Reef Aquarium Facts #350 Meaty LPS corals fair better if placed in a more shaded/less light area of

revhtree · Sep 10, 2013

We are going to continue discussing the reef aquarium facts submitted by our members. Do you agree or disagree? What are your thoughts?

Fact #350

Meaty LPS corals fair better if placed in a more shaded/less light area of the aquarium.

ramon1181 · Sep 10, 2013

Following along

gordonj1 · Sep 10, 2013

Agree 100 percent! I bought a scolymia from the Lfs and they had it up on a rock toward the top of the tank with high quality LEDs.needless to say it was starting to become transparent. I brought it home and put it on my sand bed under my 48w t5 fixture and it is not only 2x the size it was at the Lfs it is getting much more orange striping and coloring up very nicely!

Also low flow is very important, but it's important to have enough flow to keep some kicked up sand off of it.

Mr. Microscope · Sep 10, 2013

Growth seems consistent, but colors definitely change under less lighting. Acans can completely, "red-out" under intense light, but can become dull under too little light. Finding the happy medium is tough.

Eienna · Sep 10, 2013

The word is "fare," my friend

That said...

This appears to be correct. Many LPS corals come from deeper in the ocean, where there is less light. They are adapted more to consuming food particles than to absorbing light.

Mr. E Wrasse · Sep 10, 2013

Every scolymia I have ever seen while diving has been in a crevice or cave and they are usually in groups. That said, I have my scoly under an overhang and it has almost doubled in size and is extremely happy!

schooncw · Aug 30, 2014

I have never kept them but have a 60'gal w 4 T5 bulbs. Is this enough light and should I keep them on the bottom go the tank?

Tab28 · Aug 30, 2014

All my tracys prefer medium. They puff out as normal. Radiata seem to be higher light than Geoffroyi. What of lobo still medium. Both trachy and lobo are higher light than acan and scoly.