Can Acro. thrive with power compacts?

samt488 · 12-10-2003, 03:48 PM

I have a 30 gallon tank with 4-55 watt bulbs total of 220 watts, my tank is small and i have a lot of corals in there but i do have some room for some more. i wanted to make a leap to acro. but people been telling me that they need very high lighting and MH bulbs. I have a colt corl/polyps/pipe organ/tree coral/leather and i want at least one acro in my tank. I want some advice, please let me kno if my lighting will be enough?

512148048 · 12-10-2003, 04:50 PM

you could try it with VHO and URI mix but for the most part MH is the way to go on this one

SaltBlock · 12-10-2003, 04:59 PM

samt488, great question, I have often wondered the same thing. I have a 30 gal w/ 4 55-w PCs also (24").

Most people I have talked to say it is enough light to kept Acro alive, but it will not thrive and grow like it will under MH.

I hope someone who has tried it chimes in...

AEB

lkung · 12-10-2003, 07:04 PM

Certain types of acro can do well. I have a hairy acropora that's grown from a frag to a decent (albeit small ... ~6" across) colony in a 10 gallon nano under PCs.

Acros with bright blue/green colors don't seem to do as well under lower lighting ... something about the color of their zooxanthellae and how close the coral is to the surface of the water in the wild. Dunno, it's mostly voodoo to me

.

-leon.

SaltBlock · 12-10-2003, 07:39 PM

Interesting.

I guess I need to do more research, but are there "typical" lower light Acros (something that could be kept under 7-8 watts per gallon)?

AEB

samt488 · 12-10-2003, 08:41 PM

They told me not to waste any money on acros. if i don't have MH lighting. They said that it will probably live but will definately loose its color and they don't grow well. They said for me to get a bigger tank with MH lighting and then I'll be fine...........I said well when i get money i mightj ust do that............