Coral Lighting Question

[Thunderkat]

I was looking at a coral and saw under the description that it did not need metal halides.

Here is the link (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2410)

Is that correct for the lighting requirements or just a sales pitch? I have metal halides in my main tank but not in my nano, I know sps should have metal halides but I going to sell my main tank before I move but I am going to keep my nano. Right now I am in the planning phase for my next tank so that is why I ask.

PS- After trying metal halides I am not a fan of them.

[falcondob]

They way I read it:

"To bring out the most intense coloration of this coral, we recommend metal halide lighting."

So is it required? Probably not, if you have enough VHO. Is it going to look like crud? Probably.

I have SPS that will only color up when directly under a 400W MH and high in the tank..each coral, however, is different. I think the general rule is that SPS require MH. IMHO.

[hobogato]

i dont think ANY coral requires metal halide lights. that is just the most popular way around here ( and maybe elsewhere) to get the high PAR (even some debate out there about this) that corals need to photosynthesize and grow. I have seen acros grown under PC lights, and there are some people that have nice SPS tanks with t5s only.

[Thunderkat]

i dont think ANY coral requires metal halide lights. that is just the most popular way around here ( and maybe elsewhere) to get the high PAR (even some debate out there about this) that corals need to photosynthesize and grow. I have seen acros grown under PC lights, and there are some people that have nice SPS tanks with t5s only.

Sweet, because I really don't like metal halides (hate the shimmer and some spots being way brighter than others).

I was trying to decide between this light (http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=orbit_6x96_7 2&Category_Code=d2&Product_Count=25) and this metal halide version (http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=outer_orbit_ 72&Category_Code=d5&Product_Count=9). The first one is 11 inches wide and the other one is 15 inches wide. I like the first one because it would make maintenance in the tank easier. Cost of the lighting is not a factor since they are very close anyways and once I get it plan to keep it for quite a while. I just want to choose one that will work best for the corals and ease of maintenance.

[hobogato]

if you have the money, i think you should go with the second setup. more wattage, and the DE lights are brighter than the same wattage SE light. like john said - do the corals require MH lights - probably not, but will they get better coloration and growth with them - probably so. just on numbers the first fixture is only 576 watts compared to the 834 watts with the second. if you dont like the shimmer effect of MH, maybe you should look around some more and find a good combo of t5s. PM jose (seamonkey2), he runs a tank on all t5s.

[TexasTodd]

That "fire coral" is Montipora Nodosa an encrusing Monti. It will turn pink or orange with some brown under lower lighting. It is one of the few Montis that actually can handle super high light without bleaching out. The more light the brighter orange it becomes.

Yes, it will live under lower....VHO type lighting and still look neat.

IMO that's kind of expensive for a little frag of that coral. I just had frag packs (all gone) including that coral .....6 frags for $85. It's a cool coral, but also fairly common.

TT

[miked78231]

where do you get frag packs from?

[TexasTodd]

Here's a piece of the same thing that's much bigger for about double.http://www.pacificeastaquaculture.com/Detail.aspx?ID=1009

Dr. Mac also may have it listed in his "frag" section an it should be less there....also a better selection on other corals.

Todd

[hobogato]

where do you get frag packs from?

from his tank. he sells the frag packs periodically from corals in his tank that are getting too big. dont we all wish we had that problem! :blink

[TexasTodd]

LOL.

Dr. Mac offers packs and so does www.reefermadness.us. I don't think you get to pick any though, but they're likely to be very nice frags.

CB Pets, Fin-addict, and Aquatic Warehouse all usually have frags that are good too.

Todd

[Thunderkat]

The San Antonio LFS are probably kind of worthless to me...when I move to Okinawa :lol

If there are no LFS in Okinawa (the island is small) then I will have to try to see if anybody delivers that far, although I doubt they would.

[TexasTodd]

Well HE double hockey sticks............if you're moving to Okinawa swim out and get your own!

:)

Todd