Originally Posted by
RotaryGeek
http:///forum/post/2547696
Well thats my problem, i really dont know what requires lighting of any sort. Im guessing any kind of anemonie, all corals, and certain types of algea, but thats a pretty broad scope there.
All anemonies require light (and most require more than algae and corals). All algaes require light (must have light in order to photosynthesize), and most types do better with stronger lighting. The majority of corals require light (Doc mentioned several types that don't require light) other than that most do. A good book on coral's (like Borneman's
Aquarium Corals), will give you more specifics. I personally have successfully kept mushrooms (not bullseye or ricordia), zoas (going to vary dependent on the specific type of zoas, some require higher lighting), purple ribbon gorgorians, and leathers (mushroom type only) under nothing but actinic lighting, but that was with 3.6 watts per gallon. I don't know what the rating on your T5 is, but I can tell you that if its close to that you should be ok with those corals. Beyond that as Doc said, I would stick to those that don't need light ~ that however means that you have to feed them, and that means constant testing in a 30 gallon tank to make sure you're not overfeeding and polluting the tank. Hope that helps.