First Coral for 29g

[MatthewLaw]

Greetings All- I am considering my first coral for my 29g tank. I would like a coral that can survive under a 'normal' aquarium light. Any suggestions? THanks. -Matt

 

[1979camaro]

You need to tell us specifically what "normal" means.

 

[MatthewLaw]

by normal i mean the standard aquarium ligths that came with my tank. According to the fixture this is a 30" fluorsecent, 120 volt, 20 watt. 60hz

 

[Lotus]

To be honest, your light probably won't support any photosynthetic corals. Even mushrooms need a little bit more light than that.

It's probably better to wait until you've upgraded your light before you get corals.

 

[MatthewLaw]

Oh ok. Wasnt sure if there were any corals that could 'survive' with standard aquarium light.

 

[kay-bee19]

Some corals, such as sun corals/tubastraea, are not photosynthetic and require no light (so normal-output bulbs wouldn't be a factor). They do, however, require feeding.

 

[MatthewLaw]

what type of food do you recommend?

 

[Lorna]

I feed my sun coral mysis.....target fed with a turkey baster....every other day or so.....the rest of the time it opens every night just to get what it can from the water column....

 

[MatthewLaw]

i feed my damsel and clownfish mysis so this should work well.

does everyone agree that this could work in my 29g tank with the 'normal' lighting i mentioned above?

any other corals that do not need photosynthesis to survive?

 

[1979camaro]

It should work fine, though not the easiest coral to start with. Just make sure you are diligent about feeding.

 

[MatthewLaw]

i feed my fish every night, well i usually feed 6 days a week.

how many hours should the light be on for these corals? I usually keep mine on for about 6 hours.

also are there any specific handling instructions that you recommend?

 

[1979camaro]

As mentioned, these are not photosynthetic so lighting is pretty much irrelevant. Instead, you need to target feed (not just feed the tank) each polyp/head regularly. Some people do it daily, others alternating days, others a couple times a week. Whatever the case, find a schedule and stick to it.

 

[MatthewLaw]

got it. i may change my feeeding schedule to just beofre bed (aka lights off) since it appears that the coral is active/open when it is dark and will take food at that time.

also, have you had any issues with your CUC and this coral?

Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[Joe Fish]

I feed mine every 3 days. The easiest way for me was to cut off the top of a 2-liter bottle then stick it over it. Then I just baste the mysis inside it. My shrimp and fish quickly take all the mysis from the sun coral if i don't...

You MIGHT be ok with shrooms. They probably won't color as nicely though. I have a shroom rock under a 15 watt NO bulb and they are doing fine. I do have them in the upper half of the tank though...

 

[MatthewLaw]

thanks for the help. as a future coral, do Sun corals and shrooms get along?

 

[1979camaro]

You shouldn't have a problem.

 

[MatthewLaw]

thanks. i am looking for reef groups online for some decently priced frags.

 

[strout]

Just a thought, I would like to see some of the senior fish in here post some pics of their tank, corals, I am sure you have in the past, but I havent seen them. I love to look at the pics.