Good Beginner Soft Corals

Yeah, I know the kenyans that I put in there are like weeds and I do intend to give a bunch away once they start getting out of hand. A friend of mine just started up a tank a couple of days ago so some will go to him and I have another buddy that will take some. What Im looking for is to only add another 3 fish or so and fill this thing up with color.

 

+1..thats why i switched

 

Also, I know this isn't the best lighting, but is what I have sufficent to do this or should I not even bother. Coralife 48" dual bulb T-5 HO. 1 10,000 54w 1 Actinic 54w.

 

I agree with leathers, they can be really cool. I especially like my toadstool that has gone from the size of a quarter to over a foot across in 2 1/2 years.

 

After doing more research, I am positive what I have for lighting sucks. So for now what ever happens to the 4 frags I put in happens. I guess I will have to save some money until I can afford the correct lighting. This might be getting off track and should be a lighting thread, but what is the minimal that I can get away with for softies and the next step up whatever that is? SPS or LPS? I am also open to the LED suggestion if you have any, as in what would be the minimal LED for something like that to support growth. And by the way it's a 90 Gallon tank.

 

your lighting is more than adequate for the corals you are wanting to start with.

Edit-yes you are on the lower end of adequate lighting,most of the easy begginners softies don't require high lighting and you do want to upgrade eventually,but for now your good.

 

You gotta remember a 90 gallon tanks is a 24" deep tank, IMO 2 bulbs will not be adequate for most corals even softies. They will grow but become very long and leggy in a very short time.

On a 90 gallon you even with softies you will want to up the to at least a 4 bulb system if not 6. The depth on that than is pretty deep and with only two bulbs corals will be stretching to get brighter light. As far as what lighting you will need for the other stuff you will receive many differeant answers on there. I have LPS, Softies and SPS in my tank and have always used T5's. As far as LED's Go

I have a 75 and have 8-54 watt bulbs on it. For a fast an fairly cheap fix me up these light are great for the price, I have 3 tanks and 2 of them have nothing but these on them lighting fixtures. For the price and with softies they are great lights. For less than 5 bucks plus shipping you can add 2 more bulbs.

As far as corals go, remember Xenia, Kenya tree's, Colt corals all spread rather rapidly if they are happy. You can isolate Xenia to one rock if you move them either to the middle of your sand bed or to the top or you rocks because they grow up toward the light faster that out.

Kenya tree's spread by pieces falling off, once again you can control them by simply peeling the base off the rock with a finger nail and either giving it away or tossing it in the trash (I am gonna hear about this!)

Mushrooms are another really good beginer coral, and require less light that the others and you can most likely get away with the lighting you have with them. They spread also if happy but are controllable.

Zoa's, depending on the Zoa are good choices but i have found out that some require more light than others. so 2 bulbs in a 24" tank some might be starved for light with only 2 bulbs.

 

I completly agree,maybe just expressed it wrong,to get started yes your more light demanding corals should be up under those lights on top of the rock,also the link provided is a great place to get a good basic light fixture.