twintrades
New member
What would some bright softie corals be ?? were starting a 29 and its going to be softties only. With a 70 watt MH.
If some one has pics please share !
If some one has pics please share !
Any Bright colored softies? ?
- Thread starter twintrades
- Start date
Once your tank is advanced--about a year old and stable, there are several items of high color: there is red sponge, blue sponge, and yellow sponge that can make interesting shapes. There is also a leather called Fiji Yellow Leather. Be very sure your tank is stable if you add it. I know of one tank crash directly attributable to this species when it died. Some corals do have toxins, and this may be one of them: I have no other personal experience with it. But the sponges I do, and they can be quite attractive.
A note: mh 70. You may find that light still pretty bright for some softies. Ask around in the softie forum: I have mh 250 over a 54g, and when I tried some simple buttons, they didn't want to open in that bright light, so I had to give up on that. My tank is about a yard deep, counting a 9" standoff for the light kit. Depth matters, and yours will likely be shallower, ergo more light to the bottom but from a proportionately smaller bulb. It's possible you might find some of the lps stony in your lighting range.
A note: mh 70. You may find that light still pretty bright for some softies. Ask around in the softie forum: I have mh 250 over a 54g, and when I tried some simple buttons, they didn't want to open in that bright light, so I had to give up on that. My tank is about a yard deep, counting a 9" standoff for the light kit. Depth matters, and yours will likely be shallower, ergo more light to the bottom but from a proportionately smaller bulb. It's possible you might find some of the lps stony in your lighting range.
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I truly hate to disagree with Sk8r considering how fond I am of her work, but I have to on a couple of points. Don't throw the book at me 
First, while as a general rule softies do not require the intensity of lighting of the typical SPS coral, most of the species that possess zooaxanthellae thrive under that kind of lighting. Which is not to say that they may not need a considerable period of adaptation if they aren't used to the intensity, as they might well not be. There are exceptions, such as discosoma mushrooms, that don't appreciate it. But give some xenia, button polyps or a colt coral the chance to get used to high light conditions and they will respond wonderfully. As well there are some species - such as the yellow toadstool leather Sk8r mentioned - that really not only prefer but need the higher intensity lighting in order to do really well. I've had species of softies under 150w, 175w, 250w and even 400w halides.... sometimes as close as 7"-8" directly under the bulb. If you have a copy of Sprung & Delbeek's The Reef Aquarium Volume I around, take a look at the cover. That tank is a 15 gallon with a 175w halide hung directly above it. Gives an idea of how softies can do under high light.
Speaking of those yellow (fiji) leathers, like all leathers they engage in chemical warfare via the use of terpenoids they give off. Terpenoids can be pretty nasty to non-leathers if allowed to build up, but the good news is that terpenoids are removed both by skimming and by carbon use. One dying shouldn't cause a tank crash unless it was a really large specimen and allowed to decay in the tank or there were serious water quality issues in the tank to begin with.
There are lots of colorful soft corals, but many of the most colorful are non-photosynthetic and possess their own unique challenges and are best left to the experienced keeper for the most part. There are still plenty of colorful soft corals that are photosynthetic, however. Mushrooms and zoanthids immediately come to mind, but there's also cespitularia, efflatounaria, clavularia, sympodium, green star polyps, blue snowflake polyps (an unidentified xeniid per Aderslade, but often sold as a type of clavularia), leathers of various species in yellow or green, nepthea... somewhat more challenging are families like scleronepthya that only get some of their nutritional needs from light and some from direct feeding, but they aren't as hard as the real NPS types.
First, while as a general rule softies do not require the intensity of lighting of the typical SPS coral, most of the species that possess zooaxanthellae thrive under that kind of lighting. Which is not to say that they may not need a considerable period of adaptation if they aren't used to the intensity, as they might well not be. There are exceptions, such as discosoma mushrooms, that don't appreciate it. But give some xenia, button polyps or a colt coral the chance to get used to high light conditions and they will respond wonderfully. As well there are some species - such as the yellow toadstool leather Sk8r mentioned - that really not only prefer but need the higher intensity lighting in order to do really well. I've had species of softies under 150w, 175w, 250w and even 400w halides.... sometimes as close as 7"-8" directly under the bulb. If you have a copy of Sprung & Delbeek's The Reef Aquarium Volume I around, take a look at the cover. That tank is a 15 gallon with a 175w halide hung directly above it. Gives an idea of how softies can do under high light.
Speaking of those yellow (fiji) leathers, like all leathers they engage in chemical warfare via the use of terpenoids they give off. Terpenoids can be pretty nasty to non-leathers if allowed to build up, but the good news is that terpenoids are removed both by skimming and by carbon use. One dying shouldn't cause a tank crash unless it was a really large specimen and allowed to decay in the tank or there were serious water quality issues in the tank to begin with.
There are lots of colorful soft corals, but many of the most colorful are non-photosynthetic and possess their own unique challenges and are best left to the experienced keeper for the most part. There are still plenty of colorful soft corals that are photosynthetic, however. Mushrooms and zoanthids immediately come to mind, but there's also cespitularia, efflatounaria, clavularia, sympodium, green star polyps, blue snowflake polyps (an unidentified xeniid per Aderslade, but often sold as a type of clavularia), leathers of various species in yellow or green, nepthea... somewhat more challenging are families like scleronepthya that only get some of their nutritional needs from light and some from direct feeding, but they aren't as hard as the real NPS types.
twintrades
New member
Thanks both of you two. Ill be doing some more reserch.
