SPS on power compacts?

[serinus]

Hi reefers out there:
Can I have SPS corals like Acroporas under power compacts?, or it is essential to have metal halides. Any species that will thrive under pc's?
Juan

[Casey]

Go for MHS they will thrive

[Geoff]

it has a lot to do with the SPS. some of the big branching SPS's, like staghorns. you can get away with, but do not expect fast growth or bright colours. the lower the light the more zooax that the coral will need to produce food. zooax are brown, so that will be the predominant colour of the coral. i have seen acros grow under NO lights, not the prettiest things, but it can be done. of course this has a lot to do with the depth of the tank and the amount of PC lighting you are doing. if you completely fill a canopy over a 20 long with PC's than you will prolly get some good growth and colour, but try the same thing on a 110g tall, you will not be satisfied.

in other words, do what Casey said.

G~

[ruhspolostar]

Personally, I would Go W/ the MH, I've seen to many people try to keep hard coral (any kind) under VHO and PC's including myself in stupid young aquarist days (i think im still in those ) and they persih with in 2-3 months

be patient, thats what gets me in trouble most the time

so yeah caseys was the simplest and best post....go MH

[sanblas]

if youre set on pc lights, a lot of montiporas do well, grow, and maintain color under a high amount of PC light.

[ruhspolostar]

...if they are placed high in thae tank w/ lots of waterflow, I don't know your tanks specs....

there are many softys like gorgonians, xenia and colt which look great and will grow like weeds under PC, you can also keep squamosas under PC