What coral???

I'm thinking about getting a Orbit Compact Flourescent light fixture. (24" 130 Watts)

28 gallon tank

I was wondering what would be some good coral for that light. I can't afford the 400 dollar light fixtures. Plus it's not really worth the 400 dollars for a 28 gallon tank. I'll eventually go all out on a large tank once I buy a house. But.... for now I'd like to start getting some experience with some easy coral that would be fine in this light.

Thanks

 

I believe power compacts are considered moderate lighting for standard depth tanks (24 inches or less). I wouldn't try to keep any Small Polyped Stony (SPS) corals under them, but maybe some of the lower light demanding species of mushrooms, zoanthid polyps, possibly the pulse corals (Pulsing Xenia) placed in the upper half of the tank.

You might be able to keep some of the hardier and moderate light demanding species of LPS like the candy cane coral (Caulastrea furcata), but avoid mixing the soft and hard corals in a smaller tank.

-Mike

 

Well I got a salt water tank. It's a 37 gallon tall eclipse. My lighting to start with is 20 watt fluorescent and 65 watt coralife actinic light. Is there any coral that will work for this lighting?

 

That's not much light. Mushrooms and orange paddle sponges will do good not much more. Lighting is one of your most important investments in a saltwater tank. Look into T5 retrofit kits. They last twice as long as pcs and they are about three times more intense.

 

That's not much light. Mushrooms and orange paddle sponges will do good not much more. Lighting is one of your most important investments in a saltwater tank. Look into T5 retrofit kits. They last twice as long as pcs and they are about three times more intense.

I looked at the T5 kit and they didn't seem more powerful than what I have. I have 24" lights. And the the T5 the 36" wasn't even as powerful. I was looking on drsfoster website. If you know where I can get a nice kit please let me know.
Thanks for the input.

 

OK ... Looked around, (2) 2 light-24" T5 retrofit kit is around $99 each. So $200 for 96 watts T5 (which is a kit you have to build ) or a 380 watt Odyssea Metal Halide fixture already built for $169. By the way, I have the 36" Odyssea Metal Halide fixture and I'm very happy with it. Here's the link . If you have any question about this light, (i.e bulbs, ballast, quality) feel free to ask. ;D

 

OK ... Looked around, (2) 2 light-24" T5 retrofit kit is around $99 each. So $200 for 96 watts T5 (which is a kit you have to build  ) or a 380 watt Odyssea Metal Halide fixture already built for $169. By the way, I have the 36" Odyssea Metal Halide fixture and I'm very happy with it. Here's the link . If you have any question about this light, (i.e bulbs, ballast, quality) feel free to ask.  ;D

Wow. I now know what I want...... I want that metal halide fixture.... Is this site reliable?? Thanks so much for the info.

 

Yes the site is reliable (it's were I got mine). Many people have ordered these fixtures I know of. The fixture's only weak spot is the ballast. The par readings are a little low, but in a small aquarium you won't even notice. You can always upgrade the ballast later. Also with the 24" fixture people that have purchased this fixture have only a slight increase in temperature.