[smidoid]

OK. She's nagging *again*.

She's bored. Yes, bored!

Now she wants corals.

It's a 50g setup about 6months in (so not really mature yet) and I'm having a hard time convincing her not to jump and listen to some numpty at the LFS.

Is there ANYTHING that will survive (preferably flourish) with low-powered lighting from a couple of T5s?

[Reefland]

Hey Marc,

Sure there are a few options for you. Look into some mushrooms or some zoanthids, both should do just fine for you. You can even look into some green star polyps.

[smidoid]

Cheers Scott. She's a real pain in the "'arris" as we say here! Good thing she can't work a computer! ;-)

I would (personally) like pulsing Xenia, but I'm not going to risk anything that needs decent light. What's your feeling on that?

[salt_creep]

I have had good luck with pulsing xenia in low light conditions as they are FilterFeeder as well as PhotoSynth. the deal with xenia is that it only does 1 of 2 things, Flourishes and grows like crazy, or does not survive at all, and i have had a hard time understanding why some times a system just doesn't seem to be able to support it. i have 2 displays setup almost identically, one is overwhelmed with it, and the other will not hold even the hardiest, most carefully acclimated frag..

just be sure whatever kind of low light or NonPhotosynth coral you get, that you provide it witht the proper suplementation to keep it going.

[Reefland]

I think that will be another good choice. Be mindful though that people do mysteriously experience total colony crashes (metldowns) with Xenia.

[smidoid]

Originally Posted by salt_creep

I have had good luck with pulsing xenia in low light conditions as they are FilterFeeder as well as PhotoSynth. the deal with xenia is that it only does 1 of 2 things, Flourishes and grows like crazy, or does not survive at all, and i have had a hard time understanding why some times a system just doesn't seem to be able to support it. i have 2 displays setup almost identically, one is overwhelmed with it, and the other will not hold even the hardiest, most carefully acclimated frag..

just be sure whatever kind of low light or NonPhotosynth coral you get, that you provide it witht the proper suplementation to keep it going.

Presumably, there's something happing that we can't (yet) test for. Someone else (Charlie, I think) had his entire tank crash recently for no apparent reason.

[almostdiva]

marc,

tubastrea (commonly called sun coral or sun polyps here) is one of my personal favorites. It is non-photosynthetic, contains no zooxanthelae. Doesn't give a fig what kind of lighting you have. The only caution is you MUST feed each individual polyp (I squirt mine w a turkey baster...), so it is a little "hands-on" for some people. Stick with orange/pink/yellow, and leave the black in the lfs.

I think you could also do euphids -- torch, hammer, frogspawn, but will defer to folks like Kevin, Gene who have kept coral longer than I have.

rebecca

[smidoid]

I have something that looks like and sounds like (the description of) tubastrea, but oddly,for reasons that I can't yet figure, they seem to be filter feeding. They're all quite small - of the four I have the largest is only 1/2" tall but has a beautiful yellow crown that comes out usually at night.

[salt_creep]

Tubastrea faulkneri or (Sun Coral) are an aphotosynthetic coral. they will usually feed(extend polyp) at night.

They can take a much bigger meal than most filter feeders, phytoplankton being almost useless, they do better with a meaty food like mysis shrimp, or even a krill for the larger of the species.. one of my favorite corals, i only wish i could see it with the lights on more often.

to the beginner this coral i would not recommend

[charlie]

Marc, you should be able to get away with mushrooms, zooanthids, maybe even some finger leathers. Heck, I grew finger leathers under PC's!!!! I wish I still had pics of my 80 when it only had PC's on it!!!!

[dragonladylea]

Xenia I have found is fussy with temp - to hot and it melts, actually did a number of tests on this theory myself. Red sea seems to be the hardiest as far as temp goes. Also they will tolerate "clean" water but seem to really like the "dirty" water (a little rich in nutrients).

Another good choice for low lights is the Chili coral, especially if you can hang it upside down.

[smidoid]

Originally Posted by charlie

Marc, you should be able to get away with mushrooms, zooanthids, maybe even some finger leathers. Heck, I grew finger leathers under PC's!!!! I wish I still had pics of my 80 when it only had PC's on it!!!!

Finger Leathers? What's one of those?

[smidoid]

Originally Posted by dragonladylea

Xenia I have found is fussy with temp - to hot and it melts, actually did a number of tests on this theory myself. Red sea seems to be the hardiest as far as temp goes. Also they will tolerate "clean" water but seem to really like the "dirty" water (a little rich in nutrients).

Another good choice for low lights is the Chili coral, especially if you can hang it upside down.

Ditto with Charlie - "Chilli Coral"? Link to a picture perhaps?

Everyone - I still don't know what those lovely orange stumps are. They only seem to come out at night and (presumably) must be getting their nutrient right out of the water - cause I'm sure not feeding them on purpose.

I'll try to get (another) picture sometime soon.

On a slightly different topic - has anyone else known sponges to "migrate"? One of mine seems to be on the move - it's taking MONTHS to do it, but it's moving ever so slowly from the top of the rock it came in on and is now hanging over the edge. Very odd.

[dragonladylea]

Here is a link to the chili coral to show it when the polyps arent out, then a pic of mine with the polyps out. Also a pic of the Tubestra and you should really start feeding it or it will die out. best way is to cut the top off of a pop bottle, take the top off, place the top half of the bottle over the Tubestra and using a turkey baster "squirt" food into the pop bottle. They are filter feeders.
www.saltwaterfish.com/.../images/1327_chili5.jpg

[charlie]

Marc, the large coral in the middle was started under PC's. When I put the halides over this tank, it really took off, but you can have success. it is a sinularia.

[dragonladylea]

Charlie - Love your tank!!

[charlie]

Thanx, it means alot!! After the last 2 months and the debacle with my 300, believe me it is nice to still have something to stare at.

[smidoid]

Damn right there man. I thought you'd lost everything Charlie - this must be some consolation. Not much, to be fair, but something at least.

[smidoid]

Originally Posted by dragonladylea

Here is a link to the chili coral to show it when the polyps arent out, then a pic of mine with the polyps out. Also a pic of the Tubestra and you should really start feeding it or it will die out. best way is to cut the top off of a pop bottle, take the top off, place the top half of the bottle over the Tubestra and using a turkey baster "squirt" food into the pop bottle. They are filter feeders.
www.saltwaterfish.com/.../images/1327_chili5.jpg

I seriously love those chillis! How cool are they!?

I've had the tubestra (I assume that's what it is) for months (only one is of any size) and so far they show no sign of fading. Presumably, the family is over-feeding a little on the quiet so they're getting enough nutrients out of the water....

I got a tiny Xenia frag today (only about $8 worth!) to see if it takes in my chemistry. It seems pointless (and unfair to the organism) to by a huge colony and then kill it from lack of care and attention. The LFS didn't have any small frags of shrooms and stuff, so I basically took a chance on the Xenia. The staff do seem rough with them mind - it's a wonder any survive.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by smidoid

Damn right there man. I thought you'd lost everything Charlie - this must be some consolation. Not much, to be fair, but something at least.

Marc, that tank in the pic has been up for at least 5 years, and has been my backup and mindsaver. No skimmer on it, although I should really put one on there!!! It soon will be replaced by a 180 to give the sinularia a little more room, he is feeling kind of cramped I think.
It is more than enuf consolation , believe me.
It is really too bad that you aren't closer, I would be glad to send you some of my softies.