The non-photosynthetic corals will play a part also. I have ample time to feed and keep water params in check. THere are only a few that i would choose. Most would be better left in the ocean.
ANyone else care to make a comment feel free !
The non-photosynthetic corals will play a part also. I have ample time to feed and keep water params in check. THere are only a few that i would choose. Most would be better left in the ocean.
ANyone else care to make a comment feel free !
RyanSweatt2004
New member
I keep all my soft corals in a 75 gallon under 2 - 14k 250 watt halides. Mostly many different types of sinularia, sacrophyton, lobophyton and nepthea but also a bunch of blue and blue striped and metallic orange mushrooms. Zoo's and cloves along with star polyps and pink anthelia. In all I have over 35 different species growing like mad with great colors. My different mushrooms are about 10 inches away from my halides and are actually stretching up toward the light. My green button polyps are greener than ever after moving them closer to the light and are growing and multiplying better after doing so. Rule of thumb is most anything that is photosynthetic will enjoy more light if available. Some deeper water corals do need a bit of light acclimation to be able to benefit from the added light. Of coarse this is all pointless for the non photosynthetic corals. Too many of those are sold and die due to lack of knowledge.
RyanSweatt2004
New member
Anyway the best place I have seen for rare colorful soft corals is without a doubt Live Aquaria divers den. But AquaCorals.com has a good selection too. neptheas, sinularias, and sacrophytons come in a range of great colors from brown, pink and gold right on to yellows and greens. Mushrooms and zoos have a rainbow of colors though.
twintrades
New member
I think i might have a better ida now thanks
I truly hate to disagree with Sk8r considering how fond I am of her work, but I have to on a couple of points. Don't throw the book at me
First, while as a general rule softies do not require the intensity of lighting of the typical SPS coral, most of the species that possess zooaxanthellae thrive under that kind of lighting. Which is not to say that they may not need a considerable period of adaptation if they aren't used to the intensity, as they might well not be. There are exceptions, such as discosoma mushrooms, that don't appreciate it. But give some xenia, button polyps or a colt coral the chance to get used to high light conditions and they will respond wonderfully. As well there are some species - such as the yellow toadstool leather Sk8r mentioned - that really not only prefer but need the higher intensity lighting in order to do really well. I've had species of softies under 150w, 175w, 250w and even 400w halides.... sometimes as close as 7"-8" directly under the bulb. If you have a copy of Sprung & Delbeek's The Reef Aquarium Volume I around, take a look at the cover. That tank is a 15 gallon with a 175w halide hung directly above it. Gives an idea of how softies can do under high light.
Speaking of those yellow (fiji) leathers, like all leathers they engage in chemical warfare via the use of terpenoids they give off. Terpenoids can be pretty nasty to non-leathers if allowed to build up, but the good news is that terpenoids are removed both by skimming and by carbon use. One dying shouldn't cause a tank crash unless it was a really large specimen and allowed to decay in the tank or there were serious water quality issues in the tank to begin with.
There are lots of colorful soft corals, but many of the most colorful are non-photosynthetic and possess their own unique challenges and are best left to the experienced keeper for the most part. There are still plenty of colorful soft corals that are photosynthetic, however. Mushrooms and zoanthids immediately come to mind, but there's also cespitularia, efflatounaria, clavularia, sympodium, green star polyps, blue snowflake polyps (an unidentified xeniid per Aderslade, but often sold as a type of clavularia), leathers of various species in yellow or green, nepthea... somewhat more challenging are families like scleronepthya that only get some of their nutritional needs from light and some from direct feeding, but they aren't as hard as the real NPS types.
WOW! Excellent advice from a super knowledgeable reefer with tons of experience. I would definitely agree with your assessment of many softies thriving under higher lighting. I have softies under both 250s and 400s that grow like weeds. I also have a yellow Fiji leather that I probably need to move up from the sandbed to get it growing more.
sirfishmaster
New member
me too me too! 400 halide and softies right under the light 1" from surface and 8" to the bulb from surface
Softies can adapt over time!
Doug
Jeff
Premium Member
Kidding, right?
lancer99
New member
No.
Why do you think so?
If sk8r will post pictures of her/his 54g tank with red, yellow, and blue sponges, and a pic of the same six months later with the same sponges in good health, I'll eat my socks!
-R
And I'll post pics of me eating them here!
Jeff
Premium Member
You have an interesting way of having a different viewpoint on a subject. Calling out a mod with 40 years of experience and saying that they don't have much experience? Seriously? A mod that spends hours in the new to the hobby forum helping others, compiling articles on how to set up new reefs and somebody that has an experienced opinion that you don't agree with?
lancer99
New member
I didn't realize that sk8r has 40 years of experience. I only have 18.
It's great that sk8r spends so much time helping others!
But recommending sponges (other than the common Floridian types like chicken liver sponges) is unconscionable, for a mod or anyone else.
Jeff, I'd be interested in knowing what your personal experience with sponges is, thanks.
-R
lancer99
New member
I'm not sure what your point is....
Hopefully not that I shouldn't disagree with the mods when I think they're wrong!
My offer to eat my socks is still valid....I will extend that to anyone's tank, not just sk8r's
-R
