What corals and such can I keep with low wattage lights?

[Moe_K]

Here's another chapter in collecting the wisdom of the general membership.
I thought we could create a guide to help out new folks for years to come, by advising them on what not to keep, and what they could successfully keep under low light, moderate light, and intense lights.

This is the starter: low lights.

Feel free to chime in with advice on the following...

Let's say I have the strip lights that come with a new aquarium, or maybe I put normal (standard) flourescents over the tank:

• What corals (and coralinimorphs... probably misspelled that) can be kept (meaning they will do well) under low lights?

• Which corals (again, any anchored invert) should I definitely avoid with this weak lighting?

Don't feel you have to provide an exhaustive list, or that you have to hit both points. Just brainstorm. Provide your experiences, and definitely post pictures. Have fun!

My first suggestion here: if you've got low lights, mushrooms will be your friends. They're very easy to keep. They don't need much light, in fact I had some growing in the dark inside a cannister filter I used. Don't need to feed them. They will sting the heck outta other corals, so be careful where you place them, and plan ahead. These 'shrooms spread across your rocks.

 

[DavidGallant]

In my 10 gallon with stock kit 18 watt lighting, I have pally's, buttons, GSP, Frogspawn The pally's and GSP dont' exactly stretchh for light and aren't "spreading like wildfire" like they would in higher lit systems, but they arent stressing.

 

[B.rian]

i would say kenya trees, gsp, shrooms, and some zoas.

 

[pvh]

How about sun corals, dendros, duncans?

Also what about red chili corals?

 

[JayM]

I kept a leather in a 50G breeder with just the standard AGA triple tube NO fluorescent light. The fixture was about 1-2" off the water surface, and the leather ended up growing out of the water before I moved it to my 92.....

Mushrooms grew well in the same tank, as metioned above

 

[Moe_K]

i would say kenya trees, gsp, shrooms, and some zoas.

Which "Kenya Tree" coral?
If it's Nephthea, I've heard they want a bit more light than strip lights can offer.

I've heard the same about Green Star Polyps. Anyone successfully keeping GSP's under strip lights? By "successful" I mean they grow well and spread.

 

[DavidGallant]

No go with GSP spreading. It is doing well, but it certainly isnt upholding the urban legend of being a weed. What do you think about Macro algae's to spruce up simple tanks. I had a bit of chaeto in my tank, but I just wanted to mooch all the little guys living in it.

 

[Moe_K]

Bumping this thread.
There have to be more low light corals.
Please post pics of some of the low light stuff to assist future newbies.
Thanks.

 

[JMAC]

I wouldn't categorize many 'photosynthetic' Gorgonians as low light corals, and in most cases the opposite is true, but this one (pic below) in particular I have found to be extremely adaptable in its light requirements. It will by no means achieve the kind of rampant growth in low light as it does in higher lighting but it will survive and indeed grow in lower light. I have kept it in various lighting areas of my tanks over many years and I can't kill it lol.

Also, the 'non-photosynthetic gorgonians' would obviously not need the same intensity of light their light loving cousins would but their feeding requirements aren't the greatest choice for a beginner reefer.

I also agree with the above comments on various mushrooms, zoas etc as the best bets for low lighting.

Joe

 

[JMAC]

pic of light-adaptable encrusting gorgonian

 

[JayM]

aiptasia and tulip anemones growing well in low light tank.....

 

[nunofs]

I have xenia growing well in a 10g that has only 26W of PC lights. On the other hand, GSP didn't do well at all in this setup.

Nuno

 

[DavidGallant]

I think GSP likes less than perfect water, from what I have heard. I think we need some people to pop in with 'free frags for newbies for you to share later on'

 

[Moe_K]

I have xenia growing well in a 10g that has only 26W of PC lights. On the other hand, GSP didn't do well at all in this setup.

Nuno

Ah ha. Xenia under strip lights, I never woulda thunk it.
You must have pictures...

 

[JayM]

My xenia grew well under the triple tube AGA NO fixture I had in my refugium.....not like it does now....but it grew

 

[nunofs]

Ah ha. Xenia under strip lights, I never woulda thunk it.
You must have pictures...

No pics... too embarrassing

Nuno

 

[Moe_K]

Come on, Nuno!

 

[GinaD]

I wouldn't categorize many 'photosynthetic' Gorgonians as low light corals, and in most cases the opposite is true, but this one (pic below) in particular I have found to be extremely adaptable in its light requirements.

I agree with Joe - I have had a yellow so-called "low-light" gorgonian, and have had it under T-5's and target fed it, thinking it would be ok. Under bright light they may grow unfavorable algae, but they still need brighter light than the flourescents can provide, although, someone may have different experience.

I've read in sights that sell them that they're extremely hardy, and read in other sights that the very same coral is very sensitive.

I was at Dawn's this past Sunday and she currently has one in her tank under MH's.

Here's mine:

 

[Aquaman_68]

Pretty hard to say which light will work for which coral....Too many factors hinge on a correct answer..Like
1) is the system nutrient rich or nutrient poor? If nutient rich you will need more light due to the amount of zoothanthellae in the coral..Less will require less light. IE: zeovit systems are low nutrient systems which means the zoothanthellae is thinner & the light penetrates the thinner flesh of the coral more intense. which in turn allows you to use less light!!!
2) Is the water crystal clear or yellow? Light penetrates thru clear water better than thru yellowed water.

You see what I'm getting at here?
kinda hard to put definitive labels here unless your going to go into detail which in turn would put this thread in the wrong forum!!

 

[FinzAquatics]

How about sun corals, dendros, duncans?

Also what about red chili corals?

all would be alright in low light aquariums