Quote:
Originally Posted by danielcassar  hello all
i have a t8 flouroscent hood with 3 tubes 2 white and 1 actnic blue. there is written that the white are 6,500K each and the blue is 20,000K. so i have in total 33.000 K. it is planned that my aqurium will be fish only. if i change my mind what type of corals i can put with that light system!? or i will keep to fish only?!
pic of full light is included
thanks
daniel |
Hi danielcassar: Lighting is a complex subject. Some variables add up but others do not. The amount of light (intensity) is indirectly measured by the energy the lamp use up (watts), we can add this up. The color temperature (spectrum) can not be added up. Consider the wattage as a measure of the quantity of light and the Kelvin as a measure of the quality of the light.
With your actual light assembly your options for keeping corals is quite limited since you need to aim at non-photosynthetic corals.
Species that can make it with extremely low light are (according not to my experience but from what I understand as reading info from Julian Sprung, 1999, Corals A Quick Reference Guide, Oceanographic Series, Ricordea Publishing, Florida):
Hard Corals:
Tubastraea (Orange cup coral, Turret coral, Orange Sun Polyp, Branchig Octopus coral). These can be placed anywhere you want in your tank. Considered as peaceful but can be somewhat delicate to keep, require moderate to high currents.
Dendrophyllia (Turret coral) These need to be placed near the bottom at a shadowed area. Considered peaceful, require moderate to high currents, somewhat delicate to keep.
Balanophyllia (Turret coral) These are also somewhat delicate, can be placed either in a shadowed area or at the bottom of the tank where light is already attenuated. Considered peaceful.
Soft Corals:
Carijoa species. Need to be placed at a shadowed area of the tank, adapt to a wide range of mild to strong current. Peaceful. Considered delicate to keep.
Studeriotes (Christmas tree, French Tickler, Sphaerella krempfi): Quite hardy. Peaceful. Requires moderate to strong currents, best placed in the sand substrate (not
live rock).
Minabea: Requires moderate to high currents. Considered peaceful. Quite hardy. Needs to be placed in a shadowed area.
Scleronephthya (Strawberry corals, Pink/Orange cauliflower): Placed either at the mid-zone or in shadowed areas. Somewhat delicate to keep. Need moderate to strong currents. Peaceful.
Dendronephtya species (Strawberry coral, Cauliflower coral, Tree coral, Dendrophyta, Dendronephyta). These can be placed all around the tank. Considered a very delicate species. Peaceful.
Chyronephthya (Dendronephthya). Require moderate to strong currents. Considered delicate to keep. Peaceful. Placed either in a shadowed area or at the mid-zone of the tank.
Siphonogorgia (Dendronephthya). Mid-zone of the tank. Considered delicate. Peaceful. Requires moderate to high currents.
Nephthyigorgia (Chili Sponge, Red Finger (soft) Coral, Devil's Hand): Peaceful. Placed at shadowed areas or at the lower third of the tank. Considered hardy.
Cavernularia (Sea Pen). Placed at the sand substrate. Somewhat delicate to keep. Peaceful, requires moderate currents.
Virgularia (Sea Pen). Placed at the upper part of the tank. Peaceful. Considered delicate. Moderate to strong currents.
Diodogorgia (Finger Sea Fan, Yellow Finger, Red Finger). Somewhat hardy. Peaceful. Needs moderate to strong currents. Placed at the lower end of the tank.
Iciligorgia (Sea Fan, Semperina). Needs moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Somewhat delicate. Placement at the lower third of the tank.
Subergorgia (Sea Fan). Requires moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Delicate to keep. Placement at the middle of the tank.
Melithaea (Sea Fan). Peaceful. Delicate to keep. Requires moderate to strong currents. Placement towards the middle of the tank.
Acabaria (Sea Fan). Moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Somewhat delicate to keep. Placement in shadowed areas or at the middle of the tank.
Acalycigorgia (Sea Fan). Moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Somewhat delicate to keep. Placed at the middle of the tank.
Swiftia (Orange Sea Fan, Soft Red Fan, Orange Tree). Somewhat delicate. Peaceful. Needs moderate to strong currents. Placement at the lower third of the tank.
Echinomuricea (Sea Fan). Needs moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Somewhat delicate to keep. Placed at the lower third of the tank.
Menella (Sea Fan). Requires moderate to strong currents -not extreme. Placed from the mid-zone to the bottom of the tank. Peaceful. Somewhat delicate to keep.
Pacifigorgia (Red Sea Fan, Panamic Sea Fan). Moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Considered delicate to keep.
Guaigorgia (Blue Gorgorian, Sea Whip). Mild to Strong currents. Peaceful. Placed at the bottom of the tank (on live rock). Somewhat hardy.
Fire Coral:
Stylaster (Lace Coral). Very delicate to keep. Peaceful. Moderate to strong currents. Placement in a shadowed area.
Distichopora (Lace Coral). Very delicate to keep. Moderate to strong currents. Peaceful. Placed in a shadowed area.
The thing is as the light (photons/electromagnetic waves) travels through the air (the space that separates the lamp surface from the water surface) and the water column to reach a spot in your tank it looses intensity and dampers the spectrum (the deeper it gets only blueish light is visible). We need to provide a balanced combination of enough light intensity (photons) and propper quality (spectrum).
Hope this helps.
Pepetj
Santo Domingo
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I've moved your thread to the "salt water aquarium lighting" section of the forum to help you to get more responses from salt water members. 
