What Corals Can I Keep Under 1.5 Wpg Of Light

[bae1994]

well what corals if any can i keep under 1.5 wpg of light

thanks

 

[bae1994]

bump

 

[Crazy fishes]

Bae, watts per gallon is a really bad way of measuring light intensity as it depends on so many other factors. Corals are interested in certain frequencies in the lighting we provide as these are used to generate their food. These frequencies are known as photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) but to the average reefer like you or me we can't measure it (PAR meters are really expensive, but are available).

What normally works better is to let us known the dimensions of your aquarium and the lighting units you are using and we will go from there. How does that sound?

Regards

 

[bae1994]

oh ok

my tanks 2 ft deep/20 inches front to back/5foot 2inches long
im running two 5ft long t8 40 watt bulbs
and two 3ft 39 watt t5 bulbs
and will soon be running two tunze 6100 powerheads 4 other small ones and maybe two more tunze 6100's

 

[Crazy fishes]

oh ok

my tanks 2 ft deep/20 inches front to back/5foot 2inches long
im running two 5ft long t8 40 watt bulbs
and two 3ft 39 watt t5 bulbs
and will soon be running two tunze 6100 powerheads 4 other small ones and maybe two more tunze 6100's

Alrighty then, first things first a 2 foot deep tank is going to mean not much will thrive on the bottom so keeping corals in the top two thirds of the tank is probably best. Can I ask are the two T5 central? What colours/temperature are they? Do they have individual reflectors? If they are both central then keeping the corals to the center three foot is also advisable.
Right now down to the corals Zoa, mushrooms and ricordea are all possible. Toadstool leather, pulsing xenia and green star polyps are also possible. You could also try Euphyllia Spp (hammer, frogspawn and touch) within the top 12 inches of the tank as well as bubble coral and trumpet/candycane coral. SPS is a complete no go area. See how you get on with those and I am sure other members with add a few alternatives. If your lighting does not have reflectors think about getting them as they are really worthwhile.

Hope this helps

Joe

 

[bae1994]

i have one big reflector on both the t5s yes there central

i only want soft corals really and would love a bubble tip anemone for my clown but i dont know if this would be ok

 

[Crazy fishes]

i have one big reflector on both the t5s yes there central

i only want soft corals really and would love a bubble tip anemone for my clown but i dont know if this would be ok

Clowns don't require an anemone and anemones don't require clowns is the first thing to say. If you would LIKE to have one that is a different story; while I known bubble tips are actually one of the most forgiving of anemones in the trade I am not sure if the lighting you have is going to be strong enough. Is adding any more tubes an option? Another couple of T5s with reflectors would certainly be appreciated by all light lovers. Another consideration is the Tunze nanostreams you are adding to the tank they are not anemone friendly and a closed loop system is generally the PREFERRED method of circulation when anemones are around. An alterantive if it is the behaviour of hosting that is of interest as opposed to the anemone as an organism is a LPS coral. Hammer and frogspawn are both frequently adopted by clowns when no anemone is available, that is what my pair of ocellaris have done. They live in my hammer coral and are really protective of their home just like when they live in anemones.

You should have little problems with keeping soft coral.

Regards

 

[bae1994]

well hes hosted my mushroom but is annoying it
ill have a look around
thanks for the help

 

[TigerIssey]

Rhodactis or Hairy mushrooms is a very good substitute. Mine are hosting that in the pic below in my sig. They do not irritate it either.

 

[bae1994]

mines a mushroom and has long hairs but the clawn swims in it and hes 4-5 inches and the mmuchroom is 5-6 inches it gets peed