to much light for coral

Stupid question coming up. I have a 40 gallon tank with about 140 watts going into it. I know this isnt enough light due to the 5 watt per gallon rule but if you have a coral which is 5 - 10 inch away from the surface of the water. is it possible that there is to much light for this coral to handle? Is there any way telling from the coral if its getting to much light?

 

Hi Alex and welcome

can i ask, 140 watts of what? 140 watts of T8 is nothing in comparison to 140 watts of
T5. Can you please specify.

 

i Have T-5 by interpet high power compact lights. does this help?

 

I don't really know much bout PC - but i reckon on your size tank you should be alright to keep most soft and some lps corals, given that the tank is not a tall one and your inventive with the placement of the coral.

 

thanks mate its only 15inch deep and the lights are bought 3 inchs above the water line. The corals dont seem bothered

 

Regarding your light scheme, as you probably know by now, different corals require varying intensities of light(PAR/PUR) for their survival in ensuring that their host zooxanthellae is receiving enough light to saturation. Over and above this known as supersaturation, corals zooxanthellae will have to work harder to try to maintain the process of photosynthesis and the oxygen that is produced. Because of this you run the risk of bleaching your coral. Just keep an eye out to see that your coral is receiving the right amount of light.
Corals can also bleach with inadequate amount of light as well, but corals are also able to asapt to various lighting intensities, by employing irridiphores and special pigments as well as exchanging one strand of zooxanthellae for another that better suits the given environmental conditions!
Good luck!

 

im guessing if a coral bleaches it will turn white if this happends can it be unbleached

 

To cut it short - Yes

Don't worry tho, i don't think your lights are strong enough to bleach anything.

 

Yes corals can remedy and overcome the bleaching process through the ideal strain of zooxanthellae that is most apt to handle the given lighting scheme once the lighting is corrected.

 

bogus rule

yes to both, but without a par meter you cant answer either one.

beg, borrow or steal a par meter.

there are alot of other elements to keeping corals such as water flow, parameters, and so on. the lights are just one part of it.