Corals / Anemones/ lighting

Don Geddis · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 79

Peter Pan wrote on Sat, 12 Jan 2008:
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I don't
> know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some research. I know I
> don't want to buy any special lighting other then bulbs so, from Soup to
> nuts, what will I need to do?

Is this a joke? The main difference (besides requiring superior water
quality) between keeping only fish, and keeping corals/anemones, is brighter
lighting. Most corals and most anemones get a significant fraction of their
energy input from lighting.

As to what "else" you'll need, surely it depends on what you've got right
now. It's possible that a FOWLR tank is already a perfectly fine environment
for corals/anemones -- probably except for the lighting. And probably some
kind of calcium supplement for corals; they absorb calcium from the water and
use it to build their skeletons, so you need to regularly replace that (with
calicum powder, or using kalkwasser for your evaporation topoff).

But you didn't mention what equipment you already had. You didn't mention
what your water parameters were (ammonia, nitrates, calcium, etc.). How do
you expect anyone to actually answer your question seriously about what you
"need to do"?

-- Don
_______________________________________________________________________________
Don Geddis don@geddis.org http://reef.geddis.org/
I hope some animal never bores a hole in my head and lays its eggs in my brain,
because later you might think you're having a good idea but it's just eggs
hatching. -- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>marine>reefs

KurtG · Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 10

On Jan 12, 1:20 pm, Peter Pan wrote:
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
> don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
> research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
> bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

its all together possible to grow quite a lot of various softies in a
tank with standard NO lighting. I donlt have a clue what you have now
for lights, but the addition of actinic would be nice not only for
viewing and bringing out colors but some critters need actinic to do
best.Mushrooms, some leathers, feather dusters / tube worms, cocoa
worms, green star polyp, yellow polyps, a lot if not most all
zooanthids will all do pretty darn good with no special lighting. Make
sure your fish are suitable for a reef environment though. And while
its not 110% necessary you would benefit big time with a skimmer, and
using rodi water as once you add corals and live rock its a whole
different matter of solving any problems if they arise..and rodi water
does solve a lot of headache normally encountered with reg
dechlorinated tap water.

Personally I would not even fool with an anenome, some require better
light than standard type lighting stock tanks come with and they are
prone to moving all over the tank and wind up where you do not want
them, most times..........I prefer to look at them in someone else's
tank and not mine.

Peter Pan · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

KurtG · Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Peter Pan wrote:
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
> don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
> research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
> bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

Caught the bug, did you? Be(a)ware that it can be hazardous to your
pocket book.

So, what do you currently have? What sort of things do you want to keep?

--Kurt

Peter Pan · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

My current set up is 75 gal tank with approx 85 lbs of LR with a deep
sand bed. The tank is established for 7 years. Lighting; I have actinic
and Coralife trichromatic Fluorescents. Canister Filtration, Skimmer and
RODI. Nitrates are usually under 15ppm, I don't have issues with Ammonia
or Nitrites of any thing else.

Wayne Sallee · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 526

Then don't buy any corals or anemones.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Peter Pan wrote on 1/12/2008 2:20 PM:
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
> don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
> research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
> bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

Wayne Sallee · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 526

Go to your favorite pet store that has lots of
puppies. Tell them that you want a puppy. Tell them
that you know that you don't want to have to feed
it. Then ask them which puppy you should get.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Peter Pan wrote on 1/12/2008 2:20 PM:
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
> don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
> research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
> bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

mtfester · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 37

Peter Pan wrote:
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
> don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
> research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
> bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

Go with T5s; very bright, not as much heat as halogens, so unless you're
using a deep tank, you don't need halogens.

What kind of filtration do you have? You need, minimum, a very good
skimmer, and the cniderians do better with a decent refugium. CPR
sells a good one for under $300.

You'll also need a good amount of live rock, and likely a sand bed.
Different anemones/corals require different environments in that
regard.

Mike

KurtG · Joined: 12 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Wayne Sallee wrote:
> Go to your favorite pet store that has lots of puppies. Tell them that
> you want a puppy. Tell them that you know that you don't want to have to
> feed it. Then ask them which puppy you should get.

LOL. Man, tough crowd.

RubenD · Joined: 13 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

I would go to ebay and buy some cheap power compacts, then get some low
light coral (mushrooms, etc.)
Anemones? well, get a haitian, condi. they are very cheap and hardy.

Bottomline, either ones (corals/anemones) are sensitive and need some light
to survive, the prettier ones are more demanding and delicate.

