corals minimum lighting question

[caomt]

is there such things as coral that do not need much lighting? or can be in a tank with just pc lighting..

 

[team2jndd]

sun polyps some shrooms xenia stuff like that

 

[caomt]

thanks for the help.. i am planning on gettin small reef tank but i cant afford a bright light in my bed room

 

[caomt]

bump

 

[wax32]

The light won't be on while you are sleeping. So don't let the bedroom thing put you off of a good light system. If you get a 4 bulb pc or VHO setup you can keep pretty much anything besides SPS and anemones. With only 2 bulbs you will be limited to lower light corals like mushrooms and leathers.

 

[reefnut]

Originally Posted by caomt
is there such things as coral that do not need much lighting? or can be in a tank with just pc lighting..
PC lighting can support a lot of different corals... or are you referring to something else??

 

[caomt]

how many watts would you think i would need? i have had a 400w MH producing about 36k lumens hangin inside my closet.. i have a closet under the stairway and i never had to use my room light if i just keep my closet door open...those things are very very very bright.... what size lighting do you guys suggest for a 29 gal reef

 

[caomt]

i was just wondering what types of corals.. i see some corals will not survive on pc lighting.. i just recently learned that on an anemone invert.. lasted about a few weeks

 

[wax32]

If it were me I'd hang a 175w MH pendant over it and be done. Or you could go with one of those fancy setups with 2 pc bulbs (for actinics) and one MH bulb.

 

[caomt]

i have this one light fixture that supports up to 250 watts i bought from walmart..just a screw on bulb.. you think i can use a MH bulb with it? like a 200 and below..

 

[xtech]

hmmmm why would you have a 400 in your closet ????

 

[wax32]

Originally Posted by caomt
i have this one light fixture that supports up to 250 watts i bought from walmart..just a screw on bulb.. you think i can use a MH bulb with it? like a 200 and below..
You could but the wavelength (color) would probably be wrong. Those are usually mercury vapor, which is a similar light, but not really for reef use.