corals?

Hi, I'm setting up a 90 gallon tank, and I recently purchased a light for it. It is a coralife 48" with two 65 watt actinic florescent lamps and two 65 watt daylight lights. My original thoughts were to make it a FOWLR tank, but the salesman told me that I would be able to have some simple corals. What corals would be ok under these lights? Thanks

 

Mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms.
Non photosynthetic gorgonians. Tube corals..

J

 

Hmm

Now... do you say mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms because of the depth of the tank or is there some reason why that light is no good at all for the other corals. I have to ask, of course, because I just bought a 4x65 for my 55gal. Inquiring minds want to know!

 

Many Octocorals(mushrooms, leathers, polyps), sponges, gorgonians(both symbiotic and aposymbiotic) though symbiotic> containing Zooxanthellae are better suited for most aquariums!
Many LPS' are readilly available and are more hardy than SPS' though you could get away with keeping certain "stonies" such as Pavona, Montipora Digitata, and Millipora Acropora, to name a few!
LPS' such as Euphylia species are a good chice with the exception of Elegance
coral. Bubble, many plate, tongue, Sun(Tubastrea) and brain coral can also be kept with subdued lighting!
Enjoy and best of luck!
I would do some research on corals with regards to toxicity, compatability and husbandry!

 

Whoa, i didn't know that all of those could live without strong lighting. I was aware that I could have polyps, and mushrooms, but not all of the others. Thanks for your help.

 

It is because of the depth. I had a similar fixture over my 55 gal tank for about 2 years. I was able to keep more corals including montipora and acropora (went brown...but alive) I moved to T-5 and now even the acros shine.

As for Fishzy I would say that mushrooms are good. Maybe some soft corals. But i really would be careful what you put in.

 

The placement of a particular coral, alot of times, makes a big difference as well even if you don't have intense light. If you place the coral high up in your tank you can compensate for the lower light (lumens)from your lighting!

 

Sorry, forgot to mention that that doesn't always work however!!!!!!! For instance, if you buy a plate or tongue coral, the best place for it is on the benthic area of your tank, same with Squamosa and Derasa Tridacna's! You really have to do some reasearch for long term success!

 

Mostly because of the depth of the tank.
It is 24 inches tall. Have you ever tried to stack rock so that you can place a coral 10 inches below the surface? : (
I use the same light you bought on a 20 long aquarium for my wifes tank. I also originally bought it for my 90 over two years ago and was promptly told by the 3Reef squad how limited my coral choices would be. They were right, which is why I have metal halides now and the coralife light is keeping corals happy on the 12" tall tank. Enjoy, it's all a learning process

Jim

 

would I be able to keep xenia? or do they need more light?