Keep in mind, once you get into them, there's no way back, you'll spend
the money slowly but constantly, ....I know...I have coral =)

Saltwaterfish.com has some anemones for $7.99 for begginers.

You'll need more control on you water quality (calcium, iodide, etc.) and
don't forget to check if you inhabitants EAT coral, it could be an expensive
dish,

Zoo's are very toxic(deadly), I would stay away from them, and no, I don't
intend to get a flame thead out of this comment.

Good Luck!

p.s.: did I mention you might need a CHILLER to keep the temperature down,
depending on where you live.

"Peter Pan" wrote in message@comcast.com...
> I have a FOWLR and I'm thinking of adding corals and or anemones. I
> don't know anything about either of them so I'm here doing some
> research. I know I don't want to buy any special lighting other then
> bulbs so, from Soup to nuts, what will I need to do?

KurtG · Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 10

On Jan 14, 5:32 pm, Peter Pan wrote:
> I did some research on lighting: Some corals have low to medium light
> requirements where others require Moderate to high levels of lighting.
> It all depends on the coral.
> Thanks everyone for your responses.

I rest my case!
Your setup will do just fine with a lot of corals out there and the
lights you now have............

Don Geddis · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 79

Peter Pan wrote on Mon, 14 Jan 2008:
> I did some research on lighting: Some corals have low to medium light
> requirements where others require Moderate to high levels of lighting. It
> all depends on the coral.

Sure, that's true. But the vast majority of "pretty" "colorful" corals are
going to be in the needs-light category. If you walk into a random tropical
fish store, I'd bet 90-99% of the corals they have for sale require something
more than low lighting.

But if you REALLY insist on keeping low lighting (why?), and you're REALLY
careful on your well-researched selection of species, then you're right that
in theory you could find a few corals (and even a few anemones) that will
thrive without significant lighting.

That's not what most people mean by a "reef tank". And it means that when
you walk into a fish store, the vast majority of corals that you see will not
be appropriate for your tank.

But sure. "Some" corals have low light requirements.

Don't forget the required high water quality (probably means a protein
skimmer), and the needed calcium additions (for most corals). And the
low-light corals may need to be hand fed, so try to figure out what food they
eat and be sure to provide it.

-- Don
_______________________________________________________________________________
Don Geddis don@geddis.org http://reef.geddis.org/
Just because your doctor has a name for your condition doesn't mean he knows
what it is.

KurtG · Joined: 23 Dec 2007 Posts: 10

On Jan 14, 6:45 pm, Don Geddis wrote:
> Peter Pan wrote on Mon, 14 Jan 2008:
>
> > I did some research on lighting: Some corals have low to medium light
> > requirements where others require Moderate to high levels of lighting. It
> > all depends on the coral.
>
> Sure, that's true. But the vast majority of "pretty" "colorful" corals are
> going to be in the needs-light category. If you walk into a random tropical
> fish store, I'd bet 90-99% of the corals they have for sale require something
> more than low lighting.
>
> But if you REALLY insist on keeping low lighting (why?), and you're REALLY
> careful on your well-researched selection of species, then you're right that
> in theory you could find a few corals (and even a few anemones) that will
> thrive without significant lighting.
>
> That's not what most people mean by a "reef tank". And it means that when
> you walk into a fish store, the vast majority of corals that you see will not
> be appropriate for your tank.
>
> But sure. "Some" corals have low light requirements.
>
> Don't forget the required high water quality (probably means a protein
> skimmer), and the needed calcium additions (for most corals). And the
> low-light corals may need to be hand fed, so try to figure out what food they
> eat and be sure to provide it.
>
> -- Don
> _______________________________________________________________________________
> Don Geddis d...@geddis.org http://reef.geddis.org/
> Just because your doctor has a name for your condition doesn't mean he knows
> what it is.

Your a real dumbass idiot moron Don.................A real first class
moron at that! Your a prime example of what a real dumbass would
be...........Bet your wife helps you put your socks on and wipes your
ass!

Peter Pan · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 57

I did some research on lighting: Some corals have low to medium light
requirements where others require Moderate to high levels of lighting.
It all depends on the coral.
Thanks everyone for your responses.

Wayne Sallee · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 526

You need to do more research

Wayne Sallee
Wayne@WayneSallee.com

Peter Pan wrote on 1/14/2008 6:32 PM:
> I did some research on lighting: Some corals have low to medium light
> requirements where others require Moderate to high levels of lighting.
> It all depends on the coral.
> Thanks everyone for your responses.