Purple Sinularia, finger coral, Leather

[hrdneglcry]

I had a chance to see a nice peice of purple sinularia in a 260 gallon reef tank. It was pretty huge. It was being sold for $75.
But I really liked it.
I finally have a big tank where no creature exists that will eat my corals.
(I have to keep huge hermit crabs in most of my tanks).
Anyway here is a link that I found on Sinularia. I would really be interested in purchasing a huge purple piece like the one that I saw a month ago.
But I do not want to bring it here just to die. According to the article my tank should be OK for this leather. But I am just wondering about the lighting.
On the tank I have regular actinic 40 Watt, four foot Marine Glo Bulbs. There are four of them, so I have 160 watts of light. It is enough to keep my GSP alive, but this article says that the Sinularia is more vibrant under brighter lights.
I want a purple one, and I want it to be vibrant purple. So am I going to have have to get different, or more lights? I can add 80 more watts of Marine Glo actinics, but I do not really want to.
Will the Sinulari be OK under 160 watts, in a 180 gallon tank? will it be vibrant?
http://www.centralpets.com/animals/fish/saltwater_inverts/swi1705.html

 

[drummereef]

I would upgrade your lighting first. If you are interested in keeping slighly more demanding corals this is going to be a must. Even a VHO retro kit would be fine. If you've got more of a budget do T5's instead.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

Has this Sinularia been in the persons tank for a couple months at least? Im not saying they dont exist, but Ive never heard of a Purple Sinularia that wasnt dyed. Might be wrong (hope I am- that would be cool); any chance of a photo? Knowing whether it is truly purple or not will help us advise on its care...

 

[hrdneglcry]

Purple Sinularia under regular NO lights

Purple Sinularia under regular NO lights

As far as I know this reef was very mature. He broke it down, and sold it off to downsize. I believe this was the Purple Sinularia. I would love to keep only this coral along with my GSP in my 180 under the current 160 watt, regular actinic marine glo lights. Not to add confusion, but I think the techincal term for regular flourescents is NO lights. NO is an abbreviation. Anyway here is the PIC. Bottom of PIC. This stuff was nice, and I was surprised to find out that he sold the green before he sold this. The purple piece was huge. I think it was at least 8" tall with a base of at least 5".
If I were just going to try to keep the Sinularia would I still need to upgrade?
It is really all that I want. :rollface:
Thanks.

 

[Hormigaquatica]

I think 160wt of NO over a 180 is going to be pretty dim for that coral. If it were that much wattage in power compacts, you would likely be fine; even if it were PCs you could probably work with it near the surface, but NO bulbs just dont put out intense enough light at that kind of wattage to be sufficient.

Not to say that it CANT be done with NO's, but I would suggest something closer to 500wt of NO with a good reflector before you attempt it, especially if you want to try one of the more colorful Sinularia's, as opposed to the tan varieties. JMHO

 

[hrdneglcry]

OK Thank you

 

[hrdneglcry]

Purple finger leather

Purple finger leather

I found this PIC of a Purple Finger leather. That description sounds like the Purple Sinularia, but IMO these two PICS do not look the same. Any opinions?

 

[Jacob D]

hrdneglcry,

Do you think that might be a Neospongodes sp., or maybe dendronephthea? I have a yellow neospongodes that looks similar. I like yours whatever it is

 

[hrdneglcry]

Dendro

Dendro

it isn't mine, but i was told it was dendronephthea.

 

[Pinner reef]

Here are a couple of different pics that may help (probably not)

This is my sinularia it is pinkish/purple (arrows) not a good pic and the coral is stressed by new bulbs but there ya go

And here is My pink finger leather

Doubt it does but HTH
-pinner

 

[seapug]

None of these photos look like Sinularias to me. Most likely Neospongeodes or some sort of Neptheas. The one above is the only one that looks remotely like a Sinularia, but I'm suspect of the "pink". I'm willing to bet that pinkish tint will turn brown before long.

 

[Pinner reef]

I've had the pink finger leather (bottom pic) for a few months. with no browning at all. Note the new growth at it's base which have since sprouted new stalks (same color)
-pinner

 

[pledosophy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9820408#post9820408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mothra
hrdneglcry,

Do you think that might be a Neospongodes sp., or maybe dendronephthea? I have a yellow neospongodes that looks similar. I like yours whatever it is

Just curious about your neospongode. What are you doing for feeding and lighting. I found some stuff on google, but not much from keepers. I tried to start a thread here to but got no responses.

Also how tall have yours grown, and how fast?

Sorry for the hijack, but really trying to get more info on the neospongode.