lighting for soft corals

[neuro21]

I have been keeping fish and inverts for a while, but am just now trying corals for the first time. A few months ago, I set up a 20 gallon tank with 130W of PC lighting. I currently have some zoos, ricordea, yellow polyps and gsp's. It all seems to be doing fine, but it doesn't seem to be growing at all. Until recently, I had been a little lackedaisical about my Ca and HCO3 levels, and they had gotten pretty out of whack (I think they were both around 250 ppm). Was it probably the water chemistry that was preventing growth, or is 130W of PC lighting on a 20 gal just not enough to foster soft coral growth? Thanks.

 

[barchtruong]

zoos are very adaptable to any types of light.
Yellow Polyps, I have some in the MHs spot and some in the corner of the tank with in direct MH. The one under MH do really well, the other doesn't.
130w is ok for soft corals.
ur Ca. is too low even for soft corals.
bring it up to 380 for soft corals
420 if you have hard corals.

 

[mopar9012]

I have a 29 gallon that HAD 130Ws of PC...my zoos never did good, they would slowly disapear, then i got MH and they do much better. But theres lot of people that keep them under PC, It could have just been me... PLus you have a smaller tank.

 

[neuro21]

Yes, I know the Ca was very low. I've got it up to about 340 now, and I'm planning on bringing it up to about 400 and keeping it there. I've actually been considering replacing my PC with MH. Would one 250W fixture be enough to support pretty much anything I wanted in there? Also, would I then need to buy a chiller for the tank?

 

[reeffreakgeek]

I think it was more your water chemistry than the lights you have.I been keeping softies and LPS under PC's(260w)on a 72gal for many years and they thrive(growing,multiplying).Yep 250w MH would allow you to keep anything you like.Some corals will need to be acclimated to those intense lights especially softies.Will it cause heat issues,maybe,your gonna need to run them high above the tank.Maybe some 18" then lowered to see if it causes any heat issues.Fans will help too.

 

[cowfishrule]

i have a 40g under 130wt pc and my corals are doing amazing.
it was probaly your water. i dont know what my calcium is, as i dont test for it.
but as long as my corals are healthy i guess my water is good then.

 

[barchtruong]

Originally Posted by neuro21
Yes, I know the Ca was very low. I've got it up to about 340 now, and I'm planning on bringing it up to about 400 and keeping it there. I've actually been considering replacing my PC with MH. Would one 250W fixture be enough to support pretty much anything I wanted in there? Also, would I then need to buy a chiller for the tank?
I hold my light (2-150w MH with 2-130w PC) 8" over water line.
Temp raises 2 degrees after 4 hrs of MH being led up.
76.7F when light's off and 79F when light's on.
Get MH. It's worth it.

 

[mopar9012]

I wouldnt get 250Ws of MH for a 20. Thats a lot, you could probably do it but i mean i have a 29G with 175Ws of MH and i can keep anything I want.