Lighting and corals

[sredzins]

This may be a stupid question but... I understand that corals are animals and and so is an invert like an anemone, and what seperates plants from animals is the presence of chloroplast and chlorophyll. So how does an animal like coral use light for energy? Is it because of the presence of zooanthalae? (Not spelled correctly)


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[Great Barrier Reefer]

The zooxanthellae inside the coral's tissue are actually tiny plants. As plants are able to use light for energy, they live in symbiosis with the coral (The coral gives the algae a place to live in exchange for energy). Corals get most of their energy from light, especially corals with small polyps (SPS).

 

[sredzins]

Okay thanks


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[sredzins]

If most corals need zooxanthellae to survive, why do sps need so much more light than LPS and softies? The hard exterior?


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[Great Barrier Reefer]

SPS commonly live in areas of high flow and high light, therefore they have adapted to suit this environment. LPS and softies often live in areas with less flow, and are more dependent on foods they can catch with their tentacles, which are packed with stinging cells (Nematocysts). This is why LPS often benefit from feeding.

 

[gdemos]

true or false: "Deepwater Acro"

I often hear certain pieces, particularly echinata, referred to as 'deepwater acro'. true or false, this is a misnomer. Seems common to accept this as true, and thus we place these pieces lower in the tank, therefore receiving lower PAR. Throwing this out there: unless the source can be tied back to the mariculturalist, the diver gathering that particular piece, are there truly acro species that will only thrive (not adapt) in a deepwater setting? Or are hobbyists noticing certain pieces like lower light/shaded areas and coining them as 'deepwater' pieces. are hobbyists really giving these pieces the time necessary to adapt to higher light in our tanks? and beyond this, is it truly possible to reproduce a 'deepwater' environment in an acro dedicated tank? are we drawing conclusions based on hasty (impatient) observations, or true species requirements? appreciate the expert knowledge. -Greg

 

[jservedio]

I often hear certain pieces, particularly echinata, referred to as 'deepwater acro'. true or false, this is a misnomer. Seems common to accept this as true, and thus we place these pieces lower in the tank, therefore receiving lower PAR. Throwing this out there: unless the source can be tied back to the mariculturalist, the diver gathering that particular piece, are there truly acro species that will only thrive (not adapt) in a deepwater setting? Or are hobbyists noticing certain pieces like lower light/shaded areas and coining them as 'deepwater' pieces. are hobbyists really giving these pieces the time necessary to adapt to higher light in our tanks? and beyond this, is it truly possible to reproduce a 'deepwater' environment in an acro dedicated tank? are we drawing conclusions based on hasty (impatient) observations, or true species requirements? appreciate the expert knowledge. -Greg

There are certainly certain types of acropora that natrually occur deeper in the ocean. In fact, some types of SPS have been found as deep as 800 feet down where almost no light penetrates. They are pure white. It is true, things like Acro Echinata, Turaki, Suharsoni, etc. require less light than other higher-energy acros (think some of the big tabling acros). However, like all acropora - even though they require less light they require the same, demanding low nutrient systems with stable parameters. Most of those deep water acros are MUCH harder to keep than things like Stags and are much more sensitive to changes.

My system focuses primarily on smooth skinned and deep water acropora. However, I have no slouch of a light either - I have a radion pro over 20g of display... However, IMO the light is much less important than say my giant skimmer, reactors, and dosers that keep nitrates and phosphtes at 0 and keep my alkalinity within 0.1dkh of 8.9 and Magnesium right at 1380ppm.

 

[DSP]

The acros we call Deepwater acros arent realy from deepwater correct?Isnt it just named after its smoothe skin

 

[jservedio]

The acros we call Deepwater acros arent realy from deepwater correct?Isnt it just named after its smoothe skin

Some of them are actually from deeper water. Explains the much more hefty price tag. You can buy an Acropora identification book and read about the different species and you will see where their optimum depth is. Most of the big tabling acros live in 10m or less of water while some of the deeper water acros live down much further (20-50m). Some of them even live MUCH further down - however those corals aren't traded in the hobby because they are too expensive to collect. Here, you can reed about species they have found below 100 meters here:

Deepest Corals in Great Barrier Reef Discovered | LiveScience