Try Duncan Coral in the shade?

[DrBoxedWine]

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering what strength lighting people use with their duncan corals. I'm not getting a ton of growth from mine, although to be honest, i just started getting calcium in check about a month ago, and even with that, i just started dosing kalk this weekend to really get things steady. I do think i keep my lights toward the brighter end of what my tank could handle. However, my Green Toadstool is towards the drop and is growing like crazy, and my newish green hammer has like 5 heads growing off the side of it since i added it.

Has anyone tried a duncan in the shade? I could put it under a rock arch in the tank and it would be in the shadows. It seems to me that it needs SOME light at least, however.

 

[mcgyvr]

It is a low to moderate light demanding coral..
But I wouldn't put any coral that relies off light for its energy to be in "the shade"

 

[AdamNC]

I keep mine off to the side of the tank in med-high light and it started with 1 head a month ago and now has 4.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I keep mine off to the side of the tank in med-high light and it started with 1 head a month ago and now has 4.

Dang, I am not getting that kind of growth. Maybe i'll moving it up a little. Thanks!

 

[eatbreakfast]

For a duncan supplemental feeding will greatly increase growth, as will its position relative to flow, so it can feed, rather than its position regarding lighting.

 

[cloak]

+1 on feeding. The corals have a voracious apatite.

 

[tommyboynj]

I have a colony that I've fragged multiple times is mid tank under 2 hydras running at about 70%. I've had them for years and they like the higher light. Any time people ask for frag I can normally feed them and have a few heads in a couple of months. I don't feed then to control them. Lol.

 

[JoelA7]

Pretty new to this too but mine is very happy about 18-20" deep under radion gen 3 pros at about 50% max, mostly at 14,000 k. What I have noticed is that it does like more than low flow. Needs enough to keep the tentacles moving but not battered. Two new heads starting after about 3 - 4 months and started feeding a bit one month ago.

Just my anecdotal experience.

 

[formsix]

I've only had mine for about a month, but I quickly found that it seems way more sensitive to flow than light. It seems to love a nice moderate flow coming from two directions -- that same level of flow coming from mainly one direction caused it to close more often and not fully open. I'm sure light is important too, but I would first make sure it's in the best place flow-wise in your tank and go from there.

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I have a colony that I've fragged multiple times is mid tank under 2 hydras running at about 70%. I've had them for years and they like the higher light. Any time people ask for frag I can normally feed them and have a few heads in a couple of months. I don't feed then to control them. Lol.

What size tank do you have, and how far up are your lights from the top of the tank? Do you a glass top? screen? open?

And thanks everyone, sounds like i just need to experiment around with it, as everyone seems to have different results.

 

[OnceTrueFalseBr]

Hello everyone,

I'm wondering what strength lighting people use with their duncan corals. I'm not getting a ton of growth from mine, although to be honest, i just started getting calcium in check about a month ago, and even with that, i just started dosing kalk this weekend to really get things steady. I do think i keep my lights toward the brighter end of what my tank could handle. However, my Green Toadstool is towards the drop and is growing like crazy, and my newish green hammer has like 5 heads growing off the side of it since i added it.

Has anyone tried a duncan in the shade? I could put it under a rock arch in the tank and it would be in the shadows. It seems to me that it needs SOME light at least, however.

How long have you had it?

 

[DrBoxedWine]

I got it maybe 2 months ago? My calcium levels were so low tho at first

 

[AdamNC]

I also do not target feed but I do use AquaVitro Fuel and Reef Chili. While feeding Brine I have seen a head or 2 once in a while grab a shrimp.

 

[Waters40]

I think they can pretty much adapt to any light as long as they are fed. Mine are pretty high up under LED's and have grown roughly 10-15 new heads since I have had it.