Leathers and Softies with SPS

[BigDora]

I have been told that you have to be careful with how many leather corals you have in your tank because they release toxins when threatened and can make keeping SPS very difficult. I'm wondering what kind of experience people have had with this. Any problems? How much is too much when adding leathers? I have a 54 gal corner with one yellow fiji leather (growing fast is now about 5 inches across), but also have some very small monti caps, birdsnest, and monti digitata (that I hope will grow big over time). I've got my eye on a long polyp mushroom leather. Too much?

 

[stingythingy45]

I have lots of leathers,mushrooms and zoas.I also have 180 gallons approx. of water volume.
I have some monticap that is actually touching a huge toadstool.I think your best bet is to run carbon and make sure your skimmer is really efficient.I've only seen problems when rhodactis mushroom touch the cap.The birds nest and digi might be a totaly different situation though.Everthing I've read says to keep the SPS upstream from the leathers.So I would guess that mean to focus flow on the SPS first.

 

[Aquaman_68]

SPS can coexist with Leathers..I have an SPS dominated tank with some very large leathers in it. (three show size & many frags) I never had a problem with chemical warfare. Maintenence & a good skimmer is key!!

HTH,
B

 

[JayM]

As above.....aggressive Skimming, carbon, water changes, no physical contact.

 

[Greg Hiller]

Proximity is also quite important. SPS that are closest to the softies will be the most impacted, particularly if flow is not super strong.