Difference in Needs or not?

[Ed Hahn]

I know that SPS is very touchey when it comes to calcium and alkanliinity and PH. I would think that LPS would be the same. How important is calcium with soft corals? Do Softies need the same amount of calcium as LPS and SPS?

 

[bc_slc]

As I understand it, LPS use calcium to build their skeleton, but not so much for the Softies. I actually think that super high levels of calcium/dkh stunts the growth of softies. i know that softies and SPS do battle some times and inhibit each others growth, but I think the conditions that they trive in are different.

 

[plack]

I agree with bc slc about the stunting of the growth I have noticed when it got too high they would curl up and other than that they are fine in lower calcium

 

[MikeS]

I actually think that super high levels of calcium/dkh stunts the growth of softies.

Along those lines, I think substantial differences from NSW levels (high or low) are not desireable. After all, these creatures evolved in and are adapted to an environment with pretty specific parameters. Logically it would be advantageous to try to mantain these same parameters in our tank. In short, the closer you are to NSW values, the better off you are, no matter the type of coral, IMO

MikeS

 

[Ed Hahn]

Ok, here is somethings that makes me think a little harder. Zoanthids are usually found under the sand. A lot of LPS are found in waters that are heavy in nutrients or high in organics. I learned that phosphates in higher concentrations interupt the calcification of corals. Have I got you thinking?

 

[kevinpo]

Along those lines, I think substantial differences from NSW levels (high or low) are not desireable. After all, these creatures evolved in and are adapted to an environment with pretty specific parameters. Logically it would be advantageous to try to mantain these same parameters in our tank. In short, the closer you are to NSW values, the better off you are, no matter the type of coral, IMO

Right on! The elements found in NSW are in ionic balance, which means they are in their most stable form in relationship to each other. The further we deviate from those levels the more unstable the ionic balance becomes. Most corals come from very stable environments in regards to chemistry, so IMO/IME they do best at levels closest to NSW.

For soft corals, calcium and alkalinity play a less significant roll but there are many species that have calcium sclerites and spicules in their tissue, and for these calcium and alkalinity needs to be maintained.

Regards,
Kevin