Lighting for "beginners" corals

skimmer247 · 09/10/2008, 04:06 PM

I wanna have some hardy beginners corals in my first saltwater tank, the species I am thinking about are
-mushroom corals
-leather corals
-star polyps
-zoanthids
-pulse coral

I am undecided on any hard corals.

So here comes the lighting part. I have a 20 gallon long tank and I want to know what light (type/watts) is required for these corals. I also want a custom top (not a full blown hood) that holds the lighting, has cutouts for my filter stuff(skimmer/powerhead cord) and has am opening I can lift up (needs to be covered due to firefish goby's ability to jump so I have heard)

Any ideas? I need a kind of "sleek" design, nothing too bulky.

Thanks

Capt_Cully · 09/10/2008, 05:25 PM

PC's should handle it just fine. But, a nice sleek T5 fixture would definitely provide you with enough light, AND give you the option of keeping more light demanding corals. Of the corals you've listed the only thing I see that improves with better lighting is zoanthids. Their colors will not be as brilliant if lighting is not optimal. But you can definitely get away with PC's and they'll do ok.

firebirdude · 09/10/2008, 07:06 PM

In a small tank like that, a pair of T5's should allow you to keep anything except high light SPS

09/10/2008, 04:06 PM	#1
skimmer247 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: South Texas Posts: 47	Lighting for "beginners" corals I wanna have some hardy beginners corals in my first saltwater tank, the species I am thinking about are -mushroom corals -leather corals -star polyps -zoanthids -pulse coral I am undecided on any hard corals. So here comes the lighting part. I have a 20 gallon long tank and I want to know what light (type/watts) is required for these corals. I also want a custom top (not a full blown hood) that holds the lighting, has cutouts for my filter stuff(skimmer/powerhead cord) and has am opening I can lift up (needs to be covered due to firefish goby's ability to jump so I have heard) Any ideas? I need a kind of "sleek" design, nothing too bulky. Thanks Last edited by skimmer247; 09/10/2008 at 04:45 PM.

09/10/2008, 05:25 PM	#2
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	PC's should handle it just fine. But, a nice sleek T5 fixture would definitely provide you with enough light, AND give you the option of keeping more light demanding corals. Of the corals you've listed the only thing I see that improves with better lighting is zoanthids. Their colors will not be as brilliant if lighting is not optimal. But you can definitely get away with PC's and they'll do ok. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

09/10/2008, 07:06 PM	#3
firebirdude User and Abuser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,836	In a small tank like that, a pair of T5's should allow you to keep anything except high light SPS