Low light beginner corals?

[candelloro]

Hi everyone! I’ve recently cycled a 2.5 gallon tank and am planning to own corals for the first time. Besides mushrooms, what other low light corals could survive in my tank? I run a 6 W LED on it since the tank is small

 

[Auquanut]

That's a very small tank. Do you have any pics? Your light might provide more light than you think in a tank that size. I've had pretty good luck with zoas in my 29 biocube with cfl's. I've also got a duncan that's growing great (might want to let the tank mature a little first). Are you planning coral only, or are there fish in your future?

 

[candelloro]

That's a very small tank. Do you have any pics? Your light might provide more light than you think in a tank that size. I've had pretty good luck with zoas in my 29 biocube with cfl's. I've also got a duncan that's growing great (might want to let the tank mature a little first). Are you planning coral only, or are there fish in your future?

I currently own one watchman goby and 3 hermits in the tank. I seem to have better success with small tanks from past experience although this is my first time ever keeping corals. Here is the link to the light I bought

https://www.amazon.ca/NICREW-Ultra-Light-Clamp-Planted/dp/B07P3HYXMT

 

[Pntbll687]

That is a small tank. Do you have a link to the light?

Also, what are your plans for topping off water that evaporates? In such a small system the evaporation could cause some pretty good size settings in salinity and water parameters.

Small systems can be done, so post some pictures and let's see what we're working with!!

I would stick with zoa's and maybe mushrooms. You can probably do small frags of lps like trumpet coral.

 

[candelloro]

That is a small tank. Do you have a link to the light?

Also, what are your plans for topping off water that evaporates? In such a small system the evaporation could cause some pretty good size settings in salinity and water parameters.

Small systems can be done, so post some pictures and let's see what we're working with!!

I would stick with zoa's and maybe mushrooms. You can probably do small frags of lps like trumpet coral.

I’ve kept a smaller tank of 1 gallon for 4 years in the past with just one clown goby and a sexy shrimp in it. Top offs aren’t a problem for me and I do them manually. I have a lid on my tank so the water won’t evaporate as fast as you’d think. I posted a link to the light as well and I’ll be adding pictures too

 

[Auquanut]

I'm not real smart with the whole lighting thing, but I would think you could keep most softies and LPS with that light. I'm sure someone with more lighting knowledge will chime in.

 

[candelloro]

Here is the full view of my tank! I do agree that even at 6W the light seems really bright and capable for my tank. What do you guys think?

 

[Pntbll687]

Here is the full view of my tank! I do agree that even at 6W the light seems really bright and capable for my tank. What do you guys think?

Looks good.

I would start with some softy and a frag of lps. You could probably do some gsp and let it grow over the whole tank

 

[Auquanut]

Wow! That's a whole lotta power head. Does it have adjustable flow?

 

[candelloro]

Looks good.

I would start with some softy and a frag of lps. You could probably do some gsp and let it grow over the whole tank

You think so? Thanks! This is my first time back into the hobby in a while so I was really excited to share my tank with everyone. I feel like I’ll start with mushrooms and maybe go for another softy of some sort first. I was concerned with calcium for my lps as I was worried my levels weren’t good enough but I think I should be fine. My crab just molted a couple hours ago and already has its exoskeleton grown back so I think it’s a good sign. The Watchman goby I currently own will likely be the only fish I will keep although I have been known to push boundaries so we’ll see.

 

[candelloro]

Wow! That's a whole lotta power head. Does it have adjustable flow?

It does not, it’s a hydor koralia 240 nano which is the smallest size they own. I like to keep surface agitated and current throughout my tank to keep the water oxygenated since it’s such a small tank. My watchman goby doesn’t mind the flow at all

 

[Pntbll687]

You think so? Thanks! This is my first time back into the hobby in a while so I was really excited to share my tank with everyone. I feel like I’ll start with mushrooms and maybe go for another softy of some sort first. I was concerned with calcium for my lps as I was worried my levels weren’t good enough but I think I should be fine. My crab just molted a couple hours ago and already has its exoskeleton grown back so I think it’s a good sign. The Watchman goby I currently own will likely be the only fish I will keep although I have been known to push boundaries so we’ll see.

It does look good. Small tanks are hard to scape at first because if you put too much rock in there's no room for coral.

A weekly water change should be enough to maintain calcium for the system if you go for lps