[Dive_Master]

I'm almost done setting up a 200 gallon reef (another tank, can you believe it? My wife is ready to divorce me. This hobby has no end to it.) and have two of questions.

1. Which PVC glue can I use for pluming? Are there any adverse affects with using regular PVC cement? I've been using hoses until now.

2. I have designed three seperate reefs within the tank (three diffrent mounds of live rock) that do not touch each other.

Now, should I try to house SPS, LPS and soft corals on each seperate reef? Should I even attempt it? If anyone has succesfully done anythng like this please help, since everything I read recommends not to mix SPS with soft corals.

[Reefland]

Regualr PVC cement will work just fine for your plumbing. I have never had any problems.

As far as mixing corals, many people do it; cautiously through. I would just follow the basic "aggressiveness" charts. You may encounter problems with some corals being to close to others but overall you should be fine.

Scott Z.

[scubadude]

I agree w/scott...the PVC cement is safe, just let it dry.

Mixing corals, can result in chemical warfare and this can be a complex issue if you want to stock your tank heavy, and if certain corals are in close proximity to others. Some examples you may want to take heed to are Euphillia (sp?) versus just about any corals (especially leathers) and leathers can release toxins which SPS can react negatively too...but if you give everyone enough room you shouldnt have a problem mixing corals...now once they start growing out and infringing on other corals territories its a different story. I have a Montipora cap. and an Acropora sp that have fused growths together...really kinda weird but neat, they both appear to be healthy and from what Im seeing arent affecting each other...they both seem to concentrate their growth to less competeted space.

[bongobrian]

Depends what kind of lps you're talking about. Hard or soft? IME I've noticed that most or all soft lps corals don't care if they touch each other. In some cases, I think it actually stimulates growth. I have in my tank leathers, mushrooms, and xenia touching each other. Now keep in mind that certain soft corals WILL sting such as ricordias and certain polyp colonies like yellow polyps. As scubadude said, you should be primarily concerned with mixing hard lps corals such as Euphyllia. Most corals which grow out of a skeleton have sweeping tenticles that will sting other corals such as bubble corals, open brains, plate corals, elegance corals, etc. I'd make sure if you're going to keep those types of corals, make sure they aren't touching each other, and as scuba said... REALLY make sure they don't touch any softies such as leathers.