ViperD...
No it is not necessary to have light on your live rock to keep it alive. If it is uncured LR it is best not to have light. But if you want the coralline algae to grow on cured rock you need intense light. I have one 5 pound piece in my 75-gallon tank right now! I only have actinic VHO right now. I plan to pick up some more LR and my 175-watt MH soon. I to plan on adding rock slowly, It’s so expensive!
No, it does not need intense lighting. I set up my tank with live sand and a few rocks on July 26, and didn't get my VHO's until Sept. 26. (My LFS said was delayed due to the NYC bombing, but I believe he forgot to place my order -- my lights took six weeks to come in! ) During that time I added my live rock as I could afford it. I did put in snails, crabs, and a few Dominos after a month or so. (And I only recently got a protein skimmer.) Best of Luck with your reef!
Oh, no problem, Gumhead. Btw, it sounds as if you are following the right formula and your reef is coming along very nicely. Can't wait to see more pics!
Merri
A good light to get you by until you can get the more expensive lighting is the Coralife 50/50. It has the actinic light as well as regular light so you get some of the VHO effect without having two lights. I still keep a 20 long with only one 50/50, I just ghange the light at least every 6 months and I don,t have a lot of corals in it either. By the way, your reef tank is very beautiful. We are moving to CA in a year or so, and I want to set something like that up, but not until we move.
Beautiful tank I especially like the color combinations. My LFS is into Brown seems like, your have to be there when he gets a arrival to get anything with some color. Splash
I have been enjoying the pictures of your beautiful corals as well!
All top-notch photos. What type of camera do you use?
As far as feeding the tubastrea.... they are not picky in the least. Quantity is what they are after. I feed at least three times weekly, and when I do a feeding, they usually receive a two or three course meal. In other words, after the polyp has opened back up after feeding, I'll feed it again. They like meaty plankton and clams - shrimp - squid. I've even seen them eat whole silversides!
There is a lot of info under Corals and anemones:tubastrea in the Main Gallery.
I just purchased a very brilliantly colored tubastrea for my son's Mantis tank..... very bright deep orange/red tubes ..... after two days am still coaxing the polyps to open, but last night saw a partial opening. When it flowers for me, I hope to post some pics.
Good luck with yours -- you must be so excited about setting up a 180! I'm quite envious!
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