Lighting for soft corals?

[ultimatedc]

Was told quite a few soft corals don't require much lighting. I'm looking, in general, to keep beginner coral, and I need help decided on lighting for a 10g nano reef tank...

http://www.bigalsonline.com/product...=ComparisonShopping_Google&CAWELAID=388705066

http://www.bigalsonline.com/Fish_Li...e-Bright-LED-Lighting-Systems.html?tc=default

 

[piercho]

I have a 24-inch Current USA 2X lamp T5 on a 20 high planted. It's been reliable going on 2+ years now and is silent. My dislike is the lamp holders on mine, they are challenging to rotate when you replace the bulbs. If you go with T5 I would recommend spending a little more on the tank and getting a 24-inch long tank as 24-inch T5 bulbs are easier to get than 18-inch T5. A 20 high (24L 12W 16D) is a nice tank for use with a sandbed because it's relatively deep.

Anyway the 2X Current USA fixture should get you going with lower-light corals. No experience with the Marineland single bright fixture. Generally Marineland builds reliable stuff, don't know about the relative brightness of that one.

 

[piercho]

Also should note many desirable soft coral need relatively high light and strong water flow. But some of the easier ones like mushrooms and protopalythoa - which can be very colorful corals - do well in lower light.

 

[Reefers Digest]

Between those two, I'd stick with the T5. Those Marineland LED units aren't sufficient IMO.

The description for the Nova says it features "individual single lamp reflector" which is worded ambiguously to me. Individual reflectors play a large role in how much light you can get out of a T5 lamp, so if that's just poor grammar, and each lamp has its own reflector, great, if not, as I know the old nova didn't have them, then I recommend you look for a similar fixture around that pricepoint (there are a tonne available through online retailers) that does.

Good Luck!