low light corals

dcox88

dcox88

Member
I want to add something with more color to my tank, but I have very low light. I have a 20w full spectrum and a 20w actinic. I currently have only shrooms, button polyps, a colt coral and a green brain (over run with shrooms – it is dying out).
My tank is a 54 gal. corner bowfront. It did not come with a hood and they want a fortune for a hood with new lights and ballast.
Is there anything more colorful that will tolerate the low light?
 
dcox88

dcox88

Member
I can't fit big lights over this tank... It is a corner tank. I can't exceed 24" bulbs. I don't have a wooden canopy to mount the lights in. My wife is oposed to a pendant lighting setup. I am kinda stuck right now!
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
get some 65 watt 24 inc pc's you might have to build you another hood and stagger them, but this will greatly increase what you can keep jmho
good luck
jon
 
brooklyn johnny

brooklyn johnny

Active Member
55 watt PCs are 22" long. The 2x55 watt Bright Kit from AH Supply is just $65. all you would need are the bulbs and a simple DIY enclosure that you could build in one day, all for the price of a few corals.
Also, mention to your wife how the brain coral, and soon to be others, are dying and that although the new light set-up will cost money, it is an investment and a moral and environmental obligation to save the corals!! There are many different routes to take... Maybe try building the enclosure first to try and sway her opinion, or soften her up with flowers and dinner. What about proposing a new 180 gallon set-up, and then ending with, "God, can I at least get some new lights on the old tank!?! Anyway... at the fear of turning into Dr. Phil I'll stop there. Definately think about new lights in the future though... you'll be amazed.
 
brooklyn johnny

brooklyn johnny

Active Member
Jon we just simultaneously wrote basically the same thing... heck show your wife this bulletin board. Look honey... look what these guys said! lol
 
dcox88

dcox88

Member
What is currently in the tank is doing quite well. This tank has been established for 4 years under the same lighting. Not the best picture attached, but my digital camera sucks!
The cost of the lighting is not the big problem, it is the cost of the hood. I have a family member that works at the LFS and I get good deals on equipment. The hood is a custom order though and is quite expensive. My wife won't go for my poor quality woodworking skills being on display in the living room.
 
jonthefb

jonthefb

Active Member
were on the same level brooklyn. :D ;) :D
well toget back to the original topics, you could try a sun coral whcih doesnt need any light at all but mst be fed a lot, and are kind of requiring when it comes to care, or some tunicates, which also dont like light, but must be fed often. This is really the dilemma that you are going to have, no light versus heavy feeding. imo, it would be more cost efficient to upgrade lights, but thats your decision and yours only
p.s. id love to see a pic
good luck
jon
 
dcox88

dcox88

Member
jon, can you see the pic in the above post? I will attach another of my flame hawk and colt. Like I said, my camera is not the best.
 
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