Corals that Flourish under normal light?

[JTN54]

Hey everyone, does anyone know of some easy to take care of corals that will flourish under normal light? I got a 55 gallon setup from pets mart a while ago and I just have to normal hood lights the set up comes with. I need to save up for the expensive lighting but until then I would like to start keeping corals if I can! Thanks for any help!

 

[dantimdad]

In all honesty, we used to keep a variety of things under just two 4 foot bulbs on a 55. One daylight, one actinic.

That being said, go to lowes and get shop light then get on Amazon and get the bulbs mentioned above. Get mushrooms to start with. Then branch out.

Don't attempt LPS or SPS in my opinion and experience until you get much stronger light and become more experienced.

Have a great day!

 

[JTN54]

T

In all honesty, we used to keep a variety of things under just two 4 foot bulbs on a 55. One daylight, one actinic.

That being said, go to lowes and get shop light then get on Amazon and get the bulbs mentioned above. Get mushrooms to start with. Then branch out.

Don't attempt LPS or SPS in my opinion and experience until you get much stronger light and become more experienced.

Have a great day!

Thanks for the response! I’ll take your advice here. So mushrooms but what would your opinion on Xenia be? Do you think that would work too?

 

[dantimdad]

Xenia is weird. Sometimes it seems like you can't kill it and others it won't live for anything. That being said NO fluorescent will work for it.

 

[Imaexpat2]

In all honesty, we used to keep a variety of things under just two 4 foot bulbs on a 55. One daylight, one actinic.

That being said, go to lowes and get shop light then get on Amazon and get the bulbs mentioned above. Get mushrooms to start with. Then branch out.

Don't attempt LPS or SPS in my opinion and experience until you get much stronger light and become more experienced.

Have a great day!

Yep, thats what I started with when I got in the hobby a 55, hob filter and a 2 x 40 watt NO light, Mushrooms and Xenia. Not nearly enough wattage on a tank that deep for much else other than most softies. But when your starting out you dont need much lighting for the first 6 months, so sometimes a lack of funds is a blessing in disguise, trust me on that one! Id focus more on a rock solid start, get it well esablished, gets some coralline algae going on the rocks and then take the next big step!

 

[dantimdad]

Yep, thats what I started with when I got in the hobby a 55, hob filter and a 2 x 40 watt NO light, Mushrooms and Xenia. Not nearly enough wattage on a tank that deep for much else other than most softies. But when your starting out you dont need much lighting for the first 6 months, so sometimes a lack of funds is a blessing in disguise, trust me on that one! Id focus more on a rock solid start, get it well esablished, gets some coralline algae going on the rocks and then take the next big step!

Agreed. It wasn't until I went whole hog on lighting and such right off the bat that I had trouble getting a coraline start and had the uglies. There is something to be said for cheap and low tech.