Lighting For a Soft Coral Tank

michael_cb_125 · 05/31/2011, 12:23 PM

Good Afternoon Everyone!

I am looking to start adding a few soft corals to one of my displays. The primary inhabitants of this system are my fish and the corals are secondary, I bring this up as many of the fish I keep are collected in very deep water and require cooler water temps than many reef fish. Also, I would like to keep this system as dim as possible while still providing sufficient light for the growth of soft corals.

The display is 48x22x19.

So far I cam considering the following options:

Sfiligoi Genesis LED (36" Blue+RGB)
Vertex Illumillux LED (36" Marino White or Marino Blu)
Aqua Medic SunBeam (36" 2x39w T5) + (3x12" Blue LED Strips)

So, any comments or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
I am certain that the LED fixtures would support just about any soft corals that I may keep, but I am unsure about the Sunbeam T5 fixture. I have used the 24" Sunbeam over smaller systems with great results, but I am unsure about its power over a 90 gallon system.

Thanks

~Michael

nanojg · 05/31/2011, 12:27 PM

What kind of soft corals? Mushrooms normally require low light and leathers typically need strong light to thrive (a lot of leathers can use more light than most sps)

michael_cb_125 · 05/31/2011, 02:43 PM

I guess I was a little vague.

I am looking to keep leathers (colts, pineapple tree, etc.), mushrooms, Zoanthids and other similar corals. I know that most the leather corals can handle tons of light, but I am not sure how they do in lower lighting levels (such as those produced by 2 T5s over a 90 gallon DT).

Thanks for any help.

~Michael

05/31/2011, 12:23 PM	#1
michael_cb_125 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,358	Lighting For a Soft Coral Tank Good Afternoon Everyone! I am looking to start adding a few soft corals to one of my displays. The primary inhabitants of this system are my fish and the corals are secondary, I bring this up as many of the fish I keep are collected in very deep water and require cooler water temps than many reef fish. Also, I would like to keep this system as dim as possible while still providing sufficient light for the growth of soft corals. The display is 48x22x19. So far I cam considering the following options: Sfiligoi Genesis LED (36" Blue+RGB) Vertex Illumillux LED (36" Marino White or Marino Blu) Aqua Medic SunBeam (36" 2x39w T5) + (3x12" Blue LED Strips) So, any comments or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I am certain that the LED fixtures would support just about any soft corals that I may keep, but I am unsure about the Sunbeam T5 fixture. I have used the 24" Sunbeam over smaller systems with great results, but I am unsure about its power over a 90 gallon system. Thanks ~Michael __________________ "People are too durable, that's their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long" The more I learn, the less I know. Current Tank Info: Elos Mini and 120

05/31/2011, 02:43 PM	#3
michael_cb_125 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,358	I guess I was a little vague. I am looking to keep leathers (colts, pineapple tree, etc.), mushrooms, Zoanthids and other similar corals. I know that most the leather corals can handle tons of light, but I am not sure how they do in lower lighting levels (such as those produced by 2 T5s over a 90 gallon DT). Thanks for any help. ~Michael __________________ "People are too durable, that's their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long" The more I learn, the less I know. Current Tank Info: Elos Mini and 120

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05/31/2011, 12:27 PM	#2
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	What kind of soft corals? Mushrooms normally require low light and leathers typically need strong light to thrive (a lot of leathers can use more light than most sps)