What is a softy tank?

Discussion in 'Coral' started by mrsavage84, Jul 19, 2012.

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  1. mrsavage84

    mrsavage84 Feather Duster

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    I have mushrooms, Duncan, a leather, a carnation, some zoos, gonipora, and some trumpet coral. Are all those "soft" corals? Just trying to learn some tank terminology
     
    mrsavage84, Jul 19, 2012
    mrsavage84, Jul 19, 2012
    #1

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  2. thereeferman

    thereeferman Plankton

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    A softy tank or "softies" tank is a tank filled with soft corals and no hard corals also known as lps corals
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 19, 2012
    thereeferman, Jul 19, 2012
    thereeferman, Jul 19, 2012
    #2
  3. HollyG

    HollyG Teardrop Maxima Clam

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    Your tank is not considered a full softie tank. You have a mix of soft corals, which are corals with NO hard or skeletal structure, with LPS corals, which stands for large polyp Stoney. Large polyp stoney corals are typically the corals that have a skeletal structure with large fleshy "polyps". Your duncan and trumpet corals are good examples. When fully expended they look all soft, but under the fleshy head and polyps there is a hard skeleton that the polyps can retract into. SPS (small polyp stoney) corals are similar to LPS but the polyps are much smaller. They have a hard skeletal structure with small fleshy polyps that can retract into the skeleton. An all softie tank is when your tank ONLY has soft corals with no skeleton. Yours is not a full softy tank :)
     
    HollyG, Jul 19, 2012
    HollyG, Jul 19, 2012
    #3
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  4. mrsavage84

    mrsavage84 Feather Duster

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    Wow that explains it. Thank you holly
     
    mrsavage84, Jul 19, 2012
    mrsavage84, Jul 19, 2012
    #4
  5. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    Great explanation from Holly. :clapping:
     
    Seano Hermano, Jul 19, 2012
    Seano Hermano, Jul 19, 2012
    #5