low light corals

[gregm779]

Not to start any more wars but I thought I would clear some stuff up. You can keep all of those corals under PC lighting but they will not be as healthy, when a coral or anemone grows under lower lighting it generally means that it is reaching or expanding to suck up more light. All of those corals will do OK under PC but I would really suggest going with an HQI MH. Coralife Fixture I have the larger version of this on my 125g and couldn't be happier. All of the corals I had under PCs in my old tank are now growing much quicker and everything is healthier you can also keep clams or SPS if you ever wanted to. Also, I wouldn't recommend a yellow leather under PC.
BigOrange, nice suncorals but they don't use light at all, what do you feed yours?
Here's a pic of my yellow leather and sun corals

 

[gregm779]

Sun Corals

 

[tigerlover]

Originally posted by fishieness
But i would think that you would do a lot better with a smaller tank because the lights would be more concentrated. If you have a 96 watt bulb, that is going to spread out across the lenth of your 36 inch tank, or a 96 watt bulb would spread across the lenth of your 20 inch tank. I would jsut think that you wouldnt need as much watts in the smaller tank as you would in the larger tank even if you kept the corals at the same distance form the surface in each tank...

Actually, they are both the same length. The 30 is just wider and deeper.(It's a show tank)
Thanks for all the erm....Advice, everyone, lovin' the feedback
Btw nice corals all of 'em

 

[smarls]

Big Orange,
I presume the "Bad Information" you refer to is from me...as I was the second response to this thread, and you posted your response right after mine. To be clear, I do not think my opinion is necesseraily correct, but I also don't think that yours is correct, which is why I am confused by the tone and content of your post. Often I disagree with people's opinions on here, and I post something to that effect...however i do not state "bad advice", that is just incredibly egocentric, arrogant, and pompous.
For you information, I use PC lighting (240 watts, 120 10k, 120 03 actinics)...so yes, I speak from experience using PC lights over the past three years. I also keep both a hammer and a frogspawn, so I know from personal experience how to keep corals of the family euphilia. If I did not have experience on this subject, I would not have responded to the original post.
I try and create a space in my tank where corals not only live, but they thrive...as such, I still do not think that the original poster has enough light for Euphilia corals to thrive. If you have different experience, then I am glad you are sharing it, but please do not call my experience or advice "bad"...unless of course you are (i) a marine biologist, (ii) with a second graduate degree in lighting dynamics, and (iii) with extensive studies to show I am wrong.
Again, I do not think that is enough light for Euphilia family corals...that is my opinion. "Growth" on a Euphillia is not determined by polyp extension alone (polyp extension could be a direct result of the coral not getting enough light) but rather "growth" includes the growth of the calcium base. If your calcium base has doubled in the last few months, then I would really like to see pictures of that.
Also, while we are on the topic of pictures, the Sun Coral you posted (while nice) is not a photosynthetic coral...it eats meaty food to provide all its energy. So I am not sure why you would post a picture of a non-photosynthetic when discussing lighting issues?? You could have no lights whatsoever and as long as you spot feed a Sun Coral it will thrive. In nature it is most often found in shaded caves and overhangs = no light...so obviously 2 watts per gallon is sufficient for a sun coral.
A before and after picture of a photsysnthetic coral (preferably an LPS coral as that is the "bad advice" you seem to focus on in your post), showing significant growth, not just polyp extension, under 2 watts per gallon would be more appropriate for you to post when stating that my advice on lighting for LPS corals is "bad advice".
Stewart - "a PC Light User, and an LPS keeper".

 

[tigerlover]

Alright, now has everyone had their say? If you haven't, by all means post it unless it is to flame someone, even in a moderate or "civil" way. If you are merely trying to point out that certain corals, contrary to others beliefs, will not thrive in my conditions, then that's alright, just don't bring up anyone else's advice, okay? Or I'll delete the thread.

See this face, this should be the attitude of your reply

, no wait, this one

 

[masala4080]

I honostly learned something from the post by smarls, but thats just me. If I was you, I would just go for it, see how they do. If they dont thrive or your not satisfied then maybe try to sell them to someone else, even on here. But if you dont want to listen to what I say, its ok, since im not a "pc" user.

 

[smarls]

Masala - thanks for the props!
Tiger - I was actually just trying to answer your question to the best of my knowledge, based on personal experience with the specific corals you listed and with the lighting you were using. Again, as I listed in my original post "IMHO" - in my humble opinion...just my opinion trying to be helpful, I am sure additional research will help you make your final decision.
And no, I am not trying to flame anybody. However, when I checked my messages this morning, I was obviously a little offended to be told I did not know what I was talking about (although I keep LPS corals under PC lighting - frogspawn, hammer and a pipe organ), and then to see a non-photsynthetic Sun Coral posted as an example of a coral doing well in 2 watts per gallon of lighting...well, that was a little too much for me!
Anyways, enough about this...it is just wasting everyone's time. Good luck with your tank, and continue to ask questions...it helps a lot.
Stewart

 

[tigerlover]

Hey, smarls, I didn't say you weren't trying to help. I actually found your information helpful, I just said to any future posters, post what you think and leave it at that, if it contradicts someone, that's okay, if I asked about shocking myself with a certain voltage, would I live, some would say no, some yes, that doesn't mean they are wrong, but it does mean that I'm staying off of the overcharged fence So here it is, I'm trying to save a few bucks, thinkin' about showcasing mushrooms, my personal favorite coral(even though I Love All Of Them) I'll just skip the x-tra voltage for now.:yes: But please feel free to keep 'em comin', I'd like to know more and I'm sure others would as well :cheer: