What LED strength do corals require?

[DoggoThePuffer]

So I was wondering, what LED strength do corals require. I have a $50 LED, with a very bright white light and a blue mode built in one. I’m getting corals and am wondering to save money, what are the required WATS to keep a coral healthy and alive in a light? I honestly don’t want to spend $159 for a bar that emits a special light. -_-
Thank you for reading! Please answer this too after reading if you know anything about it! Thanks! ;)

 

[Flippers4pups]

So I was wondering, what LED strength do corals require. I have a $50 LED, with a very bright white light and a blue mode built in one. I’m getting corals and am wondering to save money, what are the required WATS to keep a coral healthy and alive in a light? I honestly don’t want to spend $159 for a bar that emits a special light. -_-
Thank you for reading! Please answer this too after reading if you know anything about it! Thanks! ;)

It's not measured by watts now, it's measured by light intensity using a meter, such as a Part meter or even a Lux meter.

What corals are you wanting to keep and what size tank?

 

[Crabs McJones]

as @Flippers4pups said, light isn't really measured in watts anymore, its how much PAR the light puts out and how much control you have over that light. That's not to say that wattage isn't important as the higher wattage light you have the more potential it has to put out higher par. What is the light? Do you have a link you can share that has the specifications for your lighting setup?

 

[Bpb]

Yes there’s not enough information here to make a reasonable recommendation. What types of corals are you wanting to keep. What is your experience level. What are the specifics of your current light.

 

[NS Mike D]

spectrum (wavelengths) is also important. The better (for coral) leds rely less on white leds and more on blues (including a different blues) and creating white by blending with RGB (and others colors) . @Dana Riddle has some good post on spectrums for corals in the lighting forum .

standard blue/white leds are fine for less demanding corals like leathers/softies. cheaper leds can even grow lps and sps corals, but, IMO, they fall short on providing light that the coral will reflect that make the colors pop.

you are starting in the right direction by asking questions before you buy. keep learning about lights/corals/leds it's not a simple topic but one that, imo, have a great impact on how much you will enjoy your tank

 

[DoggoThePuffer]

So to all of you, I want to keep the under $50 corals, no specific ones. I also got the light for the 54g corner tank at petsmart.

 

[NS Mike D]

LEDS are not cheap nor simple to dial in . you may want to consider t-5s where there is a lot of information from lots of experience for "plug and play" use

 

[Crabs McJones]

So to all of you, I want to keep the under $50 corals, no specific ones. I also got the light for the 54g corner tank at petsmart.

If it's a light from petsmart, chances are it's not optimized for growing corals. The lights they sell there are more geared towards freshwater tanks with fish only. So there is a lot of whites and not enough blues.

 

[DoggoThePuffer]

LEDS are not cheap nor simple to dial in . you may want to consider t-5s where there is a lot of information from lots of experience for "plug and play" use

spectrum (wavelengths) is also important. The better (for coral) leds rely less on white leds and more on blues (including a different blues) and creating white by blending with RGB (and others colors) . @Dana Riddle has some good post on spectrums for corals in the lighting forum .

standard blue/white leds are fine for less demanding corals like leathers/softies. cheaper leds can even grow lps and sps corals, but, IMO, they fall short on providing light that the coral will reflect that make the colors pop.

you are starting in the right direction by asking questions before you buy. keep learning about lights/corals/leds it's not a simple topic but one that, imo, have a great impact on how much you will enjoy your tank

Perfect! Thank you! (I also made this thread since I’m going to a coral convention and wanted to get some! THANK YOU!!!!

 

[DSC reef]

So to all of you, I want to keep the under $50 corals, no specific ones. I also got the light for the 54g corner tank at petsmart.

Many types of coral for under 50 dollars. You need to figure out if there SPS, LPS, softies, etc, to provide the proper care for them.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I looked at the PetSmart website and couldn't get much info other than the light is a 30" 'Day White' LED, the tank is 40.25" wide, and is recommended for freshwater and saltwater *fish*. I not saying that you can't keep some coral species with this setup, but you'll have to be very selective when choosing them, and then careful placement within the tank will be important. The dinoflagellates living in corals' tissues have different light requirements - some have specific needs while others are highly adaptable (these are called generalists). See this list for generalists:
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/1/AAOLM-Feature-Article-D-Riddle-Jan06-CladeList.pdf
Bear in mind that water motion is as important - or even more so - than lighting. Be prepared to invest in a good water motion device. In addition, don't get in a rush. Let the tank become established (fully cycled) before adding any corals.

