lighting and corals?

possitive k · #1 04-19-2006, 05:54 AM

i currently run vho and was wandering what if any corals i can keep? or do i need to run mh with atinics? i currently have a few mushrooms but mostly have been fish only and would like to start putting corals in.

thanks.

seashells · #2 04-19-2006, 06:33 AM

You can put corals which are low light. Some of them can be a challenge. Sun corals, chilli coral and carnation coral to name a few. The sun coral polyps need to be feed every couple days. Many of these live in dark caves with high current flow and lots of food in the water. Others like wavng hands coral, colt corals or xenias are easier.

Doug

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #3 04-19-2006, 06:49 AM

Zoos are also low light. There are many reefers who have had good success with various corals under VHO. I think Marie in Powell River had hers grow like crazy under VHO & only recently did she switch to MH. Just make sure the med. light corals go up higher & the low light ones stay low.

For people starting out, it is usually more cost effective to just spend the $$ on MH because most of us tend to like higher & higher light requiring animals (ie. clams) that really do best under MH & not having to upgrade is sooooo much cheaper. However, since you already have a VHO system, keep your corals high & you should be ok.

Anthony

Willow · #4 04-19-2006, 07:02 AM

brown zoos like lower light, anything with colour is going to want higher wattage light.

seashells · #5 04-19-2006, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow

brown zoos like lower light, anything with colour is going to want higher wattage light.

Except for maybe pink or yellow carnation corals.

Willow · #6 04-19-2006, 07:22 AM

well carnation coral isnt really a zoo now is it

StirCrazy · #7 04-19-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow

brown zoos like lower light,

and that is a generalization also as my Brown Zoo's loved the MH.. I still contend any coral soft, LPS or SPS (aside from a select few) will do just as good if not better under more intense lighting if it is introduced properly.

Steve

marie · #8 04-19-2006, 02:53 PM

Here's a pic of my 75g before I put MH's on it. There are 4 110w vhos

TheReefGeek · #9 04-19-2006, 05:12 PM

Was there a noticeable difference when you did go to MH?

Great looking tank by the way, how long did that cap take to grow!

marie · #10 04-19-2006, 09:04 PM

Here's a pic taken 2 months after I put metal halides on the tank and approx 6 months after the last pic was taken