What Corals Can I Keep Now

TigerIssey

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Oky dokey, have replaced my T8 white tubes with 2 55w power compacts. I am running 2 T8 18W Actinic tubes in addition. What corals can I now keep, is this suitable for any SPS.

Just a reminder, my tank is 18" deep.

Obviously I already have ssofties and some Euphyllia and a Galaxea. I presume my horizons are now broadened somewhat at least.
 
don't see any reason why you couldn't keep sps now.
i used to have sps (montipora/acropora sp.) under twin 36w pc lights and they grew fine.

try getting some lower priced sps frags and see how they get on.
would probably still need to have them high up in the display though.

Edit: not sure if actinic tubes actually have any benefit to the corals themselves, think they are more for us to admire their fluorescence. (could be wrong though!)
 
Cheers Rob, I think you may be right about the actincs, they are definately staying as I like the colour they give. I have them on on their own 1 hr before and 1 hr after. The colour seems better in this tank too. Hopefully someone else can clarify, I know Ben says that the white gives out more usable light to the corals. Must say it seems one hell of a lot brighter in there.

High up I think is where I would like to keep them, just a few, a couple have caught my eye. Want to add all the LR I am going to add and then make sure everything is stable first. Will have a look at cheap frags, I think mail order corals, fishmans frags and good old ebay may be the best places to start.
 
im no expert but i think the actnic tubes do help the corals as they hit some of the light spectrum needed? could be wrong im still learning?
 
Montipora digita will prbably be ok, aswel as plating etc. Stay clear of acroporas, that wont be enough i dont think. Hysterix may be ok too. Some nice montis on reefeworks tho :good:

im no expert but i think the actnic tubes do help the corals as they hit some of the light spectrum needed? could be wrong im still learning?

Bluel ight will add very little to the PAR in the tank. A 10,000K bulb will give you more PAR than a 14k and the 14 will give you more than a 20K. Blue is used to make the colous stand out and is down to personal preferance really.
 
I have similar lighting.
Montipora digitata is probably the failsafe one to go for as it is the most forgiving, but remember there is much more to keeping SPS than just lighting.
I have had certain species keel over for the simplest of oversights. Keep your Phosphates and Nitrates in check
I have some acros, montiporas (branching and plating) and Seriatopora hystrix growing successfully under those lights. But keep them high up on the rockwork.
ATB
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Will not be buying any yet, just wanted to know what doors are now opened. I will see what catches my eye.

I want the sump to have been running a few months beforehand. I also want nitrates consistently low, and any algae blooms out of the way first.

Will not be rushing out to buy any yet don't worry :good:
 
Another great easy SPS to try would be Acropora Millepora, or Pocillipora species
 

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