Softies/LPS For high light exposure?

[Reefmack]

I'd like to put some soft corals/lps on the top of my LR - 6" below my T5 PC lights (4 watts/gallon). Excluding zoos, would xenia, any of the leathers, or other softies/lps do well that high up with a lot of light exposure? I think maybe a yellow Figi leather would be OK? Others?

I already have a frogspawn up that high & it's doing fine, but I'd like something else a bit different looking on the other side of my tank.

Any good websites with good information on coral requirements? I can't find a good post on RC with the type of info. I'd like, but if there is one please point me to it.

 

[Jamokie01]

T-5 and PC are two totally different kinds of lighting.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

wait...what kinda lights you have? Are they T5's or are they PC's? Or is it a combination of both?

Either way, thats really not that much light if you're only having 4wpg total over a 34g tank...not that i'd pay much attention to wpg since that rule's no good anyways IMO But still, thats not a lot.

Even if it was, xenia does best up high imo. Its going to end up at the highest point regardless of where you put it because it grows upwards towards the light, meaning it likes lots of light. So yes, that would be a great choice for the top. Just make sure you start it up high, otherwise you're gonna have it everywhere.

Leathers...ya they'd be fine, but remember that they can get huge. My toadstool has grown about 8 inches across in less than a year, so ya...

I've also got a fiji yellow leather in my 40...again, i wouldnt put it up high because like the toadstool that i've also got, its grown a ton and i've only had that for like 5 months or so. Just make sure you've got space upwards for it to grow so that it wont grow out of the water.

Check out liveaquaria.com. They've got a pretty big coral index for stuff they sell. But remember...they're SELLING....so they put info that isnt 100% accurate a lot of times to make the animal more appealing for someone to buy.
Most lps dont like that direct of light from what i've gathered.. all mine are down low in the tank and do quite well there.

 

[Reefmack]

Thanks for the information. The lighted part of the 34g tank is actually about 29g. On the lights, here's a quote from RSM:

"Regular power compact lighting has a tube diameter of 6/8”, which is known as T6. T5 tubes haves a smaller diameter (5/8”) and produce a higher intensity output. The T5s used in the MAX are custom made power compacts that enable us to provide 55 watts of light in a smaller footprint than the equivalent (2 x 24 W) regular T5 tubes would provide. Regular power compact are often powered by magnetic ballasts, but the Max T5 power compacts are powered by an electronic ballast to guarantee consistent high performance."

 

[sir_dudeguy]

lol that thing from RSM just doesnt make sense.... I've never heard a PC called a T6...Arent T6's just a single tube thats thicker than a t5? lol anyways, it sounds like its jut basically PC lights...2x55w PC. If it were t5 HO, it would either be 24w bulbs, 39w, or 54w, or if you get the longer ones then even higher than that. But 54w t5's is what you'd use to light a 55 or 75g tank...surely not a 34 which isnt that long...so i'll just assume they use "slightly different" pc's

But ya...pc's basically can grow any softy with a few exceptions i'm sure, a lot of lps...like i said, most that i've tried do better down lower in my tank where less light gets to, so if your frogspawn is doing great up high, then that sounds like your lights are just regular pc's for sure. Basically you just cant grow stuff like clams, acroporas, and a lot of other sps corals.

 

[Jamokie01]

Theyre PC Lights, the T-5 part is just referring to the thickness of the bulb which is pretty much irrelevant. So when talking to people just tell them PC or theyll get confused.

 

[Reefmack]

Whatever they are it's 4 separate bulbs - 110W split 50/50 between actinic & 10,000k. I have a small SPS Pink Stylopora frag right at the top as an experiment and it's doing well for a few weeks now - polyps always out and growing & starting to bud off a new branch, so the lighting seems powerful enough at the top. I may move the frogspawn I have a bit lower - doing very well also but I'm concerned that it may be a bit too much light where I have it.

Thanks for the comments & opinions on the corals.

 

[herostar]

My neon green leather loves tons of light.

 

[Reefmack]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10120744#post10120744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by herostar
My neon green leather loves tons of light.

Thanks - sounds like another good option.

 

[jdmhonda954]

my leather, welsophylia(spelling?), green stars and galaxy are about 2 -3 inches from the top of the water and their doing great. i just switched from power compacts and the t5's are SO much brighter.