Softies? What do you have? Low light.

[gillettecd]

A week ago I moved my wood polyps (Anthelia) from a 250 watt Halide light 30g cube to a 120g tank with just a 10k t12 florescent single bulb. It appears to be just fine under these new conditions. I was wanting to know what others under the same lighting conditions have grow in their tanks. I figure if these do fine then so will other softies like it. Anyone having success under similar lighting conditions?

 

[Fat Man]

Not without a glass of wine and some Barry White playing.

 

[thebanker]

My LFS ran their softy tanks on a 10k T12 and a Super Actinic T12, and their soft coral looked phenomenal. Goniopora, euphyllia, and other LPS looked good too.

So the single T12 might be fine, but another would really set it off. Nothing in a smaller bulb diameter compares to the classic color you get from those super actinic T12's, I swear.

 

[gillettecd]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67509057@N08/6140879944/

These wood polyps are doing alright. Is there not any others that will do just as well? I am looking for responses from people keeping something like polyps under such light. If I am able to do it, I figured there is likely someone else who has done it. I am just looking to add a little life to what was a fish only tank. Wood Polyps have added some life other than fish. These came from another tank and I was able to try it first with a frag. However, before I go buy any other polyps. I wanted to see if anyone else has had the success I have with the woods. Maybe with leathers of some variety. I was not looking for a smart comment. I realize you think you were being funny. I am asking a serious question.

 

[gillettecd]

Thank you banker, that was the response I was looking for.

 

[thebanker]

These are serious times, sir.

 

[gillettecd]

Sorry, I felt like he was laughing at me with that post.

 

[Todd_Sails]

In my DT,

The softies I have listed in my sig are doing great with my antique lighting.

2x3ft banks of a with two twin bulgs in each fixture.
Each fisture has 1-looped over 10K PC,-96W, and 1 looped over dual 420/460 actinic bulb-also 96watt.

Hope this may help, some?

 

[thebanker]

Sorry, I felt like he was laughing at me with that post.

No, no, you posted your question in the Lounge (off topic) forum. Like on many other internet communities, the off topic forum is a silly place. No offense was meant by anyone.


Yet.

 

[gillettecd]

Sorry, it caught me off guard, I did not expect it. So I need to select a forum specific to my question? I thought I was posting in a general forum.

 

[gillettecd]

Hi soft coral keepers, I am new to the reef central forum. Well to forums in general. I have never participated much beyond reading forums. I posted my question in the wrong place. It appears I have been moved to this forum. Any suggestions specific to my question would be appreciated. I am trying to generate a list of new possible additions to my tank with out purchasing a new light. Fish only is rather a boring view.

 

[gflat65]

Mushrooms might do okay in ultra low light conditions, and possibly a few other softies, but I'm not sure how they'd fare long term. Softies usually fluff out to gain more surface area in lower light, but one T12 (I'm assuming it's NO and not VHO?), is pretty low light for a 120. If it is an NO, why not add at least a second? You can buy some fairly cheap fixtures from Lowes (though, they will rust over time in a salty environment). I know Garf had good luck with Triton's and Blue Moons (also NO bulbs) over their tanks back in the day. Not sure if they still sell Tritons and blue moons, but it seems like GE had some decent NO bulbs back in the day, too. I'm sure they ran several, though, and don't know the depth of tanks they were running. For a little over $100, places like hellolights have retrofits that will give at least (2) T5's (not sure they sell VHO's anymore, but haven't checked).

I've got some sinularia/nephthea doing well in a 65 (~as tall as a 120) with only (2) T5's in a Tek fixture.

 

[Potsy]

Some soft corals might survive in dim conditions but they won't show their best colors. My tank's leathers, colt and stereonephthya took on purple, yellow, pink and green pastel hues after spending a few weeks higher up on the rockwork in my tank under 5x39w T5s. They were mostly brown and grey under dim lighting at the lfs. Several soft corals, especially sarcophyton and sinularia, can take a lot of light.