How long can corals/clam go with no lights?

[sugarfox03]

Hey everyone! I'm in south fl, preparing for the storm. I am not sure that my generator is powerful enough to run my MH as well as everything else that we need to run in the house. I know the storm isnt going to be strong, but we lose power if the wind blows or if the sprinklers are left on too long. Anyway, I have a battery pump (Hurricane Cat 5 pump) and I plan on running the protein skimmer which doesnt draw too much power, but will my corals (hammer, 2 sps frags, zoos, mushrooms, favia, blastos) and my clam be ok with only an hour or two of strong lighting a day? I'm going to try and do more, but its not my generator, I wasnt able to buy my own yet (no money!) I am also not going to be able to run my ac, this is my biggest worry, as I dont want my tank to overheat, so I was going to run the MH and keep a bottle of ice floating in the tank and a small fan on it. Thanks in advance for any info!
-Melody

 

[seannmelly]

IME, I had corals go through a day with NO light. I have numerous corals from shrooms, zoo, softies, lps, sps, a crocea clam. When we were finally able to access a generator, we had the actinics on, and the corals suffered no ill effect. I don't know how long you will be without power, but as long as you can keep ur actinics on with a couple hours of halides, I think you should be fine.
Melly

 

[hatessushi]

I would think it would be okay. It's a logical assumption to me that without the lighting it would be like a clouded day over the ocean and some of that light that is needed doesn't get through for extended times. I understand that some of the ultraviolet rays would get through even on cloudy days so that may be the real issue in your case. A few days will probably be okay but a few weeks may not.

 

[sugarfox03]

I can keep the actinics on all day, those too dont draw too much power, they are only 36w. Thanks for the info everyone. This is so stressful!! I didnt have a reef tank for all of last years storms, so I havent quite figured out what I need to do. Luckily I got a good deal on the battery operated air pump ($45 new!!) so I can keep the water moving in the tank. Thanks again, if you all have any last words for me, please let me know! Thanks !!
-Melody

 

[isistius]

hey sugarfox -
just be happy you don't have to run 600w of lights like i do on my 135!!!!!!
don't worry about the storm. just some rain and wind.
btw - where in wpb?

 

[sugarfox03]

Originally Posted by Isistius
hey sugarfox -
just be happy you don't have to run 600w of lights like i do on my 135!!!!!!
don't worry about the storm. just some rain and wind.
btw - where in wpb?
Oh gosh - that is a lot!! Just some rain and wind is what I am worried about - we lose power here SO easily! I live out in western Lake Worth, down the road from Okeeheelee Park and Middle School.
Hope everything turns out alright, I heard it wont be anything near what they were saying (thankfully!) And I get a free day tomorrow - no work and no school! YAH! :cheer:

 

[xdave]

Heres one of those wacky tips I picked up from a store owner in Hawaii that has kept coral since the forties. Good lights hadn't been inveted yet so once a week he'd put his corals completely submerged in bowls of tank water and take them out in the yard. The temp goes up pretty fast in the sun, and you might not have water either so I'd put them in a cooler. I know it sounds silly but you can't beat real sunlight.

 

[isistius]

oh god. i hope you're not on lake worth power!!! you'll be out for 2 weeks.

i'm at the east end of forest hill. right near dixie.

 

[sugarfox03]

This storm was such a joke! They had everyone all hyped up for nothing. Thankfully I am not on LW power, I feel terrible for those people!!
Thats an awesome tip, I hadnt thought about that. I do that same thing for my bearded dragons, even though I have a UVA/UVB light over their tank...nothing beats natural sunlight for animals that need it!