Corals... I am sure this has been asked a million times before

[clownmama]

What kind of corals besides mushrooms and polyps can I put in my tank. It has been established for a year and a half but it is new to me. My lighting is not great, but not horrible either, it is 50% 65 watts 10,000K daylight and 50% acetinic blue. Right now I have a green mushroom thingy, a small frag of yellow star polyps and a small rock covered in yellow and red "eye" type polyps. I'd like to venture into some hard corals if at all possible with this light, before upgrading to a better light in the future.

and since I am sure it is important, water quality is perfect and it is a 29 gallon tank. Oh yeah it has a skimmer which I am not fond of ( a sclone 100) 2 powerheads.. one that came with it that says 660 on top, I am sure it is a cheapy, and a coralia one, penguin 350 filter, and a sterilizer, but I don't know what kind other than it is uv, LOL.

Tanks (yes, tanks) in advance

Clownmama

[Texreefer]

if hard corals means SPS (small polyped scleractinian) then NO.. if you are talking LPS then there are a few that might do ok in that lighting.. no one has Perfect water quality so I would say "within limits" . also, IMO that skimmer is usless. there are some nice cheap skimmers that will do a much better job. I would say though, that if you want to go into hard corals, a lighting upgrade is a must.

[alton]

Corals I grew under CFL's where Frogspawn, Candy cane, GSP, Mushrooms, and xenia

[clownmama]

. no one has Perfect water quality so I would say "within limits" .

Yes, that is what I meant.
Clownmama

[clownmama]

Corals I grew under CFL's where Frogspawn, Candy cane, GSP, Mushrooms, and xenia

Thank you, very helpful. gsp is green star polyp? I have read something about montipora not needing as much light as some others, also, something else and brain corals? What are others experience with this. I think the brain corals are cool, although I haven't seen any around here (Ft. Hood).

Clownmama

[clownmama]

would it make a difference if I could put a 96 watt bulb in my light that was 50/50? That would be almost 4 wpg.

[Gseclipse02]

ill sell you a 250w MH then you can grow what ever you would like ;)

[clownmama]

ill sell you a 250w MH then you can grow what ever you would like ;)

How much... metal halide will cost me an arm and a leg to run though

[SoLiD]

Wait a minute.... Better lights doesn't mean that you can grow out everything in such a small tank. With Metal Halides comes Heat. Too much heat will kill fish and corals alike... and fast. Water parameters, Temp, Filtration, & Light have to be in balance. You can't just throw a big light in there and expect for everything to be solved.

[Captain Jack]

you can also go for non-photo synthetic stuff which doesn't require lights. Like a suncoral (LPS) or Feather Duster Worm.