List - Light Requirements of Various Corals and Others

[Dana Riddle]

These values are from various peer-reviewed journals, with a few I did in my lab thrown in for good measure. As a reminder, the 'compensation point' is where enough oxygen is produced by zooxanthellate to meet the respiration requirements of the zoox/host. The 'saturation point' is an estimate of the maximum light requirement. 'Saturation' is when there is too much light and the rate of photosynthesis begins to slow.
Host Compensation Saturation Photoinhibition Depth
Acropora cervicornis n/a 281 n/a 17m
Acropora cervicornis n/a 331 n/a 17m
Acropora digitifera 82 387 n/a 1m
Acropora divaricata 10 77 n/a 40m
Acropora formosa 170 340 n/a 1m
Acropora gemmifera 270 340 n/a 1m
Acropora granulosa 53 102 n/a 40m
Acropora microphthalma n/a 300 n/a n/a
Acropora millepora n/a 190 n/a <2m
Acropora millepora n/a 230 n/a <2m
Acropora nobilis n/a 310 n/a <2m
Acropora nobilis n/a 180 n/a <2m
Anthopleura elegantissima 73 n/a n/a n/a
Montipora capitata n/a 135 250 n/a
Montipora danae 'Superman' n/a 200 n/a n/a
Montipora tuberculosa n/a 180 n/a <2m
Montipora tuberculosa n/a 300 n/a <2m
Pavona varians n/a 110 350 n/a
Pavona/Leptastrea 'Jack O' Lantern' n/a n/a None at 500 n/a
Pocillopora damicornis n/a 225 n/a <2m
Pocillopora eydouxi n/a 323 n/a n/a
Porites cylindrica n/a 200 n/a n/a
Porites lobata n/a 250 350 n/a
Porites lutea n/a 400 750 1.5m
Sinularia densa n/a ~207 n/a n/a
Stylophora pistillata 40 200 n/a n/a
Stylophora pistillata n/a 300 600 n/a
Tridacna maxima n/a >600 >1,900 n/a

 

[K100286]

How would the information be used by the average reefer? I hate to admit it be I don't know what anything above means, but from your narrative I can see how it would be advantageous to know what the means and how an aquarist could could use it.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Unfortunately the data got jumbled when pasting, so it is a little confusing. The numbers represent PAR values gathered with a PAR, or quantum, meter. In a nutshell, the 'compensation' number is the ragged minimum PAR value, while the 'saturation' number is the highest amount required. The 'photoinhibition' value should be avoided - it can be stressful to the coral/zooxanthellate as well as wastes energy.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@Dana Riddle , I'll apologize as I'm sure it's been answered, I'm looking for these numbers but for the euphelllia family. Specifically frogspawn and torches. I just can't seem to find it.
Bad google day I suppose.

 

[Dana Riddle]

@Dana Riddle , I'll apologize as I'm sure it's been answered, I'm looking for these numbers but for the euphelllia family. Specifically frogspawn and torches. I just can't seem to find it.
Bad google day I suppose.
Not much data available, but Indo-Pacific Euphyllia and some of those from Taiwan contain zooxanthellae Clade C1, which is a generalist. It should do well at light intensities at which other coral species thrive (such as many Acropora species.)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thank you. That' what I had always understood.

I have one and have been working with Mebmbers here on R2r , on bleaching and appearant zooox expulsion. Leaving the coral clearish
And not the usual deep color. The only connected causality appears to be spectrum/brand of light.