Lighting Required for Low Maintenance Corals?

luvmyfish

luvmyfish

Member
Hi,
What wattage is necessary in 55gal for low maintenance corals such as:
open brain
finger leather
chili coral
cabbage leather
pacific rose coral
I read these are low lighting required corals - can someone tell me what the wattage requirement would be. I am not planning to have a chiller, nor am I planning on Medium or Higher maintenance required corals - due to the fact that I don't want to get into the chiller situation and metal halides.
I am interested in replacing my 40W Fluorescent Hood and only want to buy what is sufficient for my tank. My LFS said he has a hood for $259.00 that will suit my needs - but I thought that seemed high for my needs. I am willing to part with the bucks - but you guys have been so knowledgable in the past that I thought I would ask what you guys think the wattage requirement would be.
Thanks!
:D
 
dburr

dburr

Active Member
The leathers and the brain can be kept under 2 96 watt pc's w/ NO atinics, Or VHO. IMO, of coarse. The chile sure should under less lighting. Like under a overhang.
Never had a rose, but i'm assuming you researched and it is the same requirments.
 
bdubbya

bdubbya

Member
If I remember correctly chili corals don't host zooanthelea (sp?). They extend their polyps at night, so you will have to feed DT's. Someone with a little more experience with the coral might have better info. Good luck.
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
Any chance you could make your own hood? Very easy to do and very easy for me to say since my husband built ours:) I say this because I think that for any of the softies a very good lighting scheme is 440 watts of vho. When I had a 55 gal I bought the hellolights retro kit. It was very easy to install and came with everything needed. I think we paid around $300.00 for it. HTH
 
michaeltx

michaeltx

Moderator
open brain I would consider this a more medium to moderate light coral PC or VHO
finger leather same as above almost all leathers do better under brighter lights than what they say
chili coral no light is need for this coral it extends its polyps at night to feed. if you leave it under bright lights algae will cover it and almost certain doom after that. I dont think they have a real high survival rate in the tank to begin with.
cabbage leather very fast grower and a great filler. also consider it med to mod lighting
pacific rose coral I have no idea what this one is never heard of it.
I agree if you can get someone that is handy with a saw you can get decent lighting alot cheaper as retrofit kits. and do the job just aswell as a premade hood.
here is a pic of my chilli during and after an algae battle before I knew what it needed to survive. it is also a very slow grower.
Mike
 
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