 

[DoggoThePuffer]

UPDATE! At the KeepOnReefing expo, I got a lot of stuff! You should go there next year if your close! Second, I got a CORAL LIGHT for $7! It was heavily used but I repaired it, it has a built in blue and white light!

 

[DoggoThePuffer]

I looked at the PetSmart website and couldn't get much info other than the light is a 30" 'Day White' LED, the tank is 40.25" wide, and is recommended for freshwater and saltwater *fish*. I not saying that you can't keep some coral species with this setup, but you'll have to be very selective when choosing them, and then careful placement within the tank will be important. The dinoflagellates living in corals' tissues have different light requirements - some have specific needs while others are highly adaptable (these are called generalists). See this list for generalists:
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/1/AAOLM-Feature-Article-D-Riddle-Jan06-CladeList.pdf
Bear in mind that water motion is as important - or even more so - than lighting. Be prepared to invest in a good water motion device. In addition, don't get in a rush. Let the tank become established (fully cycled) before adding any corals.

Thank you very much for actually taking time out of your day to search the light up! I wish I could give ur account a badge for that! But I did get a coral light for cheap anyways! But thank you so much!!!!!! :D

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

UPDATE! At the KeepOnReefing expo, I got a lot of stuff! You should go there next year if your close! Second, I got a CORAL LIGHT for $7! It was heavily used but I repaired it, it has a built in blue and white light!

For what it's worth, some LED lights retail for over a thousand dollars. Many more retail in the $600 range. I'd be really cautious of a light that cost $7 claiming to grow corals, regardless of whether it needed repair or not. Do you have any pictures or more information about this new coral light?

 

[Crabs McJones]

For what it's worth, some LED lights retail for over a thousand dollars. Many more retail in the $600 range. I'd be really cautious of a light that cost $7 claiming to grow corals, regardless of whether it needed repair or not. Do you have any pictures or more information about this new coral light?

Agreed. If it was that easy and cheap, everyone would be doing it :D

 

[Dana Riddle]

Thank you very much for actually taking time out of your day to search the light up! I wish I could give ur account a badge for that! But I did get a coral light for cheap anyways! But thank you so much!!!!!! :D

You're welcome. Please direct any questions to me (@danariddle) and I'll try to help,

 

[DoggoThePuffer]

The new $7 LED is this! Here’s a pic and the brand name! Once again, thank you all for helping! :D
Also, my new 10g saltwater tank is dirty after I just put the sand in. How do I speed up the process to make the water clear? Also, it’s for a bunch of new fish and invertebrates I got at the convention. The water also is the $15 saltwater sold at petco, I did a water test on it and it’s awesome! Gonna but it again! XD

 

[Flippers4pups]

Sorry to say but that's a T5 light fixture, not a LED fixture. That's okay.

You got some fish and inverts for a newly set up tank? I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but your no where ready for fish or inverts in that tank. It has to cycle first. Please if possible, take the fish and inverts to a local fish store ASAP and ask for credit.

Please read up on how to start a saltwater tank:
https://www.marinedepot.com/cycle-an-aquarium-ap.html

And

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

We want you to be successful with your tank! If you have any questions, please ask, we are here to help you!

 

[DoggoThePuffer]

Sorry to say but that's a T5 light fixture, not a LED fixture. That's okay.

You got some fish and inverts for a newly set up tank. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but your no where ready for fish or inverts in that tank. It has to cycle first. Please if possible, take the fish and inverts to a local fish store ASAP and ask for credit.

Please read up on how to start a saltwater tank:
https://www.marinedepot.com/cycle-an-aquarium-ap.html

And

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/

We want you to be successful with your tank! If you have any questions, please ask, we are here to help you!

The tank is cycled. I got the prepackaged water. But I didn’t get them at a store, I got them at a convention.

 

[Bpb]

Just a quick FYI it’s not the water that is cycled or uncycled, or mature or new. It’s the rocks and sand that are cycled. Brand new rocks with store bought water is an un cycled tank.