Chemical Warfare

[esmithiii]

I recently read in Borneman's book that some corals will kill/harm SPS and some LPS corals. I have two corals that I am worried about. I plan on adding SPS soon, and have a couple of heartier LPS corals now in my 180G

I have a devil's hand (Lobophytum pauciflorum) and a Tree coral (Capnella imbricata) that I am worried about. I also have a sarcophyton species that might be problematic.

Anyone keeping these species together with SPS and/or LPS? Anyone with more information? Should I remove them?

Ernie

 

[Mouse]

i have a pussy coral with my LPS and all i can see is that the LPS corals bring out their trailing tentacles. The solution offered to me was to filter the water with carbon in the hope of removeing the stinging nemesys's from the water therefore making the corals unaware of each others presance.

 

[esmithiii]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

i have a pussy coral with my LPS

I am not sure what that is. Here in the US, that word is the equivalent of fanny in the UK. Can you give me the scientific name?

E

 

[FishDaddy]

Ernie,
I have an Euphyllia divisa and a Frogspawn, each considered aggressive, in my 55 that have grown from very small to almost touching, each being over a foot wide when fully expanded!

The Nepthea is probably more toxic than your Capnella but neither seems to bother the other. (just lucky so far, I guess) In fact, the Nepthea branches nearest the Frog seem to curl away as if in avoidance. My Sarcophyton is still relatively small but I've seen no problems so far.
Dick

[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: FishDaddy ]</p>

 

[Super Len]

My tank is a healthy mixture of soft, LPS, and SPS corals (tank link in my sig). IME, the dangers of terpenoid toxins emitted soft corals is highly exaggerated. The only time I would be worried about toxicity is when a soft coral is dying or persistantly harassed. Otherwise, there's little cause for concern. To ease your mind, use high grade activated carbon, like Hydrocarbon or SeaChem Matrix. Ozone is effective too, but I do not recommend the use of O3.

 

[Super Len]

As an addendum: I have a Acropora (possibly A.carolinia) that is the dominant aggressor over a large Sinularia. When the Sinularia's branches sways in the Acropora's proximity, it will retract it's polyps as if burned. Both the Sinularia and Acropora are growing at very commendable rates.

This is only one example of octacorallian/sclerectian interaction in my tank. Soft and hard corals coexist without any problems besides overshadowing and direct assaults via nemtacysts.

[ December 12, 2001: Message edited by: Leonard v2.01b ]</p>

 

[XXX]

Ernie,

I also have kept a lobopytum and Kenya tree in my tank with SPS. I have seen no problems over the last year+. I run a PolyFilter and carbon full time just to be on the safe side, but I wouldn't worry about removing them. Some would suggest not having the water flow blow over the lobopytum and directly onto any SPS. They have been known to be toxic.

Steve

 

[esmithiii]

Thanks for the replies. I am still curious as to the coral referred to by Mouse.

E