Lighting

[cichlidfort]

I have a 55 gallon tank and I am soon to get it fully assembled. I purchased two 24 inch 65 watt lighting fiixtures and was wondering what these lights could support such as corals, polps, mushrooms and anenomes?

[Reefland]

I don't think your going to support any Anemone's or SPS corals but you will be just fine with soft corals and even some LPS corals like common brains, etc.

[cichlidfort]

So I basically can support nything that requires moderate lighting? Sweet. This excites me.

[Reefland]

I think using the term "moderate lighting" is a bit vague. I would put anything that requires "moderate lighting" up high in the tank as close to the lights as possible.

[cichlidfort]

Well it I have a combined of 130 watts and my light system offers three times more light than regualr flourescent, isn't that better than a moderate lighting system or is it not? I was going to put anything towards the top anyways so that way they get the maximum light possible.

[Reefland]

The wattage isn't really anything to use for determining useful light. You could have 4 40w flourescent over your tank for 160w but that isn't more light. The PC lighting will be ok for some low light requiring corals. If you had 4 bulbs over each side I would say that even some brains and other LPS could be put low but since you only have 2 on each side, you'll be better off putting them up high.

[CSeaSee]

I had the EXACT same setup as you for a long time. I was able to keep mushrooms just fine, but I had some button polyps that slowly wasted away. Once I switched to MH, those same polyps look off. I agree that LPS corals may be a little challenging.

[cichlidfort]

So what can I exactly have without problems? And is their a quick way to determine the amount of light necessary for corals?

[Reefland]

There is no easy way to answer either of these questions. Like I said, you should have no problems keeping most soft corals and you can even keep some of the LPS corals such as brains. You should absolutely stay away from SPS corals and Anemone's.

[cichlidfort]

Yeah but CSeaSee said he had problems maintaining some polyps so are you sure I can maintain soft corals and some brains. If I do get them, would the live fine at the top?

[CSeaSee]

This is what I would call "a different set of experiences." I would defer judgement to Scott here. He's done this a lot longer. But my experiences did happen! In the end, it's up to you to experiment and see what works best for you.

[Reefland]

Nothing is definite in this hobby. If I had this lighting set-up I wouldn't be afraid trying some of the examples I posted. Some considerations still need to be made though. I wouldn't purchase a soft coral that has been under metal halides for a couple of years.

[cichlidfort]

Reefland so you are positive they would live? And yeah I wouldn't either purchase anything that has been under a more significant lights source but you would be suprised on how the sybiotic zooxanthellae algae can adapt to enviroments. But I am definately ok with mushroom corals right?

[Reefland]

Nothing is definite in this hobby.

No I am not positive and it depends on more things than the lighting. I am sure provide the other tank conditions are fine that muchrooms would do good.

[cichlidfort]

So if I kept my water conditions good I could have some soft corals, brains and mushrooms along with my lighting?

[Reefland]

I would think so.