question about acro (stag)

[kyrie_eleison]

Is it possible to keep an stag coral alive under power compact lights?

[ChilisREasy]

i pretty much doubt it, if it did live it might lose its color, Acroporas & Milliporas require intense light . atleast 200 to 250 watt HQI Hadlide should do. but dont get depressed there are LOTS of other SPS that can flourish under PC's. Dr.Foster & Smith provide info on most, medium light listed on there site usually means PC's will do, (Medium light means different things on different sites) How many watts you have on your tank & whats the tank size?

[kyrie_eleison]

It's not much. My house isn't too big and hence I'm stuck using PC lights on a 55 gallon. Soft corals are nice but it's just not the same. I think mine is 240 Watts. I'll have to double check on that.

[hng]

55 gal would be very nicely lit using T5HO lamps. You could go hardcore sps and clams with 4 bulbs. Look into a retrofit kit or a new light fixture at reefgeek.com BTW, I agree that it would be tough to keep an acro staghorn alive using PC bulbs, unless you had a lot of them and the coral was kept very high on the rocks.

[kyrie_eleison]

Originally Posted by hng

55 gal would be very nicely lit using T5HO lamps. You could go hardcore sps and clams with 4 bulbs. Look into a retrofit kit or a new light fixture at reefgeek.com BTW, I agree that it would be tough to keep an acro staghorn alive using PC bulbs, unless you had a lot of them and the coral was kept very high on the rocks.

hng,

I'm not going to take a chance with PC lights. I was just getting a little bored with soft and LPS corals. They can be beautiful but they're just not the same. I have a feeling I'm going to break down and go out and buy what you said: some MH retrofit kit. I saw something at one of my LFS that was something like...$900 bucks. A bit steep for my budget.

I wanted to wait and build something new; something special with a whole slew of features including MH lights. Thanks.

[Wiskey]

For about $400 you could get bulbs, spyder reflectors, and 2 ARO electronic ballasts from Hello lights,.. this is for a 2*250W Setup. That can bolt inside your hood and your good to go. It's not free, but cheaper than $900.

If it were me though, I would (and did) go with the Tek 4 bulb T5 retro for my 50G,.. it works great for SPS, though my SPS tank got upgraded eventually and now that tank is a softie tank.

Whiskey

[crvz]

Or you could try some Montipora sp. in your tank. Some of those may fair well under PC lighting.

[Wiskey]

Very true,.. my monties grew fast under 4*55W PC, in my 50G tank, and they kept great color.

Whiskey

[kyrie_eleison]

Are you guys possitive about the Montiporas? If so, then that may be my next objective. Will they be fine around a bunch of soft and LPS? Or will there be territorial issues?

[Wiskey]

Do you run carbon? Do you run a skimmer? Do you run a UV?

Whiskey

[tdwyatt]

just tagging along...

[kyrie_eleison]

Wisky,

I run a skimmer (a bit overdesigned) but yes. I also run carbon; no UV.

[Wiskey]

See? Told you everyone slaughters my name

With the carbon and skimmer you should be OK. Provided you have enough flow. I used to do the same thing in my 50 under 4*55W PC Jebo fixture and Motipora Digitata and Monti cap did very well.

Whiskey

[corallimorph]

You'd be surprised at what you can grow under those compact fluorescents,
If you elevate your sps corals and possibly play around with a slightly extended photo period you can grow just about anything under them.

Check out my tank in Mike Paletta's book;Ultimate Marine Aquariums(pg. 156) using STANDARD OUTPUT florescent lamps w/extended photoperiod-Dave

[Wiskey]

Do you have a pic you could post? Do you have a link to more information about your tank?

Thanks!
Whiskey