What low light corals can survive under an overhang?

[staylor1490]

I'm looking for a photosynthetic coral that can survive while being mostly shaded under overhangs (I have a shelf rock stack as the main rockwork). In particular, I'm interested in having a GSP carpet but I'm afraid the rock overhangs will prevent them from growing. Should I get a disco mushroom or xenia carpet instead?

 

[blaxsun]

Xenias.

 

[staylor1490]

I was afraid this was the answer lol - trying to avoid xenia due to their extreme invasiveness. Will GSP/shrooms not be able to thrive under shading?

 

[mindme]

I have some zoas that are growing under a rock. They filled the top, then filled the bottom.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

Palys work fine under overhangs. They stretch a lot more when you do this so they almost get a goniopora vibe to them. I do this with a colony of utter chaos and it looks pretty cool.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I was afraid this was the answer lol - trying to avoid xenia due to their extreme invasiveness. Will GSP/shrooms not be able to thrive under shading?

Mushrooms probably will do fine -- they will move if they need more light.

 

[blaxsun]

I was afraid this was the answer lol - trying to avoid xenia due to their extreme invasiveness. Will GSP/shrooms not be able to thrive under shading?

I have some GSP thriving under a ledge, but I suspect it's still getting enough light as it is spreading a bit. Xenias can literally grow in complete darkness in a sump...

All my mushrooms move when they're not happy with lighting, etc. Zoas might work out ok.

 

[Chortanator]

I have mushrooms that have preferred moving to the deep, dark corners of my tank and actually thrive there. If you're interested I can post a picture tomorrow of one of my mushrooms that's completely underneath my rock structure

 

[aggrofish]

I don’t know if you’re only looking for what you mentioned or are open to ideas? I like Cyphastrea and Stylocoeniella for low light overhangs

 

[DaJMasta]

Blastomussa will probably manage, the usually prefer lower light levels, but may not grow quickly if fully shaded.

There's also, of course, the NPS tubastrea, which would be ideal if you think you can keep up with feeding it.

 

[paul01609]

Sunflower coral

 

[ying yang]

Maybe chalices, I read they do better in low light.
Research first though if will be ok underneath a over hang,sure there is threads on them on r2r

 

[gbroadbridge]

I'm looking for a photosynthetic coral that can survive while being mostly shaded under overhangs (I have a shelf rock stack as the main rockwork). In particular, I'm interested in having a GSP carpet but I'm afraid the rock overhangs will prevent them from growing. Should I get a disco mushroom or xenia carpet instead?

I have trachy's in well shaded areas

 

[SamsReef]

I have a really nice raja rampage growing in shade and will guess all chalices would do just fine with indirect light considering there are enough light.
Also, my space invader pectinia colors up the best in shade.

Sam

 

[DavidinGA]

Chalices.

I have one that's super happy in the shade. They're odd like that...

 

[PeterEde]

I got this one on the weekend to sit under a shelf.

Sunflower

Sunflower corals prefer shaded areas under ledges or down deep.

youtube.com

 

[gbroadbridge]

I got this one on the weekend to sit under a shelf.

Sunflower

Sunflower corals prefer shaded areas under ledges or down deep.

youtube.com

That's an NPS (non photosynthetic) which requires no light at all.

You pretty much have to hand feed it for it to survive.

 

[reefah]

Aptasia

 

[PeterEde]

That's an NPS (non photosynthetic) which requires no light at all.

You pretty much have to hand feed it for it to survive.

Yep. Gets brine, mysys or powder

 

[homegrowncichlid]

chalice, acans, favia, cyphastrea... There's probably enough light bouncing off the glass and reflected, your "over hang" area probably gets some light. You can start any of these in the semi shade, and see which way they grow. They will radiate out in all directions, with preference towards the light of course. It will see the light from the placement point "better" than you can predict and grow towards it. The direction may surprise you. It'll adapt or not grow, either way you'll fine out in a month and can move it.