Sps Keepers I need some advise

[Stang69]

I have been doing some studies and research on some of the acro's imported from Figi and Tonga and most of these corals are not exposed to shallow or tide flat direct sun. Most come from deeper lagoons etc... In turn would they need as high light as we can offer them in the home aquarium? I know I have dual 250's with Iwasaki bulbs on my 110 with dual 110 VHO atenics. Most of the Sps's I have seem to open up better at the lower light regions of my tank is this the explination as described above? If so what is the right way to get them higher in my tank without bleaching and risking the polyps not opening.


Jeff

[Jimbo]

Hi,

I lost frags from to much light/spectrum change. Here is what I do now, put them beneith a overhang for a week or to. Them move them to a shadier area of the tank, after a week or so you can slowly move them to the higher light areas. Watch the corals for pulp extension, if they start to retract move them back into a shadier part. Several days of retraction usally means death (from my observations)

The awasaki's put out the full spectrum, something these corals are not used to. That's why I'm changing over to a 10k bulb.

Hope this helps!

[golfish]

I do the same as Jim does. We have been getting lots of colonies from Jeff's lately. Most of these come from Tonga and Fiji. Most are doing good under my 250 watt DE HIQ's and 400 watt Iwasaki but I have fried one or two.

Mark

[Spanky]

Jeff,

By deeper lagoon, do you mean 10-15ft or 20-30ft. It makes a big difference.

Jerel

[mojoreef]

I may be wrong here but from what I know thier are only a few SPS type corals that can even survive in a lagoonal setting. Most lagoonal areas are dominated by plant and algae life forms. I would say maybe deeper reefs but not lagoonal areas.

YOu should always acclimate all corals to your light and over time they can adapt well. Polup extention is not always the best way to tell if they are getting enough light either as corals use thier polups for many different things (fights,foods,light,reproduction and so on). Also the clarity of your water makes a big differencce to.

What I always try to do is to study the light from which it came and try to locate that same brightness in your tank. As time goes by you can move the coral up. It will naturally have to adapt but once again will show you good signs when it has acclimated. Just continue the process as time goes buy until it has reached the spot you wish to have it.

IMHO I think to much effort is put into trying to reporduce the light from where the coral originated. Corals have been around for a long long time and have the ability to adapt and manipulate thier enviroments. If you were to take a coral out of a reef in figi and then stand thier for 5 years you will see that even that exact spot has changed its enviroment several times. Now put that same test to 1000 years and its even more drastic of a change.


well got lost in that one sorry for the rambling


mike