Looking for Coral Suggestions

[dhughesz28]

I have a FOWLR 46gal bow front that has been up and running for a year now. I just added a new 192watt Odyssey PC light fixture to replace the 30 watt fluorescent the tank came with. I know that the target for a reef tank is 5 watts/gal and with these new lights I only have 4.1, but I have heard that there are some corals that don’t require as much light as other. I have a small frag of Xenia that is doing good after 2 weeks in the tank. I would like to know from the experts, what other corals would I be able to keep with these lights. Is there an index somewhere that lists each coral (or groups of corals) and the light they require?
One of the things I was looking at was a colt coral. SWF.com says it only needs medium light/medium flow. What would be considered medium for flow/light??
Also, I like the look of other stuff such as Tree sponges and Gorgonian’s. I know that these are filter feeders. Would I be adding phytoplankton for these?
Thanks :happyfish

 

[nemo lover]

What are your tank dimentions? that would be able to help us out more with giving you the right advice.
IMO- sponges are pretty difficult for begginers. I would go with low light corals, like mushrooms, polyps, and zoanthids.
If your anything like I was Sooner or later your going to want more. So you could also upgrade your lighting a bit more maybe keep an eye in the classified forum. You can find good deals there sometimes.

 

[dhughesz28]

Not exactly sure on the dimensions, but I think its 36” long 12” wide at the ends and 18” wide in the middle, and about 20-24” deep…. It’s a typical 46gal bow that almost all pet stores sell…

 

[dhughesz28]

What would be considered medium for flow/light?? Low flow/light??

 

[92protruck]

I have less light than you and keep a colt, various zoos, red and orange tree sponge, purple tube sponge, red pimple mushrooms, red sea pom pom and brown/green elongata xenia, coco worm, and a Fla. green ricordia. I think more light is definitely better but it can be done with your lights assuming all other parameters/water quality are up to snuff. Some zoos require more light than others...not all will do well. I feed two cap fulls of DT's twice a week or so for the filter feeders and some of the zoos take cyclopeeze when I feed it to my fish. Hope this helps!