Mixed reef or no?

[PwnMe]

I'm still in the process of cycling my 8 gallon, and I'm having trouble determining the stocking.

 

There will be no fish. Its a 12" cube with an AI Prime and an MP10. I'm going to run Chemipure Blue.

 

If I stock the tank with SPS, LPS, and Softies, how likely is chemical warfare and a bunch of corals dying?

 

I've had other reefs, but with very few stony coral.

 

If I have to choose between stony or softie, what would be more enjoyable after I've previously done two tanks?

[Tamberav]

I think softies are more enjoyable in small tanks. This is because I like seeing SPS as large colonies, not big frags. This is personal opinion though. I just think softies and LPS look better as small colonies than SPS do.

 

As far as mixing goes, run carbon and choose carefully. I was originally going to do a mixed tank in my 75g but opted not to. My main reason was some people report better SPS colors/faster growth after they removed very large leather corals. I own some leathers and I have seen the crazy chemicals they can release if they get pissed off. The green nephea is a prime example, that leather really knows how to let out some brown/green slime if something pisses it off and everything will close up.

 

HOWEVER, many people keep mixed tanks successfully. Not all softies have the same toxicity level so I don't think they should all be lumped together. If you strongly want a mixed reef tank, I would go for it and just run carbon and watch your corals and see what they tell you.

 

Keep in mind LPS choice in a small tank too, some have huge sweeper tentacles.

[mystersyster]

Great advice. I don't use carbon in my 40 but I only have a small colony of zoas. I would definitely run carbon, in a small reactor if possible. Futhermore, I was dead set on SPS only. This changed when I saw other corals that I "had" to have. Get what catches your eye, and enjoy. Just change out that carbon every 3-4 weeks minimum.

[PwnMe]

I might just stick with softies. As much as I love stony corals, the points about limited space and what an SPS would look like in that space has me convinced that I might not want to go that route.

[Clown79]

I have had mostly mixed lps and softies and in my newest tanks have added easier sps.

 

The issue is pleasing them all. Sps requires different parameters, waterflow, and lighting from lps and softies.

 

I have not see any warefare yet but i try to keep the sps away from other corals.

[Nano sapiens]

A small mixed reef is certainly possible, even without GAC or other chemical filtration. Simply avoid certain soft corals known to be toxic.