a tank rather than upgrading....I like my softies and lps too much.

Mikey Donuts · 07/07/2008, 09:08 PM

I think I'm going to put the leather in. I'll just frag it if it gets too big. It has sentimental value and I can't part with it

.

Justin74 · 07/07/2008, 10:08 PM

I know the feeling friend!! Your obviously not goin in half cocked and Im sure it will make a lovely addition to your reef. It is unquestionably a very extraordinary sarcophyton

-Justin

Auntbeez · 07/08/2008, 07:34 AM

I think the toadstool will change very little in a 210. (my set up is only a 75). FWIW I have had a huge finger leather since the tank started, I have some cabbage(I think) leather that came on rock as hitchhikers and have reached good size, and I have the tyree toadstool. This mind you, is among a large weed patch of pulsing xeina, various LPS, & Zoos, and now many SPS frags. While I can't tell you if they affect the SPS growth or color, I can say all are alive and kicking together in one tank.

Underwaterparadise · 07/08/2008, 03:13 PM

IMHO I don't see any negative effects unless it is huge. Just try to keep it away from the sps so when the leather sheds it doesn't stick to your acro's!! As Justin stated it's more of a growth issue then anything else unless the tank is poorly maintained.

07/07/2008, 02:30 PM	#1
Mikey Donuts Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 937	Anyone keeping leathers with SPS? I'm looking to consolidate my tanks and I have a Tyree toadstool (about 3" cap) that I want to add to my big reef. I know about the possible chemical issues, but it's a small leather in a 210 gallon system. As long as I run carbon or ozone I should be OK right? Anyone have experience keeping these corals together? Thanks! __________________ - Mike Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 90g Seahorse

07/07/2008, 03:01 PM	#3
Mikey Donuts Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 937	Any negative impact on the SPS? __________________ - Mike Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 90g Seahorse

07/07/2008, 06:11 PM	#6
gem Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rocklin, CA Posts: 2,758	Thanks for bringing this up Mike. Something I didn't think of. Not that I have SPS at the moment....but kind of planned on it when I upgrade. Makes me think I may be adding a tank rather than upgrading....I like my softies and lps too much. __________________ ~Ginger~ Current Tank Info: 25 gal rimless cube - Slimline LED light.

07/07/2008, 09:08 PM	#7
Mikey Donuts Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Suffolk, UK Posts: 937	I think I'm going to put the leather in. I'll just frag it if it gets too big. It has sentimental value and I can't part with it . __________________ - Mike Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 90g Seahorse

07/08/2008, 07:34 AM	#9
Auntbeez Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ione, CA Posts: 1,551	I think the toadstool will change very little in a 210. (my set up is only a 75). FWIW I have had a huge finger leather since the tank started, I have some cabbage(I think) leather that came on rock as hitchhikers and have reached good size, and I have the tyree toadstool. This mind you, is among a large weed patch of pulsing xeina, various LPS, & Zoos, and now many SPS frags. While I can't tell you if they affect the SPS growth or color, I can say all are alive and kicking together in one tank. __________________ >BA))'> Current Tank Info: 29g Softies/75g Mixed REEF :) / 135g African Cichlids

07/07/2008, 02:45 PM	#2
wfuavenger Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: N.C. Posts: 176	I have a finger leather and an ORA green polyp toadstool, I just put them far away from my sps and near the Zoas. I am trying to get rid of the finger leather as we speak. I run carbon and change it out at least 1x per month.

07/07/2008, 03:28 PM	#4
wfuavenger Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: N.C. Posts: 176	None that I can tell....in my 90 I have 25 or so species of sps, and 30 or so lps/softies....not a problem yet (knock on wood).

07/07/2008, 04:05 PM	#5
Justin74 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Diamond Springs, CA Posts: 7,627	Terpines, the chemical your talking about released by leathers is more of a natural growth inhibitor of sps. So it's not something you can really see, although in your particular case seeing how this may be the first your adding in the system will be easier to gauge the potential negative results as opposed to someone who had leathers in there tank before they started keeping sps. Besides slower growth, coloration sometimes is inevitably effected and usually the first thing that people fear and/or have noted to others when adding the two besides the various sps's mortality and tolerance levels. Almost all that have kept a mixed tank swear by using good filtration and most importantly ya, like you mentioned , carbon. Me, I started with softies and lps. But after a couple years finally split them up into two seperate systems(leathers &sps that is). And couldnt've been more happy. After about the first 3 months it seemed like the sps noticed their neighbors missing and just really went to town with some phenominal growth, IME anyway. -Justin

07/07/2008, 10:08 PM	#8
Justin74 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Diamond Springs, CA Posts: 7,627	I know the feeling friend!! Your obviously not goin in half cocked and Im sure it will make a lovely addition to your reef. It is unquestionably a very extraordinary sarcophyton -Justin

07/08/2008, 03:13 PM	#10
Underwaterparadise Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern Cali Posts: 2,579	IMHO I don't see any negative effects unless it is huge. Just try to keep it away from the sps so when the leather sheds it doesn't stick to your acro's!! As Justin stated it's more of a growth issue then anything else unless the tank is poorly maintained. __________________ Who needs fish in a Fish tank when you have corals! Current Tank Info: Taking a Vacation