Mushroom question

[spw4949]

So I got some live rock for my tank and there were some mushrooms attached. All I have for lighting right now is the regular fluorescents that came with the hood,I am planning on upgrading(as soon as I save the $) so that I can keep corals. My question is will the mushrooms make it? Is there a bulb I can buy to keep them alive until the I upgrade? I just hate to see 'em die.....

Thanks.

 

[kfisc]

How many watts and what color temp. are your lights, and how deep is your tank?

Mushrooms are pretty tough- you could pick up a cheap compact fluorescent in the 65k range from Lowes/Home Depot with a clip on fixture and aim it right at them, if your tank isn't more than 16" or so deep, and it might work- otherwise, I'd trade them or give them away.

 

[spw4949]

I have 2 x25w bulbs on a 46 gallon bowfront, def not enough. I'll probably just trade 'em in, I want to get the right lighting & what not so I can do it the ight way, thanks for the fast response.

 

[singold]

That may be close for minimum lighting sustainment. Mushroom corals are one of the most forgiving corals on many levels. You can buy a stronger bulb at LFS, but make sure your lighting unit can support. They are also pretty expensive. Personally, I'd parlay that investment towards my new lighting unit instead.

 

[spw4949]

I think I'm going to upgrade my current bulbs & see if I can sustain them, if they don't do well I'll probably just trade 'em in. Thanks for the input.

 

[Runner]

That's a little borderline on depth for two NO tubes unless you put them higher on rocks, but it might work. It wouldn't take much more light to work, though. I have had a 10G tank with a twin-bulb (one 10000K and one actinic - both 15W NO) Eclipse hood on my desk at work for a while and several varieties/colors of mushrooms and they grow and spread well across the bottom of the tank.