what should i know about terpenoids?

[nm]

How does terpinoids from soft coral affect the reef tank?

 

[Anonymous]

That's a pretty broad question.

Some basics:
SPS corals and Softies are best kept separately but if you put them in the same tank, it's best to have the SPS corals upwind.

Suck any mucous that sofies produce out of the tank.

Have a volume of premixed saltwater ready in case something goes south in a hurry.

 

[sharkdude]

http://www.reefs.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=030624

check out my response to above.

 

[Super Len]

It's my opinion and experience that terpenoidal toxins emitted from Octocorallians have minimal impact on a healthy, balanced system. I keep soft corals successfully with a variety of SPS and LPS species, and have encountered no problems. When a soft coral is dying, however, I make it a point to remove him ASAP. Of course, this hasn't occurred in over 5 years.

Keep in mind that Octocorallians aren't the only things that emit terpenoinds. Species naturally occuring on your live rock emit a good deal of terpenoids - stuff like sponges.

Moral of my story is: if corals are healthy, terpenoids are the least of my concerns.